One of the things that was on my list of winter projects was to explore painting. I've been so inspired/tempted by the work I've seen the students do at the painting workshops that we host, that I just had to give it a try. This was the perfect way to ease into it.
We started from a photo that we traced on to white pfd fabric using a light box. Next the painting began. We used soft-body acrylics. I used Liquidtex brand.
As this was my first time working with painting on fabric, so I choose a simple composition of emerging ferns.
However, everyone else in the workshop selected much more complex designs, so I had time to work on a second piece - this one featuring a sheep that I photographed at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival a couple of years ago.
The next project was creating a fused piece, also starting from a photo. This time I selected a photo of my Ridgeback, Bree.
A vinyl overlay is used to help precisely position the pieces on the background fabric.
Once I got the main parts down, I could work without the overlay, for the most part.
Starting to add the moss around the bricks.
After completing the Bree composition, I returned to the smaller painted pieces to start thread sketching. I wanted to start small with the thread work before tackling the larger piece.
Here is the sheep ready for sketching.
The finished ferns! Just needs trimming and facing on the edges.
The finished sheep! You can't see it in this photo, but I added a double layer of batting under the body of the sheep to make him poof up.
Susan Brubaker Knapp was an excellent instructor. She was knowledgable, organized, patient, and fun! I would highly recommend her.
