Crows

Crows on Canvas
Hand Painted with Dyes

Here are 4 new cards fronts ready for the Invermere Market on Saturday. After the first dyeing, I wasn't totally satisfied with the results so.....I resoda-soaked the fabric and repainted with a second layer of dyes. I am pleased with their vibrancy.

The Portrait Project: Carole Summer



'Summer Land' by Carole Summer

The Portrait Project Show
The Langham Gallery, Kaslo, BC
July 5-Aug 18

Carole states, "I joined the Self-portrait Group just to play with fabrics and the other women, and it was really fun."

"At the time we’d just built our house on Shutty Bench, had the gardens and the chickens, and I was dreaming of the lambs.  They’re out there in the  pasture now.  And my self-portrait’s in The Langham!"

 

At the opening, Carole talked about the joy of creating her home and yard at the same time as making her self-portrait. She must have really been wanting those lambs as they show themselves prominently because of the textured fabric used. Carole talked of her love of  gardening, especially flowers, thus her hair is playfully depicted with fabrics of flowers. How totally expressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets: Radium and Invermere



Artisan Pillow Series

All ready to go! Here is the setup for the outdoor markets in Radium Friday, July 26 from 3-9pm and Invermere Saturday, July 27 from 9am-1pm.

Looking forward to seeing our friend Doris there with her mini donuts. Yum! A big thanks to Laura for lending us her canopy. You can look at her lovely watercolour paintings here www.lauraleeder.com

If you are in Radium or Invermere on those days please stop by and see the selection of hand painted textiles. I have created this Artisan Pillow Series just for this show but there will also be textile panels, textile cards, packaged painted blocks and framed watercolour and textile paintings.  

Artisan Pillow Series and Border Collie

ART FOR YOUR FURNITURE

The pillows are all hand painted by Canadian Federation Artist Member, Eileen Gidman. Painting with fibre reactive dyes makes the textiles washable and keeps the fabric soft.

The 'Artisan Pillow Series' is being introduced this upcoming weekend at the Open Air Markets in:

• Radium: Fri 4-9 pm, July 26 & Aug 2
• Invermere: Sat 9 am-1pm, July 27 & Aug 3

'Berry Beautiful'

'Design Modern'

'Oh Those Columbine'

 

'Patterned'

The Border Collie wanted her picture taken with her new toy. She especially loves it because of the squeaky toy that I stuffed inside.

'Family Farm'

'Ethereal Petals'

 

'Three Roses'

'A Cottage Summer'

'Towering Tall'

 

'Mauve Memories'

Check here for the newspaper ad: Invermere Echo Newspaper Ad

The Portrait Project - Mabel Russel

'Worlds Apart: Calgary, Kalso, and Me
by Mabel Russel

'WORLDS APART: CALGARY, KASLO AND ME

The triptych quilt design and quilting by Mabel P. Russel

Mabel describes the experience of making her quilt:

“I have a short story of the quilt: The idea initiating these quilts came in a moment of self-reflection along with the longing for and appreciation of what my parents have done for my siblings and me. I was reflecting on my whole life and how it was turning out to be a miscellany of different worlds, cultures, occasions and people. Born and raised in the metropolitan Manila, of the Philippines, educated by German nuns, sent to the USA as a young ambassador, migrated with my parents to Canada, first settled in Saskatoon then moved to Edmonton and finally to Calgary. After be married and I moved to Kaslo. There is such a great contrast and a valued diversity!”

“In the past, the thought of sewing never enticed me, yet I always loved fashion and materials! In Kaslo, I discovered my quilting passion. Through quilting I found a way to express myself and satisfy the need to create. It would seem obvious that I try to reflect my life in a quilt or series of quilts. How to reflect this diversity in a quilt as a caricature of myself and my life?”
“The idea began to gel when Trixie did a caricature of me. Why the long neck? Well, I always wished for a long graceful neck so….she gave me one! Although being a long way from photographical accuracy, the caricature I think seemed to capture my character well. So I let this be quilted! To represent the diversity of my life, what better than to add a quilt of each of my long time homes, Calgary and Kaslo. So different from each other in many ways yet both loved as my homes. In the Calgary and Kaslo quilts, I represented all that bore imprints in my mind and heart. For instance, in Calgary the sunshine, lovely skyline, Stampede, Bow River, rampant rabbit population and of course, my family. In Kaslo, the low grey clouds, closeness of the magnificent mountains, wildlife, the view from the house—the Kootenay Lake. Other representation of me are all over the three quilts. Such as my love of flower gardening, arts, and “bling” to name a few. The result is a triptych, series of 3 quilts, – Worlds Apart: Calgary, Kaslo & Me!”

At the opening night at the Langham Gallery July 5, 2013 Mabel also talked about her parents and how much she missed them, her father having passed on and her mother living in Calgary. She decided in creating this three piece wall hanging that she wanted to show her appreciation for what her parents instilled in her about morals. Growing up, Mabel was exposed by her parents to contrasts from aristocrats to everyday people as well as a variety of sights within the city. Her father told her “You must never put anyone down and don’t let anyone put you down. “ He also told her “If you want to do something, do it”.

Mabel’s piece depicts the contrasts between the places she has lived. She has shown herself as living in the city of Calgary and living in the Kaslo. She spoke wildlife of Kaslo including the Rufus hummingbirds that she seemed to be everywhere!

Mabel talked of the influence Linda Cole, resident of Kaslo, had on her beginning to quilt. She stated after visiting Linda Cole’s Quilt shop and purchasing fabric several times, Mabel stated Linda would not sell her anymore fabric until she learned to sew, so she did!

 

 

Workshop in Cranbrook, BC Sept 7 & 8, 2013

Space is limited so if interested, apply early.

