Saturday, September 05, 2009

workshop Saturday

Well, we can now add more Thermofax addicts to the roster! Today's class in my studio was a relaxed, happy group who discovered that this way of printing was exactly what they needed. I gave them a list of resources where they could buy pre-done screens or have their own images made into screens - but at least one person has already decided that must have her own machine. Debbie Bein is standing with me at the back of the room, just before putting her image through the machine. Here goes!Debbie drove down with her friend Kate who lost no time getting to work with her images. Behind her on the wall are some of Debbie's prints, drying. And below Kate's picture are her wonderful screens of koi, which look like woodcuts but are not. Patricia Gaignat is a printmaker who works in mixed media and wanted to add Thermofax screens to her arsenal. Her work appeared in the first issue of Art Quilt Studio magazine, so if you have a copy, check it out. She will also have some work in other magazines, so I didn't photograph the pieces she brought with her. (but they are wonderful). She screened on paper as well as on cloth. Her drop cloth turned out so well that I was tempted to wrestle it away from her, but restrained myself. Sherry Shine found the class by pure luck and I was thrilled because she turned out not only to live in the same town as the studio but we have a couple of friends in common. We were happy to have discovered that we live in the next town from one another! She creates vivid story quilts by painting on cloth: here is one she brought to show us.And here she is with a print she made with her screens today. She brought a sketch she had made of Barak Obama and it made a wonderful screen.The energy was so good that even I felt energized after a whole day on my feet! In fact, tonight I started sewing together the blue piece on my wall. Now here's what happens when you work like this: once you trim and sew and trim again, you discover that some things don't fit where you had them when you arranged them on the wall. They overlapped in some places because - well, that's the way you put them up. Of course, everything gets smaller when you sew it and you have to make adjustments as you put the pieces back because now they don't fit. The challenge continues! It's like putting a puzzle together when you discover you don't have all the pieces. I love this way of working because it forces me to improvise and come up with design solutions along the way. (am I nuts? Isn't life challenging enough without MORE?) It also changes the piece - but I can't predict how. On that note - off to dreamland.

9 comments:

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Beautiful inspiring work - thanks for showing us! I never enjoyed screen printing at college, but lots of my blogging friends have recently bought thermofax screens for printing at FOQ recently and excited. Maybe I will have another go some time. It would be handy to have a workshop like yours just around the corner!

Carolyn ♥

Eva said...

One stupid question from Old Europe: What is the meaning of the chinese looking sign on the quilt, next to Obama's face and on Sherry's apron?
-- This workshop looks like fun indeed.

Sherryl said...

Looks like you all had a blast. Your piece is starting to look more like you.

Dianne Koppisch Hricko said...

Rayna looks like great fun and the studio is larger than I had imagined.

Gerrie said...

Makes me wonder why I forget that I have one of those machines and should use it!! I am loving that piece that you are working on.

Vivian Helena said...

Last time I worked with Thermofax was with Jean R. Laury. Later I heard that the newer copy machines did not work to make the screens, and then the ideas sort of got lost in the shuffle.Are you able to make copies or does one need a special machine for that, also was never able to find a Thermofax..You are inspiring me to use each moment of the day, and not worry when I don't have the whole day to work in the studio. thanks!

Nina Marie said...

I'm not quite sure what I'm interested in more. . . how cool the class is or the on-going saga of the strips that have turned into a really cool quilt. Both look super! I really like how you used the accent colors in the strips. It adds so much interest.

Debra Dixon said...

I really am impressed with your wall piece--the more it becomes what it wants to become, the more I like it!

I envy your nice bright studio. How grand!

Barbara Williamson said...

Hello a friend of mine loaned me a copy of your book and I now have it on my wish list. My friend Anne Copeland just sent me you blog site and I couln't wait to sign up as a follower. My Best Barbara

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