Betty Lee Turquoise Mine 1, 2, & 3

These three 6 X 6" fabric pieces are based on a turquoise outcropping in the Betty Lee mine in Arizona. My friend generously provided me with a photo. I love turquoise and to see it in it's natural setting is inspiring. I drew in the brown lines and painted light colours first using procion dyes onto natural, rayon fabric. After curing and washing I added darker colours and turquoise line. The lines are drawn using thickened dye in a bottle with a fine nib.

Even though I designed it as three separate compositions, I painted them together on one large piece of fabric. As I liked it so well, it was a challenge to take the scissors and cut it into three but the result is just what I envisioned.

They will be shown at the Painted Turtle Gallery in Creston, B.C.

Images Show

Images Art Show and Sale in Creston, B.C. Nov 27-28, 2010.

Watercolour Lessons at the Painted Turtle Gallery, Creston

At the watercolour workshop, Sept-Oct 2010, at the Painted Turtle Gallery in Creston, B.C., the students create a painting in class related to the day's chosen Design Element. For homework, they complete a work of their own that relates to that week's topic. In previous beginner classes, value and colour were explored. This session of 5 classes emphasizes line, shape and form, texture, and size. Although the focus for this painting was form, it also required techniques about depicting glass and metal. The student's completed their exercise well. The student's homework, where they paint their own compositions is even more impressive!

Plein Air Painting Workshop

Plein Air Painting workshop this weekend was a success despite some rainy weather. Check out the Page: 'Workshops' for photos of the weekend.

Textile Art : Kootenay Lake

This textile piece is painted with fibre reactive dyes on cotton fabric. A section of handpainted fabric is available at 'The Last Stitch', Kaslo, B.C. These original works of art are suitable for use in wall hangings, quilts, clothing, pillows, etc. They are prewashed and colourfast. Washable in cold water.

Textile Art

Watercolour for the Absolutely Terrified Beginner

Eileen Gidman, instructor on left with students taking the Watercolour course for the 'Absolutely Terrified Beginner' which is run out of the Painted Turtle Gallery in Creston, B.C. The course consists of 5 classes on Sat mornings. Each week a new watercolour technique is presented. Exercises to master these techniques are practiced and then a small painting using those techniques is completed in class. There is lots of fun to be had and the mornings fly by! Homework consists of applying the presented techniques into the student's own work.