Finishing the Last Layers

Monoprints I make as demos for workshops come home with me. They allow me to take a second look at how I'd finish them, use the print as a base or a starting layer for the square. This is not yet washed out, so I can't tell how deep the colors will be. But I do like the spread of motifs and the color blocking. 
 

Technique and Difference

 

Let's circle back to the Schweinfurth's surface design show that is ending soon. The top is Nancy Crow's monoprints. The bottom, mine (unquilted). The gestural hand is the charm of the mark. I have no intention to copy Nancy's work, but look to vary the technique so that it reads as mine. 

Printing Scarves

When I head off to QSDS at the end of this month I'll be bringing printed silk scarves with me. I'm printing the table here using thickened dyes that I've drawn into. My wallpaper brush has the right amount of pressure to smooth over the image. I'll have fabric, too. Look for me on vendor night. Open to all.
 

More Grid Please

 I used a screen with a rigid and clear pattern, but wanted to take some of that machine-like quality away, so I printed to the table, pulled some lines -- in a grid, too -- through the squares. Here I am brushing the back of the fabric before pulling the print. I love monoprinting for that reason: I can alter it with drawing.

 

Tuesday's Progress

A lot of techniques are tried in the first two days of our week. Here is a grand monoprint embracing the repellant surface of the table's plastic. Each piece has pleasant surface design surprises, and we're only bound to find more.
 

Workshop Lecturer

Ariane Zurcher talks to her online workshop via Zoom today, explaining what she did to make this monoprint. The linen is about 5' square. She explored every which way to print, and took on the techniques in a very different way. Studio returns to quiet tomorrow. Will miss her!
 

Mastering the Monoprint

Ariane Zurcher is working in my studio this week and has been monoprinting some large linen works at about 60" square. Here she is scraping color through after the first pull is a bit dryer. It's been fun to see a very different take on handling large monoprints. And she'll take this further in her own studio later.
 

Demo Time For Saturday

The Quilters for Ukraine event is Saturday, when I'll be teaching. I'll be on a zoom link to check in. I've made a 14 minute video on printing the table for the event. Here's the demo. Check out what we'll be doing --- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/quilters-for-ukraine-tickets-300846057657?aff=ebdssbeac
 

Before I'm Finished

I've silk scarves to pack for my Santa Fe trip. And this just said "Hey, how's about monoprinting?" So, I heard that, and did.
 

What to Do With This

I've been washing out pieces I made during the QSDS class, mostly demos. And they are some of my favorites, because I experiment more with them. When I iron them out, some land on my design wall, and buddy up with another. This combination intrigues me, so might have to make it up. For real.

 

More Monoprinting

My printing table is about 6 feet long, just enough for printing my scarves that are that 72" in length. I've started a monoprint here with intense blue. Just to try it out. 
 

Tools of the Trade

Sometimes all you need for storage is a simple clothesline. Who invented that? I've got a scarf holder, some tyvek stencils, snow fence, and a large fun foam sheet. I use them all for some kind of mark making at some point. Maybe tomorrow will be my print day. It's all waiting for me.

More Monoprinting

Time for silk scarves, as the ones on my web site store are going to new homes. Here's a monoprint directly from my print table's plastic covering. I'll scrape some light dye and paste over to pick up more of the dye from the table. Tomorrow is reveal time. 

 

Quick, Before It's Gone

On our final day of printing we were just catching our stride. Lots of experiments happened, and Judy  monoprinted a line in a new way. I had to try it next! An inspiring week seeing dozens of prints develop. Loads of ideas on what would come next year for classes. I'll try to post them before Thanksgiving. 

Surface Design Award

The Schweinfurth's "Quilts=Art=Quilts"  exhibition awarded July Hooworth's Adventure Journal #6: Siberian Autumn the Surface Design award. It is monoprinted, stamped, and discharged cotton. I got to spend time with her last summer at QSDS. Fine way to print, for sure.
 

Monoprint, But Softly

A printed yard of fabric was made by screening to the table -- which is covered with white plastic -- and then pulling a monoprint from that. I love the soft textural print. The horizontal arcs were made by the folds from the uneven fabric.

 

Monoprinting to Music

Printing from the table is easy because I've covered it with plastic. I'll use thickened dye spread around and then use something to make a mark. I only get one print from this method, but that's the point -- a one of a kind print.

Duck's Breath

Thought you'd like a closer look at Duck's Breath, my work that is now hanging in the members show at Rochester Contemporary. It's about 3' square, and features two of my printed fabrics. The left is a monoprint made on a foam sheet, the other mostly silkscreened..

Enough Color For You?

A few hours of ironing these fabrics has me loving the intense color that emerges. I've done some monoprinting as well as silkscreening. With a few more methods to get color and areas of distinct pattern, I'm liking it.

Start With Dark

My next year's visit to the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, Washington will be a printing class I'm calling "Start With Dark". These monoprints are a good example where the darkest color is laid down first. I'll let this go overnight and add something tomorrow. Or not.