The Portrait Project-Linda Cole

The Portrait Project. 

Fourteen, Kaslo and area, women created self-portraits in textile. This is only the first post about one of the creators but note the  tab Portrait Projects on this Blog, for photos of all the self-portraits.

 

In speaking with the artists, I heard that textile was not all of the participants usual medium for expressing themselves. I think because of this and because the participants worked primarily on their own, the show is rich with variety. 

 

Below is the first post of one of the participants, Linda Cole, who was the mastermind of this collaborative show.

'Kaslo Self-Portrait' by Linda Cole

For some, the journey of making a self-portrait led to a different result than what was initially envisioned. The process involved change and at times a reveal with a surprising end.



'Kaslo Self-Portrait'

Linda discusses creating her self-portrait:

The reveal for me was that I found myself connecting with this image, really starting to love her and appreciate her.  It was an unexpected connection with a creative side of myself I didn't know existed, I came away with a confidence I didn't have before I met that image - found out that she is really okay!  And I thought I was just experimenting with a fabric collage technique."

My intent in creating this particular portrait was to express my contentment here in Kaslo.  The outcome I had planned with this project and where I ended up, was unexpected.  In the process of creating my image, I found that I was indeed, an authentically creative individual (somewhat demanding) with a distinct point of view.   Through this experience, I became the grateful recipient of a long awaited gift – confidence to pursue opportunities for more creative expression with the blessings of my internal muse.

Four months after I started, I finally had to let this image go, and move on.  In my mind, it isn’t finished.  It will probably never be finished completely. This “excuse” to play with fabric collage became a life affirming process of creative expression. 

 

 

 

 

Painting T-Shirts

 

A day of play today. What fun G and I had!  Rarely do I paint with fabric paints, preferring to paint with thickened dyes but today I wanted to try some fabric painting techniques on T shirts.

Golden Paints produce a produce GAC 900 that is a fabric medium to use with acrylic paints. http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/fabric.php
After drying the shirts will need to be heat set with an iron 3-5 minutes on medium heat. To start, a plastic bag was slipped inside the shirt to keep the paint from going through to the back. Acrylic paints in the colour scheme I chose were squeezed out on a palette along with the addition of white acrylic paint and the GAC. The GAC 900 is to be mixed with the paint 1 : 1 and it really helped to spread the paint on the T shirt. It is important to think of placement of the images on a T shirt and helpful to hold the shirt up once in awhile to yourself while looking in a mirror.
On the white shirt, after painting a flower or two in the positive, I pencilled in another flower and painted around at least some of it to create a negative image. Leaves can be done this way too. It really adds interest to have positive and negative shapes.

The Golden Paints website also gives guidelines for caring for your painted clothing, but mostly it was suggested to turn the shirts inside out for washing. Hand washing was preferred, but I know that won't be happening with these shirts.  

If any of you have experience with this technique I would be pleased to share more information about it. Can you let me know how well they have stood up over time?

The Langham Gallery, Kaslo - Portrait Project Opening

The Textile Art Show Opening
 'The Portraits Project'
Langham Gallery, Kaslo, BC
July 5 - Aug 18, 2013

The gallery was packed and the buzz was electric for the opening night of the 'Portraits Project' show at the Langham Gallery in Kaslo, BC.  Linda Cole, was the mastermind behind this Textile Show. She  inspired 10  participants and herself to make self portraits with 85% of each piece being textile. Although I didn't know the other participants, it was amazing that our journeys in making our pieces were in some ways similar. Hearing the participants' stories, it was evident how much Linda did to inspire and encourage each of us.

The Prestigious Langham Gallery

 Here is the link to this historical gallery. http://www.thelangham.ca/ 

The community effort in the restoration of the building is something the community must still be proud of.

 

When I travel to Kaslo, I always think it looks like the most ideal place to live. Being situated on Kootenay Lake, surrounded by mountains, everywhere you look is a stunning view. The downtown has many restored buildings and a sternwheeler is docked at the shore!  http://www.kaslo.ca/

 

As an artist, I have often plein air painted in the downtown core and have taken 'years' of reference photos. This trip was no exception and I have THREE new photos I am excited about: pansies in a wheelbarrow, flowers around the porch of a beautifully restored home and a clothesline attached to a motorcycle, in the campground, for my Clothesline Series. Can you tell I love visiting Kaslo!

I hope you can visit this exhibit and if you do, be sure to read the artists' write ups as that really helps to tell the story of the pieces. I will also be posting the textile portraits in following posts. Next time you are in Kaslo, please check out the store 'Your Art's Desire' to see a several artists' work, including my own watercolour paintings.

 

Opening Night

 

Nine of the Eleven Textile Artists

 

The Portraits Project In Textile Opening

Eileen Gidman's Alpine Hike
Hand (dye) Painted Textile with Free Motion Stitching and Embellishments

You are invited to:

The Portraits Project

self portraits of Kaslo and area women

in fabric

Opening Reception:
Friday July 5, 7 -9
Exhibition runs through August 18th

The Langham Art Galleries, 447 A Avenue, Kaslo, B.C., Canada
www.thelangham.ca
Galleries Open: Thurs - Sun from 1 - 4

The self portraits were to be created by the participant using primarily fabric with options being open to incorporating other media such as fiber, wood, beading, paints, wool and yarns etc.

My fabric was painted with dyes two times to attain a richness of colour. The inner layer is flannel to avoid much loft and it was free motion stitched in several colours. Fabric pieces were added to the trees and netting placed over the granite rocks for texture. Pink and clear beads were sewn to the netting to represent mica in the granite. A clean edge was chosen over a border to avoid distraction. More on the other participant's portraits to follow.