Monday, September 07, 2009

Cloth and fantastic weather!

What more can I say?

These pictures say it all…well most of it.

No rain predicted for another week. I can leave all this out overnight and not worry – day after day. Perfect art cloth weather. I feel so blessed!

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This is my print table with silk screened images on a length of silk broadcloth.

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Detail up close.

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I checked out the new SDA workshop CD and had to try Kerr Grabowskis deconstructed technique. These are my dye painted screens drying in the sun. I found the technique was OK but I was disappointed with the few decent pulls I was able to get given all the up front work.

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I do love the fine outline I got around each shape, I only wish I could get more…

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I find that Jane Dunnewold’s improvisational silk screening gives me more consistent results. These are the painted interfacing stencils I used today, drying in the sun. What is so nice about this approach is that the stencils are reusable.

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Dye paint mixed and ready to go.

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This is a 10 foot length of broadcloth. Half is silk screened and the second half is ready to be screened.

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Close up of dried cloth, ready for the steam pot.

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I am having to steam my cloth this week as I forgot to refrigerate my dyes. Yes, I left them out over the weekend – ugh!

So I am having to use my pre-mixed concentrates as acid dyes so as not to waste them completely. This works pretty well as long as I can keep the hot steaming process outdoors!

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Close up of a panel I painted today.

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A new screen I made late this afternoon, air drying, ready for tomorrow’s screening.

More sun forecast, more shine and therefore more cloth! Wow.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
You have been busy!!!!

Andree

Kit said...

Indeed!
the big push is on for next week...week 5 in San Antonio. Wish me luck.

Judy Martin said...

OK, Now I have to try all those things. I have been procrastinating, but your blog is very inspiring. Thanks very much Kit.

Kit said...

Thanks Judy,
I find that once I get going with this stuff it is addictive - one process leads to another.
Next thing I know, I have run out of fabric and I am looking for old sheets...

Carol said...

Just stunningly beautiful. I'm not a fabric person, or dyer, or even much of an artist but I just love what you are doing and wish I could do it too.

Kit said...

Carol, all the way from NSW!
There is mutual admiration here as I have just now discovered your blog dedicated to bookbinding. I have dabbled oh so briefly in this art and now have a new bookmark for a wonderful reference!

Kit

Leah said...

i like the photo of your work on the clothesline. thanks for sharing photos of the process.

i especially love the photo in your header, beautiful colors and lovely stitches.

Kit said...

Thanks Leah,
some of that image owes some to the thread I used. Hand dyed by Linda Palaisy from Ottawa at:
http://lindapalaisy.ca/

Kit

Dahn said...

Just wanted to say that I only stumbled across your blog today and I have already found so many tips!

Your dye work is wonderful and it is really nice to find another Canadian dyer. Although I am nowhere near as accomplished as you...

Thanks for all the great tips and inspiration.

Kit said...

Hi Dawn,
thanks for the encouraging words. you may have noticed that I haven't posted in Eons.
I decided to take a break from the blog about a year ago - I find that I can blog about doing art or I can make art, not both. Wish I could...works great for others - not me.

cheers,
Kit

Unknown said...

Wow Kit,

I've just spent the most inspiring hour looking through your blog! I'm so pleased I have found you out there in cyber space.

I'm lloking forward to seeing more! I think I am greedy!

Hugz

Sally in Hobart, Tasmania

Karen G in NY USA said...

Kit,You are sooo accomplished!!!Fantastic work and I wish we lived closer,I would love to watch you doing the silk screening.So neat!!