This was a week of . . . well, just too much. The daily news is overwhelming. And it seemed like I had two or more meetings every day.
By the weekend I was ready for some studio-therapy time. I started working on some new small collages for the upcoming Fall Festival in DeLand and to replenish my website.
When I create quilts, I am drawn to working BIG. But, when I work with paper and collage, I enjoy working smaller. Collage is more intuitive. It forces me to focus on composition. And the mix of paper and fabric is just fun.
Here’s how I begin:
I generally work on at least two pieces at a time, side-by-side. I collage onto 300# watercolor paper, removed from its block and taped down to a working board. (1/8” plywood) When I am ambitious, I might have two or three boards taped up in my studio at one time. I can work on one piece then set them aside to dry and go to another piece.
Here are my materials:
For some time, I’ve been setting aside leftover fabric and sorting it into baggies of patterns and colors I think might work well together. So, this weekend I opened one of the baggies to discover what I’ve got. I might use just these, or I may pull a few things from my color scrap baskets.
How to put fabric on paper?
The verb you want here is “slather.” Slather on matte medium as your glue. You can brush it on the watercolor paper, or onto the back of the piece you are gluing down, or over the top of the piece once it’s down to get out wrinkles. The watercolor paper may buckle up at first. Don’t panic. Because you have it well taped down on all four sides, it will contract as it dries and your collage will be flat.
Compose by just trying things out.
I picked up fabric and moved it around on this one a lot. Change positioning. Add something else. Try out a stencil sample. You might want to do a loose sketch before you start or you might just want to play with trial and error. Be prepared to walk away and come back if it doesn’t seem to be working.
Here’s an interesting discovery:
The fabric with white limbs on deep purple background was screen printed onto sheer polyester. I like that white limb pattern, but it’s almost overwhelming in a small space. When I turned it over the back side was much more subtle and more interesting. But, when I placed it down on the white watercolor paper, I could not see the limbs. It needed dark underneath it for the white limbs to show up. I cut a piece of solid black fabric just a tad smaller than my printed limb fabric and glued it down first. Then I glued down the fabric with white limbs on top. The black did not interfere with the deep purple background, but it allowed to white limbs to show up.
Here’s where I left things at the end of the day:
I’m not in love with my first day’s results. But I see potential. I’ll look with fresh eyes tomorrow.
. . . .
It’s countdown time to DeLand’s annual art festival. For those who are in driving distance of DeLand in central Florida, I encourage you to put this event on your art calendar. Downtown DeLand is a delight and I love exhibiting here each year.
For all of us: focus each day on the good
that needs to be done in the world.
Be part of doing it.
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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