Thursday, January 7, 2010

NIGHT BLOOMS...

I thought I would show you how I begin a painted fabric piece of art. Here I am laying down several colors of acrylic to create the background. I use a plastic credit card to move the colors around and find this gives me the depth and randomness I like. ( this would be the smartest way to use a credit card, right? )
This is the background fabric before I applied the paints.
Here you can see the other piece of fabric on which I have put down several contrasting colors to use in the design that is just beginning to form in my head. After it has dried, I cut out three very simple flower shapes using a transparency. This way I can position them on the fabric to get the various colors where I want them before cutting out the shapes.
This photograph shows the initial arrangement of the flower elements. I continued to move them around until I was happy with the balance. This is a close up of the finished piece. In addition to acrylics I also used oil pastels to get more depth and shading.
"Night Blooms" 17" X 23" - painted fabric I am taking a short break from "painted fabric" to make a doll. I have already assembled the components and have begun construction and will share the process and the end result with you. I'm looking forward to it! Doll making is a lot of fun!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

....sending you a pack of closed credit cards :) - CShoe

Deborah said...

Beautiful! Definitely the best use of a credit card!

(hey)Jude said...

Thanks! I suggest everyone take at least one card and smear paint with it!

Anonymous said...

When I did ceramics the credit card was great a clay tool. I carry cash now and have really used cc only for on line stuff and airline tickets. I can hardly wait to see dolls...d

(hey)Jude said...

Dee,, I also cut different edges on the cards for different designs, like a comb.

JoanMarie said...

Hey Jude!
Sorry I've been so absent on the comment section but it has been quiet hectic here.
Just a couple of questions...what do you use to adhere the flowers and when it is finished, how do you hang it? Do you stretch over a canvas or board?
Oh...and btw...I love what you created here! Simply marvelous just like you!

Unknown said...

Welcome back Joan! Missed you! I attach the painted fabric cutouts with ModPodge and then put a layer of the same stuff over the top. Seems to work well. Also you can use a watered down wood glue with the same results. Right now these pieces are stuck ip on the wall using straight pins in the corners. Eventually, Roy is going to make some frames and I plan to attach the artwork to a thin piece of foamcore. Then, when I glue that to the back board in the frame the piece should look a bit like it is floating. Have not actually done this yet. I will need frames that are routered out to create a very shallow shadowbox-like frame to allow for the depth. Does that make sense?