Thursday, April 30, 2009

between sneezes...

Allergy season is upon us in New Jersey. The cars are covered in green dust and neither Zyrtec nor Benadryl nor Nasonex nor anything else has stopped the sneezing, itchy eyes and throat, and coughing. This sorry-looking pair of red eyes actually looks better in the picture than in real life, so you can IMAGINE. Anyway, between sneezes and eye-rubbing, I am trying to distract myself (with limited success) by ironing and sorting. I did cut this guy/these guys out and put him/them on the wall, hoping in vain for some inspiration. These were class samples for image transfer.
l-r: ink jet on transparency, ink-jet on paper, citra-solv toner copy, thermofax screenprint
As of this month, I am no longer teaching image transfer because today's technology makes it almost impossible to transfer images successfully without a lot of effort and angst. Most people don't have carbon toner copiers at home and when they go to such places as Kinko's or Office Max, they don't get black and white copies that transfer. Digital copiers just don't do it - and that is what most office places have. I have had too many frustrated students and there is no point. Everything we need is going the way of the dodo bird (if there ever was such a bird). I have a couple of Polaroid cameras but can't get film - so that is the end of Polaroid transfers. And so on. If I sound grouchy, it is because I stayed home today to work on my taxes and that is enough to make anyone grouchy. Tomorrow does not promise to be any more interesting but at least I/we will be out and about at various appointments. I will take my camera and try to find some humor or beauty somewhere.

6 comments:

Deb Hardman said...

It seems we're being forced to go digital. I loved the old black & white transfer images. I used old family wedding pictures for the center pieces on a few crazy quilts, several years ago, & now I can't find a plain old Xerox machine nto do more.

I recently did an image of a grandchild, by fiddling with it in my computer, turning it sepia, & tweaking it in Photo shop, then printed it on fabric. It's not quite as satisfying, but it was OK.

Eva said...

What a shame! Ever since I saw the first photo transfer, I was hoping to be able to do it some day. You tried to help me on, but the Laser copies were not transferable (does this word exist?). My way out: have it done in the copy shop.
Hope that your allergy will be gone asap! What a nasty thing. Spoils all spring joy. Get well very soon!

Judy Sall Fiber Art said...

Re: the allergies - I have used Chlor-Trimeton for years and it works wonderfully for me. Usually available in drug stores. Active ingredient is Chlorpheniramine Maleate.

Beverly said...

Sorry for the allergy miseries, Rayna- it's such a shame that spring is accompanied by them! I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for the well wishes for my own aches and pains- they are getting better. We were very lucky.

From the sounds of it, I need to baby my twelve year old HP Laserjet printer. I've successfully done Citra-Solv transfers with it, and really like the anique-y look. It works great for Thermofax images, too. It will be a sad day when it finally gives up the ghost.

janice in detroit said...

Rayna Being to new to alot of this surface design I have a question. I have been wanting to get a thermofac to make screens but am not certain if you comments apply to that technique as well. Would you please clarify

Connie said...

Rayna, I was at the Southwest School of Arts & Crafts in San Antonio for Fiesta and one of the demos was of image transfer. The ladies told me that that Fugi has a film to take the place of the polaroid that I used to use. Most recently I have been using TAPS but it's a whole different look, of course.

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