A Different Direction

Well sorta, I'll still be incorporating Queen Anne's Lace onto these new panels, that I found earlier today while cleaning my studio, but this time I'm also adding my birds, crows, etc., to the mix.  Yes, I'm much happier about this change in direction, what I will do to resolve the other six panels I haven't decided yet.

I used my Black Birds in Tree Stencil from StencilGirl Products for the left side of each panel, and will be adding other crows, birds, and of course Queen Anne's Lace to the right side of each panel along with some text.

Queen Anne's Lace Panels in Progress

Not feeling the love!  I'm left wondering how much better these panels would turn out if I wasn't so distracted by a million things that need to be done before my solo show is hung this weekend?

As you can see from the previous photo that each layer of paint is leading towards improvement, and yet I'm just not feeling it.  The good news is I found six gesso'd raised panel frames today that I plan to go full tilt on later this evening! 

Baltic Birch raised panel frames, taped and gesso'd another words ready for paint!

Queen Anne's Lace No 4 & No 8 in Progress

No. 8 on the left and No. 4 on the right, both of which are upside down.  I love the orchid interior that's framed with the gold metallic paint.  I will create a panel for No. 8 this evening.

Also on my desk Queen Anne's Lace No's 4-6 which I'm hating at the moment, but will continue to push until I'm in love with them.  Acrylic paint on baltic birch raised panel frames 8x8x2 inches.

Queen Anne's Lace No. 8 in Progress

John helped me remove the clock face, thought I was going to have to cut the silly thing out but he was finally able to loosen a nut that was holding the arms in place.

The back, which I removed as it wasn't possible to remove the face of the clock body without it falling completely apart.

The clocks innards now live in my mixed media junk box.

First base coat of paint.

Now to take some measurements and stitch up a panel for the interior.

Queen Anne's Crows No. 7 in Progress

I ditched the clock body altogether and am so much happier for having done so, now to create a panel (the one in the upper portion of the niche is a sample) for the upper section of the niche and this piece is good to go.  I'm off to stitch up a new panel for this piece!

One of those Moments

When I decided to lose the red.

And was oh so glad I did!  More later am off to look at my embellishments cache while the first layer of gold paint dries.

WIP Queen Anne's Crows No0 1

I have to admit while I really like the half and half harlequin coloring of this particular niche it's really rocking in metallic gold paint!  I need to add a second coat of paint and then when it's dry enough buff on some metallic black gold wax.

I will add purple to the back of niche (inside) and I think it's pretty much done.

And Now with Gold!

The lighting is not the best, but I added a first layer of metallic gold paint on the side walls of the niche.  It looks great not in this photo of course, but trust me the gold and the purple really pop!

I need to find my stash of barbed wire bits and pieces, there's a natural crease line in the timtex about a third up from the bottom that seems like a natural spot to put some barbed wire. As I've been painting this piece I've been contemplating what other colors and embellishments I want to add to this piece, aside from the tiny bit of barbed wire I haven't come up with much yet.

WIP Now with Purple

First layer purple for the background and I have to say I made a mess of things but I'm now starting to rock this niche!!!  While this one dries I'm working on painting the other niches and found six raised panel frames that are begging for Queen Anne's Lace to grace them with their beauty!

WIP Queen Anne's Crows No. 7

Queen Anne's Crows No. 7

I don't like the clock face in this one, for starter's it's to white.  And while I'm tempted to rip the clock out altogether it does occur to me that I could get the clock functioning, after dulling up the clock face a wee bit, and put it up for sale at one of the local gallery shops.  Otherwise, yes I'm tempted to pull the clock face out and put something more meaningful, to me, in it's place.

Queen Anne's Crow No 4

Now with a base color of white. The central panel has been wrapped with plastic wrap to protect it from my surfacing endeavors.  Touching the work has finally moved me beyond my stuck place, I'm now getting to know each personally.

WIP Queen Anne's Crows No 5

I'm not overly ripped on this shade of red, but for a base coat on the wood this will do, I'm wanting a much deeper shade of red. As for the paint dripping on the stitched panel never fear, that panel has been covered with plastic wrap.

