Virginia A. Spiegel

This is an assortment of fabric that I screenprinted.  After I paint on a first layer of paint, then it’s time to screenprint.  My screens are made from my photos Photoshopped to black and white and burned on a Thermofax machine.  I’ve never shared my screens because, hey, they are very personal.  But I support the work Lynn Krawczyk is doing in popularizing screenprinting and so agreed for her to feature on of my screens for one month only.

The screen called Yellow Leaf (shown printed by Lynn below) is available on Lynn’s Etsy shop only until January 31.

Below is the original photo that I Photoshopped before making it black and white for the Thermofax:

I have printed this screen in gold on blue dyed fabric and silver on green painted fabric – so subtle and elegant.  So don’t think it has to be yellow just because of its origin or Lynn’s example.  The main thing with screenprinting is just to have some fun with it.

Lynn Krawczyk

Lynn Krawczyk is an engineer in the auto industry who seems to also work full time as an artist.  Her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibits and published in magazines and books.  She is featured in the Quilting Arts DVD Print, Design, Compose and shares all-things screenprinting in her Etsy store, including her new line of fabric. Lynn is donating three fiber BONUSES for Foto/Fiber 2012 as well as an artwork for the Foto/Fiber Drawings.

1.  How do you find/make time to be in your studio?
Life is always full and hectic and there never seems to be enough time to get anything done. But I’ve found if I use small time blocks, those moments when you don’t think they are enough to accomplish anything, I can get a lot done. I’m all about squeezing things in whenever a few moments present themselves.

2.  Describe your studio in five words.  
Messy, inspirational, vibrant, home, chaotic.

3.  If you could pick only one thing from your studio to represent your art practice, what would it be?  
 Definitely my print table. Its pretty much where all the action happens, its sort of like a table in a kitchen – constantly used and well loved and covered in marks that my art has been there.

4. What is the best/worst space you have ever had as a studio?  
The worst was when I had none and tried to use the whole house as one, didn’t work out so well. The best is what I have now, a spare bedroom dedicated to nothing but art making. Its not huge but it doesn’t have to be. It functions very well for me.

5.  What would make a “dream studio” for you?  
One that is large enough to share with other artists. I dream of huge print tables, sinks for washing things out that is at a height where you don’t have to hunch over and walls of windows for tons of natural light and pretty views. I plan to build one when I win the lotto.

Lynn has stacked up her 3 Fiber BONUSES for Foto/Fiber 2012 here.
Hand-printed fabric from Lynn’s new fabric line and a collage are two items
to be found in your Fiber BONUS envelope.

6.  What would you advise someone setting up a studio for the first time?
Do what works for YOU. You can spend a lot of time studying what other people do but until you tailor it to your needs, it won’t work right. It doesn’t need to be perfect and be willing to let it evolve with you as you continue growing with your art.

 7.  Any unique features/studio pets you would like to share? 

I like to cover my walls in artwork, kind of like building a shrine to art. I know a lot of artists like bare walls for calmer thinking but not me – I want the energy of art around me!

8.  Any new exhibits or projects we should know about?

I’ve really settled into a kind of imagery and color palette that I really enjoy with my work. It excites me so much that I’ve decided to offer a small hand printed line of fabric in my shop. Its all the colors I love and has images that I’ve drawn by hand. So excited about it!

***Share the news about Foto/Fiber 2012, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and be entered to win a copy of Cate Prato’s new book, Inside the Creative Studio.***

Yellow Leaf – Featured Screen of the Month

Lynn Krawczyk’s Featured Screen of the Month on her comprehensive screen printing ETSY site is Yellow Leaf, created from one of my personal photos.  It’s very me as the leaf I photographed and then converted to black and white for burning a screen became a shattered and incomplete image of a leaf. This is just the sort of image that I believe makes a great screen as it isn’t static; there is a story of time and dissolution.

This is an exclusive design for Lynn. I don’t plan on personally ever selling screens even though I create them and use them all the time to create my fabric for my art.  This screen will only be available today through January 31.

The screen is called Yellow Leaf  because that was the color of the original leaf in the photograph from which Lynn created a screen for you.  But you should use your imagination to print your own leaf fabric or even screen print layers and layers of mutlti-colored leaves building a surface on your fabric that resembles the lawn in Fall when the leaves form a vibrant carpet.

Screen printing is easy and one of my favorite ways to “make” fabric.  Lynn also has a great DVD “Print Design Compose,” filmed on the set of “Quilting Arts TV,” that covers:

1. Three surface design techniques: thermofax screen printing (of course!), soy wax batik and freezer paper stencils.

2. Effective ways to USE (not just admire) the fabric you create

3. How to design an abstract art quilt

4. Different finishing methods for displaying your work.

Logo by Jeanelle McCall

Stop by tomorrow for the link to the preview of ToteTuesday 3 featuring 13 themed totes and 3 individual artworks.

We have a very strong line-up of fiber-related themed totes including:

3 Creative Studios tote sponsored by Peggy Schoder.  Includes donations from all the artists (Sue Bleiweiss, Terri Stegmiller, and Vicki Welsh).  Sue Bleiweiss is donating this beautiful custom journal.

Altered Cloth: Gingko Leaves tote sponsored by Sue Kelley.  The tote itself (detail shown above) was made by Sue and features hand-dyed fabrics, extensive stitching and beautiful gingko leaves details.

And for some funky fun, this Knitting Toys tote sponsored by Lynn Krawczyk.

Karey Bresenhan and the International Quilt Festival team have donated a total of five totes.  Karey is the Honorary Chairperson of Fiberart For A Cause.  Read more about her totes here.  Three totes, including The Earth Laughs in Flowers tote and contents shown above, will be up for bid on February 16.

Stop by here tomorrow for the link for a full preveiw of all the totes and artwork.  100% is donated directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Our goal is $12,000.

In addition to  yesterday’s Hearts For Anna fundraiser, there are a lot of other ways that you can use your talents to “do good” in the world.  These two events have quickly approaching deadlines:

Deadline:  August 15

Lynn Krawczyk curates the Breaking Traditions art quilt exhibit each year as a labor of love and to support a fundraising projects of fellow fiber/mixed media artists.

The 2009 exhibit will benefit Bernie Berlin’s dog (cats welcome also) rescue, A Place to Bark, with $10 of the $15 entry fee being donated directly to A Place to Bark. In honor of Bernie’s efforts to find orphaned and abused dogs permanent loving homes, the theme for the 2009 exhibit is “Home.”

Deadline for receipt of the 12×12″ art quilts is August 15.  There are many participation prizes donated by generous artists and fiber businesses.  The exhibit premiers at the American Sewing Expo in Michigan in September and is seeking traveling venues.  All the information to enter is here.

Deadline September 1

Art Now for Autism is seeking artists to participate in this year’s exhibit. All media are welcome including fiber, painting, drawing, photography, collage, mixed media, book arts, jewelry, and crafts. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2009.  All the details on how to donate your artwork are here.  The Reverse Auction of artwork will be October 5 – 10; ongoing previews of the artwork are on the Art Now for Autism blog.

Art Now for Autism was founded by artist Claudine Intner after her son was diagnosed with autism.  She has raised over $11,000 since 2007 and would like to raise $7500 this year.

100% of the funds raised go directly to Austism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.