Expression Cloth

Digital Cloth - created in PSE, so far. Eventually it will be printed out. 

 Purple Onion imprint on rust and tea dyed fabric.

 (the camera picked up green instead of purple. hmm)

 Rust and tea dyed fabric ready for? Love the patterning

and lines created by folds. 

Image of weeds layered with an image of a decaying pot.

Might have taken this photo too far into manipulated-land.

Rust dyed

Dharma sells table runners ready for dyeing or embellishing, love that! After this one was washed it was dunked into vinegar before placing steel wool randomly over the surface. Then the table runner was rolled up and put into a bag. Magically, two days later the organic patterning happened.

Thanks for the comments about the flour paste resist. It seems to be true that one person's trash is another person's treasure; I wasn't pleased with the FPR over the screen printed fabric but now I'm starting to look at the results in a new light. A similar thing happened when I parfait dyed another 10 pieces of muslin. Even though Dharma cautions that each bolt can be a lot different than previous ones I still expected the same results and I didn't get them. There are so many variables that can go wrong and one can go nuts trying to determine exactly what they are or one can accept the results and know that every piece of fabric is useful in some way. After scouring the heck out of the fabric, maybe the fabric wasn't accepting the dye as easily, and dyeing a small piece to check if that worked I finally came to the conclusion that I'm being too frugal. Dye mixed and used within 3 days was glorious, but dye left to sit in the broiling garage for longer than 6 days lost its vibrancy. Lesson learned, stop being so frugal! Or, try freezing the mixed dye after 2-3 days. I'll let you know how that goes.


Quote:Abandon the urge to simplify everything, to look for formulas and easy answers,
and to begin to think multidimensionally, to glory in the mystery and paradoxes of
life, not to be dismayed by the multitude of causes and consequences that are
inherent in each experience -- to appreciate the fact that life is complex.
- M. Scott Peck

Surprises!

Look what greeted me yesterday in the bottom of a tray? I had rusted some copper squares. I will be doing something with the photos I took and the gorgeous rusted squares. Wish I could paint an abstract as well as nature gifted me with; course if it weren't for the vinegar this wouldn't have existed.

R. and I have date-night on Thursdays and usually go out to dinner but once-in-awhile a change is nice. I can't remember the last time I sat in a theater to see a movie, Netflix is great! but we couldn't resist seeing "Julie & Julia." For eons, it seems, that I have been fascinated by Julia's life and how she helped shape the interest of cuisine in this country. Without people like her where would we be? I'm a huge fan of dining on excellent food. The movie was very enjoyable, just wish more time had been spent with Julia than Julie, but it is Julie's story after all. I found the original blog that Julie started in 2002, her newest blog is on blogspot under her name Julie Powell. It'll take me a long time to get through the first blog, but so far it's been a fun read. I took a look at J. Powell's book at the bookstore last week and think that I'll enjoy the blog rather than reading the book.

I have read "My life in France" by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. She and her husband were a great team.

Quotes: "Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." "Life itself is the proper binge." "Noncooks think it's silly to invest two hours work for two minutes enjoyment; but if cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet." Julia Child

Rust dyed fabric

Some time back I rust dyed a leaf print that has spent considerable time on my sewing desk. Last night I cut out a tree shape and fused it onto dye-na-flow painted pellon. Boring! The depth, dark areas, came about while coffee dyeing some handmade paper; I can't stand to toss leftovers. What would happen if I lightly added some coffee? Much improved. The 4x6 inch piece is now waiting for further inspiration.

The example is the rust dyed leaf pattern and beneath it is a pre-dyed piece of fabric.

Quote: The day, sun, moon, night - I do not have to purchase these things with money. Plautus.

Fall leaves

I vaguely remember when I bought this "blah" print years ago that it needed some punch to it. Along came rust dyeing and the punch. Amazing that a grey dull print could end up with so much zing. Now what to do with it?

