Typical But Not

 A typical shot of the workshop with tables padded and wrapped with plastic, then surrrounded by screens, rubbings, sketches, fabric. It may look like chaos, but it really does work out famously. We had twelve people ringing the room, a good middle open for discussion and a demo table. QBL made it happen.

Captures

Another day of fooling with cameras and sound to get the stage set for videos on how I work on a project. This is for Crafty Monkies, and will air mid-year. But first, I need to get the set nailed. Or printed, you might say.

 

Project for Crafty Monkies

I'm still playing around with glue here to see if it's usable to screen print. Crafty Monkies has gathered a half-dozen artists to create a work, as well as document how it was created. So, I'll be starting that soon. The theme is "Where is the Love" so I had a go at script. I'll keep you posted.
 

Darkness Falls

Having a birthday in February was always a great excuse to party mid the cold and gray. This weekend I managed a few hours in the studio, but when returning home, found no energy for the office work. There was solace in the print studio for a couple of hours, happy with that. 
 

Print Inspiration

 

It may be some weeks before I can return to printing. Meanwhile, I continue to add images from my phone pics to an album for reference. Where it's a shadow or some great graphic, I know I can find these images quickly. 

Rubbing Our Time Away

The remnants of the rains that have lasted for days slowly lifted today, which was heartening to see. We finished the morning with another stab at rubbings and stencils with great success. Still, these were long days, but we are making great progress on fabric prints. 
 

Test Time

I was looking for a cushion to place under the white plastic that we'll use in Santa Fe. It was suggested that I try fleece (thanks, Wendy) so off to Joann's to get a hunk. It'll work. I scraped and screened. But, oops, need to try rolling and stencil. Ok, back to the test studio. 
 

Oh, It's Crying Time Again...

...I'm gonna leave you. I can see that far away look in your eyes. I can tell by the way you pack my suitcase, that it won't be long before it's flying time. (Apologies to Buck Owens.)
 

Getting Ahead

For a print class I'll make several demos throughout the day. And each eats fabric. So, I find I need to soda-soak a few more dozen just to stay ahead of the game. I've a video in this blog on how I do this. Bucket soak, drip dry in laundry tub, hang damp. No drip.
 

What I Learn from Class

 Teaching leads me to discover methods of printing that I overlook. After my usual methods are set out to explore, I try things that might fit with a particular student's need. So, I've gotten out a large wallpaper pasting brush to add texture, and brushed over a hot glue drawing for this effect. 

Now That's Different

I've combined a screen print along with some scraped color and direct painting. Oh, and a squirt of line via a bottle filled with thinned dye and paste. It's a fun experiment, might try more. Later on. 

Easy Does It

Students in my printing classes are asked to "soda-soak" their fabric before they get to class. My short cut -- bucket of soda ash solution with 2 gallons and about 4 yards soaks for 15 minutes. Ring and drop in second tub to drain. Next day, hang damp. No drip! Check where I'll be this year for printing https://www.patpauly.com/calendar  which is practically everywhere.

Time Suck

I always underestimate the time it takes to wash out the printed fabric. After a few cold water rinses, then warm, then long soaks in hot (heater is cranked to ultimate) I still put through the washer, then sometimes even boil the fabric. Then a last wash, dry, iron. Sucky process.

Stacking Prints

I'm multitasking here with printing and piecing. Until I can build another print holding rack, here is my backup plan. I've got Styrofoam insulation boards stacked with plastic drain segments and plastic sheeting wraps. Works, and that's all that matters.

Foolin with Indigo

Half of the day at the Schweinfurth wet-studio was spent experimenting with indigo. I'm a printer comfortable with MX or Procion dyes, not natural pigments. I've not gotten the hang of this process, that would take years. But the results are of interest, let's say.

Hide and Seek

This is a print (before washing out) where I used a large wallpaper paste brush to add the texture with thickened dyes to the fabric. The circles are made from rolling over a bumpy circle thingie. I think it looks like hide, or maybe hairy hide. More tricks!