Thursday at Arrowmont

"all systems go"for silk screening of fabric!

silkscreen pattern complete!

It is Thursday night and I am just now ready to screen my fabric! The prep and process has been beyond my imagination. I have great compassion for Colonial women. Class concludes tomorrow after lunch and then we clean the studio.

Wednesday at Arrowmont

I purchased a book today in the bookstore. The title is an understatement!

The clock reads 9:45 PM and I am back in the dorm so early tonight! Anytime prior to 11 PM seems like a half-day here. The routine of waking at 6 AM to walk, shower, and eat by 8 AM followed by 12 hours in the studio (we do leave for lunch and dinner in the dining hall each day) is wearing on me. As I worked in the studio tonight, I mixed the wrong chemicals for a particular process and didn't realize it until I had hand-painted several yards of fabric! I received this as a sign that I needed to retire to my room for a full-night's sleep and be ready to accurately mix the chemicals in the morning.

Tuesday at Arrowmont

sketches for silkscreen design

pat·tern
/ˈpætərn; Brit. ˈpætn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pat-ern; Brit. pat-n]
–noun
1.
a decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, or textile fabrics, etc.

Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? WRONG! Today, I spent a good 10 hours working up a seamless repeat pattern that will fit on a 14" x 20" silkscreen and be printed on several yards of fabric. The screen frame had to be prepared in advance of the dye screening. This involved:

1. covering the unprimed wooden frame with duct tape to prevent warping;

2. caulking the seams where mesh meets frame;

3. scouring the mesh with Comet and then a special soap to eliminate all traces of bleach from the Comet;

4. drying the screen in the sun;

5. coating both sides of the screen with photo emulsion in the darkroom; and

6. leaving the screen in the darkroom to dry overnight.

Whew, I am tired and very satisfied. Off to bed for a few hours of sleep in our newly assigned room at the opposite end of the hall from where we were first assigned. The new room does not receive 36 hours of direct sun on all sides each day (as did our first room). With two window fans, Debbi, Cheryl, and I are happy art campers at night!

Monday at Arrowmont

pattern exercise

yards of dyed fabric using immersion and dip dye methods

Ever wonder about the process of transforming white fabric into a rainbow of colors and patterns that eventually drape your body or your windows or your dog's favorite chair? Me neither. Not until I enrolled in a surface design fiber class at Arrowmont, that is. Like many things, I assumed that the shoemaker's elves turned all white fabric into colored fabric, given their affinity for making shoes in the dead of night! But alas, there are no elves at Arrowmont, only us students who listen diligently to talented instructors explain and demonstrate various techniques. The process is complicated and time consuming and is much like cooking in many ways. There is a recipe for each dying technique which must be followed carefully. There is a GREAT deal of stirring of yards of fabric immersed in chemicals in giant buckets. There is LOTS of rinsing and rinsing and rinsing of fabric which is way more difficult than washing dishes! One who is involved in the process must wear a respirator and protective gloves (this is slightly different from cooking except when I am in the kitchen at home preparing something healthy that my daughters think is "disgusting, " at which time, they sometimes opt to wear respirators to the dinner table to avoid eating what is served...just kidding!). The BIG difference between preparing meals and dying fabric; however, is that I have yards of brightly-colored fabric to show for my efforts today. My children are also happy today, because since I am dying fabric this week and not cooking for them, they are enjoying LOTS of pizza! Everyone's a winner.

Arrowmont

Yes, after a good 5 1/2 hour drive from Durham, I arrived at the beloved Arrowmont School late this afternoon. I reconnected with artists/friends whom I met last year and we TRIED to settle into our room in the Red Barn dormitory. Yes, our room was WARM, as was to be expected. But, we did not anticipate heat that keeps us up tonight at 11:30 PM. As one friend (who is to remain anonymous, but is not Debbi) accurately stated, "Red Barn must mean MOLTEN LAVA in Cherokee!" I hope that we get enough sleep to be able to function tomorrow.

Light the Darkness

Datura! A beautiful, pristeen, nightblooming flower in my garden. I had the good fortune to be home tonight in time to photograph the initial bloom of the season. I am eager to draw and paint the blossom.

Mixed Mania

cover of upcoming book authored by Debbi Crane and Cheryl Prater

A new and fresh mixed media book is due out in the fall. A mixed media piece of mine is included in the "gallery" at the end of the book!

Arrowmont School

installation by Jennifer Angus

Two weeks from this moment, I will be absorbed in my first session of a surface design fiber class at Arrowmont School in Gatlinburg, TN. Jennifer Angus is the instructor. I am excited about the class and also about rooming with friends whom I met last year at Arrowmont. Debbi, Cheryl and I will share a triple room in the Red Barn Dormitory. These women are two of the most creative and prolific artists that I have ever known!

Making Books

Recently, Carolyn, my friend and colleague, taught me how to make an accordion style book. I made four small ones today. Thank you, Carolyn.

May in the Garden

School is out in four weeks AND my garden appears to be as excited about this fact as I am!