Quote: Ahhhh, my ultimate barbershop ambition has now changed from winning a quartet gold medal to being stranded on a desert island with Zing! -- Tom Gentry

Rusting away . . .

A few pieces that were rust dyed last week. I thought that I had a small horseshoe, apparently I don't, or, it got away from me. this one is too large for my purposes. (Anyone have a spare small one?) The center area on the right one is one of my favorite designs, nails.
This piece of fabric was a remnant purchased many years ago that was wrapped around metal flashing, thus the line in the center on the left example. On the right: I like the antique effect on the backside; the faint writing, backwards, and the leaf pattern. Stay tuned for what I might do with this fabric.
The lines/pattern in this piece were begging for some color, or at least I thought so. I love dye-na-flow paint! Easy and dries fast. In real life, the black dots and blobs are separate and shine.

Quote: At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since. Salvador Dali

Creative Groove

Another great question Seth asked for "The Pulse" is:

How do you get your creative groove?

I'm always in the Mental Grove but a lot much depends on what is happening in my life as to when the Creative Groove happens. (Energy deficit being what it is.) Often though, it’s an overwhelming need to throw paint onto a substrate that gets me into the studio, or a challenge that I join on a yahoo group.

Just start: Picking up a well used paint brush and pulling out a few favorite colors of acrylic paint often works. Or, a response to something like the Cirque Du Soleil inspired series I began after a weekend in Las Vegas. I found the visuals of the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics to be exceedingly inspiring, enough so that I’ve been jotting down ideas. I’m in awe of anything done well.

Mulling/researching time: I often need to mull things over before starting to work in a new medium such as deconstruction screen printing that I’ve just become interested in. I nearly always put together a “kit” of the supplies needed for something and that excites me enough to start. DSP requires screens, dyes, and thickener all of which have been purchased; the excitement is building.

All it used to take was to photograph anything and I’d be in the groove.

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Rust mono-print. Background.

Quote: Images help me find and realize ideas. I look at hundreds of very different, contrasting images and I pinch details from them, rather like people eat from each other people's plates. Francis Bacon

Rust dyeing

Found some odd metal, roof tiles, at the home improvement store so tossed a couple into a vinegar, water and salt bath and the next day wrapped a scrap piece of muslin around the already rusting metal and drenched it with more vinegar. Two days later glorious patterns had printed onto the muslin including the price tag on the back side! At first I was upset by that and then I thought that maybe it might be a good idea for a resist. Yep, this is from one piece of metal. The folded muslin made 5.5 prints.

Quote: I have a promiscuous muse. My muse wants to own every color, work in many media, and in numerous genre. Mary Klotz

I'm immersed in an online felting workshop, nothing to show yet, but having a blast!

Mono-printing

Regarding a question posted, yes, I often use Quinacridone colors in order to get a rust color; I especially love Nickel Azo Gold over Payne's Grey or Turquoise and Red Iron Oxide over anything, but there's no substitute for the real thing. Washers and nails were used to create this composition. I've discovered that paper towels and muslin work best for mono-printing.

I'll be posting a few pieces in the next few days where I have relied heavily on Quinacridone colors for a rusted effect.

Quote: Thank you Sally Huss for this: Joy lasts as long as you remember that it belongs to you.

Rusted bag

For some reason the fabric for this bag wouldn't rust the first or second time I dyed it! It's a fabric of indeterminate blend that I got in the $1 a yard bin at the fabric store. The weave almost looks like linen but its not; I liked it because it was off-white which I think is often better for rust dyeing than pure white is. If all else fails allow the fabric to rust for over a week.

I've run into a block regarding the Cirque Du Soleil series! Or, maybe it's time, already, to move on to something else. I wondered if I could maintain enough momentum to do a series.

Quote: I started out as a realist painter. I would paint that rock. Now, I paint the essence of rocks--what I feel when I see them. Pat Dewes.

