Needlefelting

I had to try it. This is study number 2 followed by study number 3. Don't think that this is going to become my passion, but at least I now know. Again, the process is to punch, with needles, the felt, fine wool or silk or other fibers into the base fabric which, in this case, is felt.Quilting and beads were then added.

The first step

OK, I've taken the first step. This is a page in the Art Sketch Journal. There are so many thoughts that went through my mind before starting. Yes, I changed the paper as I know that most of my work will be in pen and the original paper was too thin. The subject is lines and grids. One bonus of this project is that I am more aware of lines from nature and from other art pieces. Getting over the thought that this is really not meant to be a piece of art for final publication in a book for all time, I was able to grasp "journal". I'm looking forward to the rest of the pieces that will go into this project.

Thought I'd share a plant from my backyard. I call this a Lion's Tail, but I couldn't find the official name, so it may go by another name. It's fun to watch as each stalk keeps growing and may add up to 10 "tails". This is the biggest it has ever gotten and summer is not over.

Lettering in my jornal

It's been a few years since I retired as a freelance calligrapher. I really haven't done any lettering since. Suddenly-this was what I wanted to do. I have to keep reminding myself that it's my journal and I can put what I want on the pages. That is such a comforting thought. Yes, onward to combine lettering and drawing. It may happen.

If nothing else, I've enjoyed going through my old collection of quotes. My students were always encouraged to keep a file of special sayings. Then, when you want to practice-you have something to write. When I first started lettering, I would sit in the garage with the door up so that I could keep an eye on the kids as they played. At that time I would letter the name of each child in the neighborhood. Dang, the kids are all grown up.

Needlefelting

This project is done with a method called needlefelting. The light blue is delicate wool that is punched into the darker blue felt. There is a layer of Angelina (shiny polyester fibers added next-they don't seem to show in this picture). The medium blue is also punched with the tool that has about 5 needles. I then put tulle (fine netting) over the entire piece, quilted it by hand and added the beads. Yes, the beads are sewn on one by one. Hey, I like to do that sort of detail. The binding was some silk that I had painted which I found in my stash. 

The piece is 8 1/2" by 11". Designing in a monochromatic color scheme was a very big challenge. Now I'm working on another study in this technique.

Journal sketch

I am constantly learning. Actually, I think that Michaelangelo said the same thing. This is the houseplant on our kitchen table. I am congratulating me for not doing a tiny anemic drawing and for not freaking out because the shading may not be perfect, etc. Believe that Danny's idea to just record the moment is the point. Oh yes, I've taken rubber stamp pads to color the page before doing the drawing.

Fused glass

An opportunity came up for me to try designing a fused glass plate. I really had no clue how to prepare and would certainly to it differently next time. However, this is the result. I started with a piece of clear glass, then  thin rods of the black were laid down to create a basic shape. If there is a next time, the design might be drawn out and put under the glass as a guide.  Scoring and breaking the little pieces was a challenge. The colored dots where just sprinkled onto the glass. Last, a second plate in the blue green color as added to perk it up. The glass is carefully placed in a kiln and there you have it. If nothing else, there is now a better appreciation of work by other artists!