Many Shades of Grey 2

As soon as Colleen announced the colour, I knew what it had to be for me: a miniature version of "Many Shades of Grey" (24" x 20") that I made and sold last year.

This is another of my colour explosions mounted on a painted canvas. In real life you can see the glints of silver in the fabric and on the canvas.

Grey Challenge

 

Below the Surface

 

 

I am choosing to use two  pieces that are on display in my solo show for the challenge as the time has flown by for me this summer. They are both collograph prints, which get their texture and line from a rubbing plate, made by drawing into fine pumice gel with the flat end of a square stick. The plate can then be used for printing or rubbings and any other combination of techniques you may desire. Thin acrylic wash is added in layers to fabric (top) or mulberry paper (bottom) that has been sprayed with a fine mist. The first composition is simple but works as both a  landscape of sorts or as an overview of pods or vessel shapes in close proximity. I like how the pumice stone gives a grainy texture to the print and that this one sold at my show.

 

 The second uses greys  made from mixing ultramarine, burnt sienna, and umber to get both warm and cool variations that work well with their more saturated family members.

 

The colour

Sorry the photo didn't publish! Here it is hopefully

TURQUOISE

Next Colour: Drum please... Is is a pool? Is it the sky? Is it the sea? Maybe....

Heads up

The next colour will be chosen by Helena.

Michele's first solo show!

On Saturday, Michele's first solo show, "Below the Surface", opened at the Rigaud Library. This relatively new building has a small gallery, and a terrace that overlooks a pretty river valley.

Work from several of Michele's recent series is on display, perhaps forty pieces in all. It is satisfying to see so many of her pieces in a gallery setting, nicely lit and thoughtfully organized. Many of the works were framed, and others were mounted on gallery canvas. Michele had some large, colourful banners printed out, using one of her images for the background, and hung prominently to alert visitors. She also had some small books custom-printed, filled with her images, and this gave a really professional look to the display.

The opening was very well attended, and at least one of the larger pieces was sold. Helena, Colleen and I stopped by to represent both text'art and 12 by the dozen.

Congratulations, Michele, and fingers crossed for lots more sales! The show continues until September 26.

Greetings from France!

   Hello, and thank you for asking me to join you. I only hope I can produce work as good as that I have seen on the site, though don't expect too much of me on the first challenge, though I'll try my best! I'm originally from the north-west of England, but have been living in France now for 20 years.I live in a small town in the southern Paris suburbs, just 25 minutes by train from Notre-Dame. Hilary asked me to say how long I'd been quilting, but I'm not quite sure how to answer that. Do I  count the 'quilt' I made when I was 17? Probably not  as it was made of paper pieced squares which did not fit together because I had no idea that  accuracy was important. I'm not sure that using a broderie anglaise fabric that I found in my scrapbag was a good idea either. Twenty years later it was an american friend here in France who introduced me to the american method of patchwork, and I was hooked, learning  to do the quilting at ' Le Rouvray', patchwork shop in Paris. I made a few traditional quilts, but I have always been interested in textiles, having tried my hand at knitting, crochet, bobbin lacemaking and embroidery, and even though I like traditional quilts I quickly became interested in more contemporary work. I'm looking forward to the challenges and hoping to make more progress.

A new chapter opens

It is sad that Venetta's health and other pressures on her time have made it impossible for her to keep up with the challenges.  She is building a new house (very stressful) and has a first grandchild (absolutely fantastic) and is still getting over all her health issues.  Venetta, we have so enjoyed your time with us and value all your contributions.  They have enriched our group and your warmth and generosity to us when some of us visited Houston is legendary!  We genuinely will miss you and your creativity.  Please stay in touch and let us know how you are getting on - it will be appreciated.

So, we have a new member - Jinnie Robison who lives in Paris.  I will leave her to introduce herself but she is a great sport because when I cheekily suggested she might like to try to join in the grey challenge - she has risen to the challenge!!!  What a sport.  No pressure Jinnie.

Welcome to the group.  Hope you feel part of us in no time at all.

Hilary

Festival of Quilts 2014

A quick post (I leave for a few days away in Norfolk in a couple of hours time) to say that the FOQ at Birmingham this year was very enjoyable, hopefully for all.  Hilary, Phil myself and Linda B managed to meet up on Friday after the show for a nice long chat, though sadly we failed to take any pictures of us all together.  Our Canadian friends were greatly missed!

Hilary was busy as always, and I never knew which stand I would find her working on next, whilst Linda B was a stalwart of the main Guild standard, welcoming people and getting them to join the guild.  I treated myself to a three day course with Leslie Morgan (of Committed to Cloth, or C2C) on screen printing and dyeing - no results to show yet, I won't have time to wash them until after my trip to Norfolk.

I had two quilts in the show, neither of which won anything, but both had nice judges comments!

Here's "Balancing Act", started in a workshop with Philippa Naylor last September.  I shall post a picture of "Mistress Mary" when I get back (and have downloaded all my photos of the show).

For no special reason...

... I am sharing this recent post from Mirka Knaster's blog. I follow her and find her writing insightful. This latest post is about Perfectionism as it relates to art and artists. Perhaps because of my recent experience in a beginners' watercolour class, it really resonated with me. I hope you enjoy it.

http://exploringtheheartofit.weebly.com/

Getting excited. And a teaser

In just a couple of days I'll be setting off for our major quilting event in the UK - the Festival of Quilts. There'll be plenty of quilts to see, galleries to view and shopping opportunities but what I look forward to the most is meeting old friends and making new ones. I'm delighted to hear that Phil is coming over again so there will be four of meeting up at some point over the Festival.

In the meantime I offer you my inspiration for my grey piece. Gorgeous though the building is, it's the contents that inspired my work.

 

Arts Hudson

There is such a nice article in the Arts Hudson magazine that I thought you might all want to take a look at it.  It's a lovely write-up with pictures about Heather and her work.

zhttp://artshudson.org./1406/artistdubreuil1406.shtml