Pat Dewes HERE

Rust dyed distressed felt

I didn't notice the obvious line in the center until I scanned this piece and looked at it in PSE!! I'll have to break up the line. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with this background for an exchange I'm participating in. Rust dyed felt and painted dryer sheets have been distressed with a heat gun and soldering iron.





Quote: Live Happy! Life is better that way.

Another musing from Sally Huss

Rust dyeing (painting)

Being that I was so long-winded yesterday I thought I'd just post a quick one today. There isn't a paint on the market that duplicates the color of rust, at least I've never found one. For the background on this assemblage I dipped a wet brush into rust dust that had settled on the bottom of a metal lid and dabbed it onto the textured canvas.
The amaryllis in the digital collage below lasted over a week before dying. Happily, the next bloom on the plant is just about ready to burst forth. Elegance in its purest form!

Quote: Your thoughts are your future. Make them glorious. Sally Huss

Handmade paper

A scan of the mandala, below, without the magical moth.
Rust dyeing has taken over! The usual way to dye with rust is to put rusty pieces on the surface (mono printing) or wrap the fabric around a rusted item. I'm experimenting with paper and ways to embed rust rather than surface dye handmade paper. Nothing happened for the first 2 hours this sheet was drying and then suddenly rust started spreading throughout the entire sheet! Eureka! I want a little less rust next time.

Quote: After fifty most of the bullshit is gone.
Isabel Allende

Texture Plates

Why make my own texture plates? Because I'm looking for a more free-form design than most of the plastic ones provide. And, why not?! This is the site that started it all:
http://tinyurl.com/2fx526 And then I discovered circle pasta at the grocery store. Nope, not make Raviolio's, or whatever that canned pasta dish is.
Example 1: Not sure where I was going with this but it was great fun. I gave it a test run on a rust dyed paper towel using a Shiva Iridescent Red paintstik. A ghost image next to each circle appeared when the paper towel shifted a little; I like it! The bottom examples were done on a paper bag from Trader Joe's. (paper bags used to protect wine bottles. As with most things from Trader Joe's these are special; they have red sides on them!) The center and the one on the right are of the texture plate above; Three different colors were used. With each color change the paper was moved around on the texture plate. The one on the left is from example #3.


Example #2. Pretty much self-explanatory. A rust dyed paper towel was again used for the test run.

Lines! Everything seems to be about lines right now; lately, I seem to be attracted to them. Paper towel on the right, rust dyed muslin on the bottom with Iridescent Blue Shiva paintstik

Mail Art!

Does anyone not love receiving mail art?! The postcard below is from Darlene. The mailing deadline for the A2Z/favorite quote postcard exchange is on Monday; today is Saturday! I of course waited until the last minute to put the finishing touches on mine. Darlene's work never fails to amaze me and this one is no exception; it's elegant in its simplicity and I'm thrilled that it's now in my collection!

The page on the left is from a foreign text book, Italian, that I dampened and placed over the rust sludge in the bottom of a plastic container. A couple of hours later I was treated to a beautiful stained paper! The container is dedicated to rusting fabric in and I imagine will continue to create wondrous amounts of sludge for dyeing paper in.

Quote on the postcard: Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.

Albert Szent Gyorgi

Sun Damaged Red Pepper

I absolutely couldn't resist photographing the red pepper, but what to put the 3 inch marvel on?

I discovered a chunk of rusted paper towel in the garage today that instantly became a paper towel rock! No one in the world has this rock formation! Or, for that matter the red pepper that dropped off of the plant late last night (most likely from heat stroke!) or the rusted tissue paper either! One-of-a-kinds! Oh how I love them!

The image on the right is an example from a fabric wrapped bottle that was rusted in bits of steel wool and then dunked in white vinegar. The fabric, a polyester/cotton white sheet, was wrapped around the bottle for at least 5 days before the unveiling. The organic markings are little vignettes spread out randomly over the fabric. Lovely!