I have to say I had doubts but this was a great idea, I figure if I truly end up hating the color(s) I can always paint the piece black, BUT, the act of painting the wood got me to thinking about the piece, what I want to add and where, what other colors do I want to add, do I want to leave the birds as is?  Btw you can get hose birds from my stencil series over at StencilGirl Products, the birds are a part of my Three Crows Series.  Am off to look at my copper nail and barbed wire collections while this layer of paint dries!

Before the first layer of red paint.

Queen Anne's Crows

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

No. 5

Painted timtex, natural dyed silk organza, machine stitching, digitally printed fabrics, found eggs, copper nails and wire, barbed wire, reclaimed clock bodies.

Adobe Cloud SUCKS

It is Sooooooooooooooooo nice to know that I pay $49.99 a month for a cloud program that is well, SH*T!  Excuse me but I'm one of those b*tches that expects when I click on a program on my computer to open up and with no issues.  And by no issues I mean it actually opens up instead of giving me the redundant Photoshop, Bridge, or Illustrator is not responding right now message.

Ummm actually I may be bordering on insanity with my level of expectations!  The program opens and closes without any notice and this is just not exceptable. Overall I give Adobe Cloud an solid "F" as in Adobe's Cloud is */#*&^%(@ sh*t!  Adobe if you want the masses to pay for your garbage and allow you to hold them hostage well then you need to offer a much better product.

WIP ~ Plains

Am not sure on the orientation!

Earth pigments on silk organza and cotton fabrics.

Experimental Birds and Studio Clean Up

I have a bunch of altered papers so I decided to use my Three Crows Stencil to make some cut outs for some upcoming projects, so far it's a LOT of fun!

Shiva paintstik in iridescent copper and raspberry pink folk art paint on blue scrapbook paper.

Cleared off my drawing table, let the fun begin, well for me it's cleared off!

Am gearing down for my solo show next month, and another project that will be revealed about mid-month so decided it was time to do a little cleaning and organizing so I can focus!

I found this raised panel frame earlier, while organizing my paper storage rack, it's been hiding there since about 2009.

Solo Show

The reveal coming and soon, until then enjoy this oil pastel drawing, on paper, I made of a local bin and silo from June 2009.

Mark Making with Nature Video Series

Mark Making with Nature Video Series

Beyond the Ordinary in Surface Design

Digital Video Series 

Rent ($19.95) or 

Own ($39.95) it 

Today!!!

This video series is available as a digital download from Vimeo.com!

Part One:

• Getting Started
• Painting with Natural Dyes & Gutta Resists
• Creating a mono chromatic painting with Natural Dyes
• Bound Resist

Part Two:

• Other Resists, using tape as a resist, etc.
• Monoprinting with objects.
• Screen printing with Natural Dyes
• Stamping and More with Natural Dyes

Part Three:

• Bundle and/or Compost Dyeing
• Other Bundle Dyeing techniques

• Mixing Surface Design Techniques (painting, resists, etc.,) to achieve gorgeous cloth!

Part Four:

• Making the Gum Tragacanth Binder

• Using textured brayers to make marks on the cloth

• Screen Printing using resists and non traditional techniques (a variation on deconstructed screen printing)

• Monoprinting with found vegetation such as grasses and leaves.

WIP Red Crow

The madder lac dyed silk organza is much darker than these photos depict, the stencil sketch of the crow barely peaking through due to the lighting.  I managed to stitch an outline of the crow in a coordinating reddish heathered wool thread from Aurifil Threads.

I've decided that this smallish piece will now become part of a larger piece I'm working on for my upcoming solo show, as crows and ravens have always been a prominent icon out here on the western prairie and plains.

A Crow Project

Crow Stencil  from StencilGirl Products outlined in Pitt Pen with Shiva Paintstiks in iridescent copper and white, on madder lac dyed silk organza layered over white silk dupioni fabric.  Timtex core with white cotton backing.  Machine and hand stitching.

The paintstiks don't show up well in this photo, will take a photo tomorrow using natural light.