I've done a shocking thing...

About two years ago I completed a large piece called Escape. At this time I was not totally sure whether I really liked the outcome or not, so it was put into storage for 'time out'.

Recently I had the idea that I might cut it up and turn it into a book, thus giving it a second life. I printed off a small photo of the piece and then ruled several size grids to match on pieces of tracing paper. This allowed me to choose an appropriate page size which would present the best outcome for each page.

The original piece on completion.

The printed image with a series of grids on tracing paper.

This is my first print of the piece but the black cartridge needed a shake-up so the colours have printed incorrectly. It doesn't matter here as I have used it to simply sort the sequence of the pages.

And then I started cutting out the pages.....

Testing, testing....

I like to tidy up my workspace after having decided that a work is finished. It makes for a good fresh start when thinking about the next piece.

I am often impressed with my sample cloths which are used for testing colours, applications and other such things. Because they are of no consequence, applications are rather willy-nilly. Somehow, they often turn out quite good. Here are three which I have pasted into my workbook.

I think it is finished....

This week I have added some figures to the lower portion of my experimental piece. I shall now put this away for some time and when revisiting, decide whether I need to add more, or whether I feel it is successful or not.

This piece did start out as an experiment way back in February so has taken some time to complete. I quite like the outcome and it could well get exhibited at some time.

I have called it Shelter as both the garment and the house shape offer shelter of their kind.

Diana Parkes, © Shelter, 2011, 48 x 60cm / 19" x 24". Textile pigment on cotton canvas. Multiple surface design techniques.

A leap in faith....

Further work on my experimental piece this week. Not quite finished yet but getting close.

Here is the piece after doing the following.....

To add the black background smudges I first cleared an old formica table top (any smooth surface would do) and taped registration marks for the piece. The areas where I did not want the smudges were masked off with freezer paper.

Then black pigment was painted on to the table surface, the piece turned over and rolled down on to the black pigment. The result is as seen in the first photo.

Mirror-imaged text

A few weeks back I tried something new on my experimental piece. I wanted to add some text, and this is how I went about it:

1. Having decided on the text, I chose a size and font, then printed out a copy in reverse. For those not sure how to do this, simply select the following; Print - Properties - Advanced - Page Layout - Mirror Image - Print.



2. I then painted some black textile paint/pigment on to a sheet of glass, the amount of application being relevant to the end result - some testing is important.

3. I then took my experimental art work, masked off the areas to be avoided, and placed it face down without pressure on to the ink spread on the glass.

4. On to the top of this (now the back of the work), I placed the mirror-imaged text. With a pencil I then traced the text with a firm hand. This picked up the black paint/pigment. Some background paint/pigment will also transfer but once again testing should get a satisfactory outcome.

5. Removing the mirror-imaged text and lifting the art work reveals the text the right way round!

Some progress...

Although my blogs have become more 'occasional' lately, I have been quietly working away on my piece when time allows. Scheduled appointments to sort my health eat into time; however, these are all going well which is important.

I have been working on various parts of this experimental piece and consequently have lost the sequence of how things are evolving. However, to follow on from my previous blog, I have done some more work on the garment shape and feel pleased as to where it has arrived. I have also worked on some of the background areas.

Two more photos of the garment shape which I think completes this section although I am contemplating adding some stitching:




Yes, there are some machine stitched lines in the background, joining the dots ....

Scrub and wash

My current experiment is to be achieve solely with textile heat set pigments or paints. I enjoy the unexpected and am aiming for things to appear 'dyed'.

This week I have added some colours which will eventually become a garment shape. After applying the blended colours I decided they were too dense. To correct this I scrubbed and washed the fabric before the pigments had dried. Depending on the weather there is a manageable time lapse to achieve this. The result, when dry, was a much more subtle feel.

The advantage here of course is that I can wash my substrate ie cotton canvas. Such washing would not be achievable if I was working on paper!

The initial application - too dense!

After a scrub and a wash - much better!