Virginia A. Spiegel

Monoprinted fabric

I finally ironed the fabric I painted in my Virtual Studio at IQF-Chicago and here are a few of the pieces.

I have had several inquiries from people who visited with me in Chicago about materials:

I use Createx acrylics. They are multipurpose for fabric, paper, etc. On fabric, iron to set. I do this outside or in a well-ventilated room.

I order them online from the list of suppliers on the Createx Colors website. I use Aatriceco frequently because they offer free shipping on large orders.

I use Kona PFD cotton. I buy wholesale in 100 yard bolts, but I use to buy it at fabric stores. Just check the bolt end for “Prepared For Dyeing.”

The main tip for using Createx colors is to wet the fabric first, otherwise the paint will be too thick. I just use a small bucket, squish the fabric in, wring most of the water out and smooth it down on my painting table.

You can apply the paint with a foam brush, a brayer, stamps, screenprint with it, monoprint, etc.

Brayer-painted fabric

I would recommend that you buy some smaller bottles to start to see if you like the paint. I tried many kinds before I found the kind of paint I like in its application and the end result. The key is paint a lot of fabric until you begin to develop your own techniques and methods – then it becomes really fun and interesting. I plan on devoting much of July to painting fabric en plein air.

Monoprinted, painted and screenprinted fabric

Karen Stiehl Osborn kindly sent me some more photos from the opening reception for Boundary Waters, so I made a webpage for more photos from Saturday here.

Drifting

It’s Tuesday and that means I was out braving the disbelieving stares of my neighbors as I photographed their garbage. A good find today for The Garbage Day Project.

The bonus photo today is from the Portage series. It has nothing to do with TGDP, but I am off to the Boundary Waters in less than ten days and, to be honest, have nothing else on my mind but preparing for that. My sister and I am going in for two weeks, out for a week and then back in for another week with two twenty-year-old women who are friends of her youngest son. Fun!

Gallery talk

What a delightful opening it was! So many friends made the long drive to Norfolk to share the opening with me. The two hours went by in what seemed to be two minutes.

The Norfolk Art Center Executive Director, Kara, and the Assistant Director, Christopher, did a great job of hanging the show and their Guild provided a beautiful buffet of refreshments.

I also met the art-enthusiastic Monty and Katie Wilson, generous sponsors of my show.

To everyone who made the day so very special, very fun and very memorable, I send my sincere thanks.

Please also visit Karen Stiehl Osborn‘s blog for another photo.

I have been invited by Peg Keeney, curator, to submit three works to A Sense of Place: Artists Working in Series which will premier at International Quilt Festival – Houston this November. The theme for the artwork from the sixteen invited artists is the use of landscape as inspiration.

This Studio Art Quilt Associates’ exhibit is sponsored by Janome America Inc. A full color catalog will be published.

The photo today is a detail from Boundary Water 22, one of the three works chosen.