Rusty nails

I'm blown away by this one! Nothing happened for hours and suddenly magic happened. I think that the nails are from a nail gun,. I picked them up months ago while taking a walk around the block and tossed them onto a heap of stuff; I like the way they're attached and lined up. They rusted all by themselves and were waiting for me to rediscover them. The fabric is an old sheet.

Rust Dyeing

Rust dyeing or staining? I think that these pieces fall under the staining category.

The tissue paper was stained when I dried the rusted felt piece on it, the lutradur which is the bottom right odd shaped piece was definitely stained from a baking sheet and the wrapped chenille stem was made from dryer sheets that were also stained from a baking sheet. Or dyed!

I wrapped a couple of dryer sheets around the chenille stem and then blasted it with a heat gun. I've never heard or read of anyone doing this before, but I imagine someone has! Anyway, when the dryer sheets were blasted with the heat gun they melted and grabbed onto the chenille stem making a permanent bond. Cool fusing technique! I've been working on a mandala for a couple of weeks now; it's giving me problems. I think that the wrapped chenille stem is the answer to how to define a troublesome area on the mandala.

Rust Dyeing

Steel wool pad wrapped inside of distressed acrylic felt and rusted in white vinegar with some salt tossed in.

The first time I rinsed the felt to get the rust flakes off of the piece the rust dyeing also went down the sink! Why? Could it be that I didn't pre-treat the felt, or that the dyeing process wasn't done yet? Back to the soaking vat for 2 more days; this time the piece completely dyed rather than random areas. I allowed the felt to dry first and then semi-rinsed it fearing that the rust dye would again go down the drain. It didn't. To dry it the second time I sandwiched the felt between tissue paper and wax paper and allowed it to dry flat. The tissue paper is visible behind the distressed felt. Okay, so if the felt dyed the tissue paper maybe the felt still isn't rinsed enough? A little forethought; this may be the only time the felt will look this way so I photographed it before heading into the 100 degree garage to rinse it.

Later: I rinsed and rinsed the felt and the problem seems to be that the rust settled into the distressed areas with a very tight grip and might continue to flake off! The torn muslin piece I rusted at the same time was vastly improved after rinsing it; the color that is left is lovely. The felt now looks more coffee stained than rust dyed. Interesting.

I could absolutely kick myself but who knew that two cast iron skillets, muffin tins and a divided sourdough bread pan would have been nice to rust fabric in?!! Seeing how I've rusted tins and washers I should have known not to toss the rusty items during the hectic packing for the move! I think that I may have even donated a skillet during the unpacking! At least I had the sense to bring the baking sheets, horse shoes, and rusted bars with me. Old Teflon baking sheets rust well once they've been scratched and I have quite a few of them!

I picked up a tarp at the dollar store last week to put down on the garage floor. There is something about having a brand new house that almost keeps me from making messes! Before I got the tarp I did manage to splatter the floor with spray paint and some of the rust. The tarp is the perfect size for the area I work in so I'll need to stock up on them!

The rust dyed pieces are now drying on the wood clothes rack that I've had for so long that I don't remember not having it! I think the only thing holding it together is the layers of paint from paper painting sessions. I was planning to look for a large enough plastic container for the rusty rods but decided that if the one I have isn't in use why wait! I have a tendency to buy containers on sale and when I return for more I never find them again. Talk about a bunch of mismatched containers! It's a Virgo thing . . .

I saved an old sheet that I'm cutting down so that I can continue experimenting with rust dyeing. I have a piece of lutradur soaking right now. Definitely addictive!

Even Later: the rust dyed felt dried in about 3 hours, what wouldn't in a boiling hot garage?! The felt isn't as rich as it was, pooh, but I'm wondering what would happen if I bleached out some areas. At least it appears that the felt has stopped flaking. I have 3 pieces soaking in vinegar and the one with steel wool bits spread out over the fabric and then rolled around a bottle is already rusting!