So Tickled

The Language of Leaves IV won Honorable Mention at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "Black and White!"  I'm pleased to say the least.  I thoroughly enjoyed the leaf printing - some monotypes involved and some stitching.  No fabric, only paper.  More bookmaking is in the future! Check the last post for more images of the pages.

Oh, it's been way to long

Why, oh, why was it so hard to get back to blogging??????  I have been working in the studio, even taking images........

I plan on blogging frequently in the next few days in order to catch up.

Today's entry is all about being accepted by my local theater - Amelia Community Theater.  Each time there is a wonderful new play performed by local actors an art exhibit is shown in the lobby.  I've been slow to enter but enter I did this time.  The play is "In the Woods"  and the theme of the exhibit is "Forests and Fairy Tales."  I entered three very different pieces and to my delight, all 3 were accepted.  So now you get to see them.

Walking in the Mountains, 31 x 22", $250 created by Diane Hamburg

Can't See the Forest, 20 x 28"  $280, created by Diane Hamburg

Can't see the Forest detail

Trees, 10 x10"  $75, created by Diane Hamburg

The first is a piece I created a couple years back.  The background is raw-edged applique using a variety of fabrics.  I was going for an abstract view of tree trunks.  The floating leaves were the result of hand printing real leaves and then fusing them to the background.  And, of course, there's lots of machine quilting.

"Can't see the Forest" was just created beginning with a manipulated photograph (using Photoshop Elements) and intrepreting it with fabrics and the double reverse applique method of Ellen Lindner.  Extensive machine quilting finished the piece.

The last is a small piece using the monotype technique - on cloth - with a tree paper applique on top and machine quilting.  This one is mounted on a canvas wrapped frame.

I'll be going to the play later this month and plan to take a picture of the show.

Nature printed Fabric Accordion Books

I know, I know, so many entries all in one day.  All these projects: the journal, the 4x6's and these books were all going at once.  I've just finished them all.

I redid a past book as I did not like the result.  Much happier now!
The second one makes use of previous monoprinted fabric.  Both with favorite quotes about leaves, trees, and nature - a current obsession.  I'll be taking them to the Nature Printing Society Workshop as well.

I'll be teaching "Boot Camp for Leaf Printing on Fabric."

More Monotypes

Michelle Ward at GPP Crusade challenged folks to do some monotypes.  http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2010/04/crusade-no-39-playtime-pulling-prints.html.  I didn't participate in the challenge but her encourage to experiment danced in my mind.  I finally pulled out some cheapo children's paints, and 5 x 8 index cards and printed away.  After using a Plexiglas for awhile, I made up a gelatin plate to work with.  I do love using the gel plate.  Here are some of my prints.

One Touch of Nature Fabric book

I had a ball creating my nature book this past weekend. I printed some leaves on pages - direct printing and some monotypes. I used some of my previously hand dyed fabrics. I also had a grand time looking up quotes about leaves and about nature to add to the pages. I printed the sayings on transfer paper and ironed them in place. Sure have to remember not to get the hot iron anywhere near the transfers. I included some of the pages - 24 pages altogether.

I entered this book and my Leaf Reflections in the Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit - "Nature's Notebook" is the theme. I forgot to mention that I was awarded an Honorable Mention for "Silent Charlie" in the last Nouveau Art show. I am honored to be honored!!!!!!

Leaf Printing

"Maple Monotypes" is completed. The top was constructed awhile ago and has been gracing my design wall. I extensively machine quilted it. I just love the maple leaves which I collected at my sister's house in California years ago. Dried leaves can be used over and over again, but there is a limit. I'll have to get more on my next visit.

I've been busy getting my instructor write up for this year's Nature Printing Society's Workshop in Oregon for this September. I'm giving a basic leaf printing on fabric day long class. I designed a nature journal as one of the projects I'll be offering. The journal covers will be sewn before hand, the printers will do their magical printing. For the inside papers, the printers will partially clean their brayers and sponges after printing their leaves. The journals are constructed quite simply using a hole punch, twig, rubber band or string. I did enjoy the trial and error process that I had to go through. I am happy with the product: something beautiful and simply to construct.

