Blue Rhapsody Printed

 I decided to run with the idea of printing a number of the same block - varying the colors.  I thought it might be more modern if I printed on a white background.  I dunno - the square format for this block sort of falls flat to my eye.  What do you think?

Rhapsody in Color - Design Idea for "Pattern"

This piece is finished.  It measures 56 x 31", so it cannot be used for the exhibition in question.  However - I do like this quite a lot.  It is dramatic and has movement in spite of the fact it is the same block printed repeatedly.  I could do something like this in a 40 x 40" square. 

Black, White and Red

This piece was started 4 years ago as part of a series that stalled out.  It is complete - quilted and all, but needs to be trimmed, bound and have a sleeve added.  I got excited when I measured the height - 40".  But I cannot make it 40" in width unless the red squares are bisected.  (the printing block is not actually square, but is 4" x 3 3/4".  Thus - the quilt cannot be trimmed to a square.  At least, not nicely.

Montana Mudcloth in the Running

 I really loved this piece when I printed it several years ago.  The fabric was eco dyed using wild sunflowers.  I carved a series of printing blocks with this format in mind.  Once it was printed I admired it on my design wall until I needed the wall space for something else and then it went into a drawer for 3 or 4 years.  This whole cloth piece could be easily quilted up and bound and ready to go.  It easily fits the theme "Pattern".  It easily fits the 40x40 dimensions. It is actually a rectangle, so several inches would be cut off to make the 40 x 40" size.

But is it too dull?  Too drab?  Too simple?  These are the questions I ask myself as I consider it.  Tomorrow I will post it in a different orientation with some of my other ideas for making it more artful.  Interested in your ideas, in the meantime.

Almost Spring Group - Design Wall

I pinned this group of 12 entitled "Almost Spring" to my design wall in order to get a good look at them as a group and individually.  I am not sure they are finished, but I am going to put them aside for now, I think.  Maybe I will have some inspiration or ideas for going further, but right now - no......Once they are finished, I plan to square them up and mount them onto cradle boards.  I have just ordered some from Dick Blick that I want to try....

Almost Spring #10 - 12 Works In Progress

 Almost Spring #10

 

 Almost Spring #11

Almost Spring #12

Almost Spring # 7 - 9 In Progress

 Almost Spring #7

 Almost Spring #8

Almost Spring #9

Almost Spring #4 - 6 In Progress

 Almost Spring #4

 Almost Spring #5

Almost Spring #6

Almost Spring Series #1 - 3 Works In Progress

 I've added some printed circles in Raw Umber and some screen printed branches to a few of these.  I have decided to call this series "Almost Spring" and I have numbered them 1 - 12.  I do not think these are finished yet, but they are getting closer.  I often discover the next step by photographing the work and looking at it on my laptop screen. 

 Almost Spring #1

 Almost Spring #2

Almost Spring #3

Up Close and Personal - Works In Progress

More White Over Spring Colors

White Paint and Print

Here is the series, now, drying on the floor after I have added white paint brushed on and lifted and block printing with white, as well (reverse letter printing block).

The Spring Colors Series In Progress

 I snapped a few pictures of the group of 12  collages as they lay on the floor to dry.  I wanted to demonstrate how they are all similar, but each is different.  They work as a series and now I hope to make them work as individual works. 

Up to now, my decisions have been more general - in terms of colors and choice of implement, etc.  It will get more specific from here on.

A Closer Look

Here is a closer look at one of the pieces in the series.  Just a little assessment before going forward.....You can easily see what I have done with all of the layers I have shown so far.  The mark making is now barely visible.  The music and text parts are covered by paint and print.  The magazine paper is now an element in the background...The block printing speaks, but not too loudly.  I continue to be happy with the way things are going on this series.

Blue on the Mixed Media Collage Series

I got a little off my color idea with the red, but now I am back on track with blue.  This time, I used a studio acrylic - a thicker paint.  So it is a bit more opaque.  The blue introduces the color of the sky to my color palette.  I am using the colors of early spring in Montana.  Browns, Ochre, and blue.  The red is just a fantasy.....but I do crave color!  (and the red is a compliment to the blue).  No changing it now - on to the next thing!

Next Color - Red!

Back to the collage series work in progress.....I decided to warm things up a bit with some red.  I used a fluid acrylic, brushed on and then I lifted some of the paint with a hand carved stamp (row of circles).  I printed onto another area of the paper with the color that had been lifted.  So far I am happy with my color choices and process.  (I seem to always be happy when I am using a printing process!)

Block Printing Mountains and Foreground

Two different blocks are used next to create the illusion of mountains and foreground.  Pebeo Setacolor paints on hand carved rubber blocks.

Block Printing the Sky

The next step is to define the sky area of this landscape piece by block printing the top 2/3 of the fused collage.  I use Pebeo Setacolor opaque white fabric paint with a group of swirly hand carved rubber blocks.  This unifies the space quite nicely.

Alternative Energy - vs- Fossil Fuels Journal

The artists were also required to create a journal about their subject and piece.  Here is the cover for my journal.  I made this wrap around cover for my journal.  The top image is the front and this second image is the back of the journal cover. 

Earth Stories - Putting it Together

Here is a photo of the work in progress.  The big wind turbines are fused in place and I am auditioning this hand printed black fabric for the base.   Again, perhaps this will not be a collage, but rather, a whole cloth section that will be seamed to the top.