Nope I'm not Dead!

I have been traveling so long... away from wifi..(can you believe it?) . that some of you were starting to worry about what happened. I'm okay and as busy as I've ever been... back in wifi country... this post is to let you know that and also promote the April 2014 Quilting Cruise through the Panama Canal. It should be a great time with several days at sea or as many classes as you want included in the cruise price. You might click on the link shown on the LINK list to go to the World of Quilts Travel  sight for more info.

Think I'm done with Mel

The 16 x 20  oil painting began in Sedona is now complete... well at least I'm finished working on it.  I 'think'  model Mel would generally approve but I am far from mastering this medium. Mel's hair was plain fantastic.

Meeting Lauren

Day 2 called for all artists to change locations in the room so as to view today's model from a different angle. ( I thought yesterday was a challenge... just wait Patt!)
In prep for a value sketch, meet Lauren sitting straight across from a room wide sliding window set up.  Morning light was pretty nice and I was able to do a value study on paper.   I have to give myself permission to not go back and 'fix' small details as this is NOT a finished paper sketch drawing nor could be given the time allotted.. I must remember this is a value and shape study more than anything else.

Ofcourse, I'm wanting to see an exact likeness given my usual approach to things. Message to self... Lighten up Patt!

Here's the instructors demonstration of the artist from a different perspective.

The afternoon pose set... a sketch attempted.( I failed to photograph mine as I was frustrated big time.) I had a heck of a time this day... trying to squint and see details in the afternoon window light glare. Squinting for me causes multiple images.. No help! Too much astigmatism and eye surgeries over the years.  This is the kind of thing that makes people want to quit ( it did cross my mind too).   Several artists around me were frustrated though for some unflattering reason gave me a  bit of comfort if not progress.  Nonetheless, beautiful young Lauren was a pro.

Instructor  Gretchen helped me a bit and I got back on track so the end of the 2 hour paint session gave me a decent path toward an overall painting I must work on when time permits. When you know you only have 15- 20 minutes more.. you take chances and get moving QUICK...

 Class over.... Headed out for a well-earned margharita!!!

Creativity in Sedona

Have been traveling a few days in sheer delight. 1) Was in Sedona Red Rock Country 2) Was in a private studio portrait in oils class with a world class instructor ( I get to take a class now and then too.) and 3) I took friends to the class too.  I piddled in oils years ago ( I mean 4 or so decades ago without instructions. It was okay but I learned to love watercolors more ( the medium that eventually brought me to painting on fabric with inks).  NOW.. there are water mixable oil paints ( YEAHHHH!!!!) so I might find the best of both traditional painting with water and oil.  I will NOT be departing from inks on fabric.... This is just personal fun!!!!

Established oil painter Gretchen Lopez of Arizona sets up  model "Mel" for a value sketch warm up.

Value studies call for a study of the shapes involved and the locations and intensity of darks. This is a getting to know your subject experience, discovering your understanding of the models planes, core lines, etc. Oh.. my head hurts already.

 So.. those things we see in portrait education books really happen. .. yes a 3/4 view of a head does fit inside a box if done right.
The painting pose is set, and here we go. This will be a "big brush"painting done fairly quickly... i.e.   a loose painting looking for the feel of the model... not so much an attempt at completely accurate realism. This whole effort for me is about loosening up .

First blocking in shapes of darks ( no redrawing the subject on canvas)... we are drawing as we go using a No 10 flat brush ( thats big).Really important learning for me...  Quick sketch and refine... Thank you dear Lord!!  You can wipe off wet oil paint.  YEAH!  I  later took off the dark background angles of her forehead and chin to correct the basic drawing. Darks go on 'thin.' So many of you probably know this stuff... It was new to me. Scary but fun!

This is where I was at the end of about 2 hours  actual painting time. I'm almost done with her face, and have begun the hair.  Background will be last I suspect.   Models need breaks every 15 minutes of so.  Their work is hard.  I leave class at the end of the day with this canvas as is and a reference photo I can use to finish hopefully soon.  New model and challenge the next day.

Quilting My Asian Inspired Collage

I created 2  collaged tops 2 weeks back so I need to get to quilting.  Remember this Asian Design from earlier posts?

Click Here  to go to initial surface design post.

 Some papers attach ( matte medium glue) better than others.... This strip of gold paper seemed a bit stiff and bumpy so I decided to stitch it down as I didn't want it to draw the eye on the finished piece.

 The background fabric is also there only to suppot the added images... That said, again I didn't want to draw attention to the quilting patterns on the background so I used a nondescript  small meander.

 I did echo quilt around  the stamped coins as they are fairly small and needed a little extra showcasing.

The soft textile between the paper strips seems a nice texture change but did need a wee bit of securing.

Butterfly and Bird Collage

I had one more collage quilt top I made so will show it now before quilting. First things first, I layed out the papers and stamped images I wanted to use. ( Papers are the top layer only of printed napkins or hand towels.  The darker teal on outer edges is handmade paper from the art store.  The bottom soft green flourish is fairly large, so I will treat it with extra care when adhering to the mottled cotton yellow and sage background fabric.

The collage gluing process uses a brush and acrylic matte medium found at an art store.  For smaller paper pieces, I carefully brush matte medium on the back side of the tissue, then place it back side down on the fabric. For larger tissues, it may be easier to carefully brush matte medium on the fabric surface , then add paper. Either way, I brayer ("roll across the paper surface"to get it flat) the glued down  papers before carefully brushing a finish layer of matte medium atop the paper image. ( Be careful NOT to brush excess medium on the surrounding background fabric).  This will dry clear and without a shine.

You'll note I have also layered 2 different paper images using the same process of glueing down the background piece ( the soft sage colored flourish bottom left, and then a blue and yellow bird bottom center.) The 3 huddled chickadee birds are a pigment ink stamp. Something else to do with all those owned scrapbooking stamps.
 
When all is dry, I made a light mix of  brown Setacolor transparent paint to brush here and there creating a more antique look.

This is a pretty fun process all in all.  I do note that as the large piece dries fully, there is a wee bit of surface curl at the edges of the piece.... not a concern when quilting begins....

While I didn't feel the need on this piece, I will often at this stage ( all dry)  use prismacolor pencils to enhance color/values I think will be additive to the finished product.

When quilting begins, you CAN quilt through these  matte medium "glued-on" papers"  I tend to use a smaller microtex sharp needle ( no > size 70) which suggests a thread around 40 wt seems to work well.

Ruby Santa ... oh so red and fun

 A note from Arizona's Ruby Koch.. THANK YOU RUBY... you know I love to brag about students work.  This is a REALLY fun piece!!!

"Hi Patt: I finished my Santa from the class you taught for AQG when you were in Phoenix.  I love him and everyone else does too.  I put a little glitter on his cap, tassle and cuffs to set him apart from the beard.  It was a learning experience to quilt him (I got a little carried away with dark, medium and light thread- the painter in me I suppose)  I couldn't face the task of inking a background and I just happened to have that piece of red background in my stash.  

                                         Click on photos for enlarged view. 

                                         Close up view... great stitching detail  

                     Overall View... I LOVE Ruby's choice of background fabric.