Textile Art for TOCAL exhibition

Forgive my  poor photography which shows reflected fluro lights –

this framed piece is being entered into the Art Society’s exhibition at the Tocal Field Days – an annual event held this coming weekend.  

Tocal agricultural college is a short drive from Dungog.

This piece, “Forest Floor”, was made with monoprints using Jo Sonja acrylic paints, cotton and silk fabrics, deconstructed screen print, and to create additional texture hand stitching was applied.   It has a very earthy appearance.

Teaching in 2011

Contemporary Quilting ‐ Abstraction, Paint & Stitch Workshop

for  ATASDA NSW

 Sat/Sun 12/13 November 2011 at Epping (Sydney).

 This workshop will focus on contemporary quilt making using mixed media and showcasing strong visual imagery.

 Students will be guided in the creation of unique, abstract styled fabrics, using textile paints and Shiva oilstiks on paper and fabric.

Each person will create their own sample using varied machine stitching styles, easy‐peasy free‐motion embroidery work, hand stitching, embellishment methods and the creation of visual texture.   Contact ATASDA NSW for further details.   This workshop is open to members and non-members.

  

Creative hearts & minds

Sydney’s continuing rainy weather is influencing the time spent in my studio.   Straying somewhat from my usual methods, I have been playing with paper, acrylic paints, threads and other yummy bits and pieces.  

I was one of three members asked to be guest speakers at the ATASDA NSW Christmas meeting yesterday on 4/12/2010.  I showed fifteen quilts – traditional and contemporary and talked about the techniques used and inspiration behind their designs.    Being part of the ATASDA group yesterday felt very special – time to enjoy other’s hearts and minds – to see and hear about their creative endeavours and what matters to them.  

My presentation included this unfinished piece of quilt-art made primarilly with hession and paper.  I applied Jo Sonja’s acrylic paints and stitching by machine and hand.  More work is needed to complete this piece of quilt-art.

And….after my presentation, a very nice surprize happened…..After the meeting I was delighted when one lady asked to purchase my tulip quilt that I designed especially to enter into the Quilters’ Guild Darling Harbour exhibition earlier this year.   It’s gone to a good home – I couldn’t be happier.

Once home again, I unwound by doing a little more work to this piece which reflects my love of outback Australia where the rich earthy colours dig deeply into my soul.

More and more, I am finding my mind is concentrating on elements of design.   This piece is quite symmetrical but with subtle diversions. 

Do you like it?  I welcome your impressions especially about design and what impacts on YOU.

Textile Art for hanging around (wall)

Again my love of the Flinders Ranges has been expressed in yet another wall quilt. Created with cotton fabric I rusted with things collected from the council cleanup (lots of fun looking), then more fabrics were stamped and painted with Jo Sonja acrylic paints (dilluted with textile medium) I am very happy with the outcome. You will see that monoprinting techniques were used to create textural images that reflect the essence of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

Beads were also applied, along with hand stitch using some of my “precious” yarns bought on a whim.

Again I was interested to view the tonal qualities of these colours, by playing with Photoshop to create a black and white image.

I have been reflecting a lot on the degree of time I spend on the computer – something I find too frustrating for words, but relief is in sight – as plans are underway to make more time and space available for my textile art experiences. So, you can hope to see more of my work in the near future. I am looking forward to sharing with my wider community in this way, so please do drop me a comment every now and again, will you?

Textile Art – new pieces are on the scene!

“Natures Forces” was created on cotton cloth using Jo Sonja’s acrylic paints, then stitched by machine, embellished further with hand stitching. This time I did not dilute the paints and so the high pigmentation gives an intensity I really like for this particular image.

Curious to view the values I included a black and white image of the same piece.

“Natures Forces” has been entered into the “Brush With Art” exhibition in South Australia.

More pieces are coming to my blog….so please come back and revisit soon. You will see more of my entries into the Brush With Art exhibition.