Another Heron Monotype

"Vibrant Blue" is done. It's another of my monotypes on a shiny white fabric. How I love to monotype.

Some work done, yeah

The first two images began as monotypes on fabric. I added the borders and machine quilted them.

This is the end result of the brayer work I uploaded the other day. The quilting on this may not be evident but it's there. I'm hoping the last two get accepted in an upcoming art exhibit titled "Reflections." I'll let you know.

Some monotyping Experiments

I had a wonderful time with Gelatin plate printing the other day. these are my favorites. The last one is ready to quilt. I made up a plate of Knox plain gelatin. 2T per cup of water. The plate was too thin and started to break up so next time I'll made a thicker plate. I love the gel for the feel and I think it helps came the paint moist longer. I ended the session just using a plexiglass for my plate. I like the gel plate better.

Back Home

Getting through the 3 weeks of mail, playing the laundress and catching up on my email are quite the chores. My trip was varied and grand. I thoroughly enjoyed my daughter, son-in-law, and grand dog, Baxter in Lexington, Kentucky. My brother-in-law and his wife visited - an extra treat. Then we traveled to Annapolis, Maryland for husband's 40th reunion from the Naval Academy. A very busy and fun time. Then onto Little Switzerland, NC. to Wildacres Retreat and the Nature Printing Society's Annual Workshop. Great people, great art, great nature, great food and accommodations. I had a ball!!!

The workshop was held over 6 days: We arrived on Monday to gather. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday were classes. Thursday was a free to explore the area day.

On Tuesday, I spend the day making paper. I've done papermaking on a small scale when I taught. There's a learning curve to making paper but I got in a lot of practice. These two are just two of many. This first one I printed the leaves on once the paper was dried.

This second paper has a leaf laminated between 2 very thin layers of pulp and dried.Wednesday was the "Wild and Free Brayer Play" with Bee Shay. And we were wild and free. My kind of play. We loaded up our brayers with ink, inked a leaf, moved the leaf over onto our paper and rolled the brayer. The brayer could also be rolled again revealing yet another leaf impression. After making over 100 pages of prints, we glued and collaged a cardboard journal.

This is the journal opened so the front, back and spine are visible.This is one of the pages. I love them all.

Friday's class was with Bee Shay again " One Day, Two Journals." Using old book covers, we collaged the fronts and backs - I collaged the inside covers as well. We spray painted the pages. Afterwards, we made the spines and sewed in the 3 signatures and added the closure. I used some of my brayer prints and some I had made at home. My last class was with Lynda Goldberg, "Nature Printing with a Press." Monotypes. I didn't quite get into the groove but this is something I will explore more. We inked up the plate, laid inked up leaves on top, laid a paper on top and ran it through the press. These 3 are passable. I've got a lot of experimenting to do. And then transfer that experience onto fabric.

I can't wait until next year. The Nature Printing Society's Workshop will be held in Charleston, Oregon. I'm hoping to teach beginning leaf printing on fabric besides taking more wonderful classes.

New Work

These two pieces were first monoprints on paper which I then printed on specially treated fabric. Then I added a border and machine quilted.

"Beach Combers" is a mixed media piece. I roughly cut fabric strips and spray painted my own bird stencils and machine quilted. Separately, I stenciled the larger birds on old book pages and glues them down using gel medium and added more stitching. I embellished the piece with driftwood, shells and beads.

"Celebrate Shrimp" continues my discharge series. I used my own shrimp stencil, plus some of my own painted and printed discharge fabrics. There's a printed book page as well.

Monotypes while in Vegas

While house and dog sitting for my daughter, I held real art deprived. So..... I went to an art supply store and bought some acrylics. I monotyped (I've been using the term monoprint, but discovered I'm really doing monotype). I added some collage and some painting. I'm planning on scanning these and printing on fabric and add some stitching.

Favorite YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy0JG-TEWf8 This is my all time favorite video on monotyping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue3RA2e7rj4&feature=channel I find this technique utterly fascinating. I've tried this once but very eager to try again.