Ellen's Fruit Stand Challenge Quilt

From Ellen Lindner

Although our inspiration photo had many wonderful components, I was attracted to the colors and shapes of the mangos. Thus, my piece Tropical Fruit was born (below.) The green background fabrics were inspired by the vegetation of the area.

BTW, this is not the first mango quilt I've made. You might also be interested in Mangolicious.

Group Photo Challenge Revisited

From Ellen Lindner

Each year we have a group challenge as part of our annual exhibit. This year's challenge is to create art that's inspired by a particular photo. Most of that is still top secret: to be revealed at our October exhibit.

But, since this year's challenge is very similar to what we did in 2007, I thought you might be interested in it.

This was our inspiration photo, selected by the entire group. This fruit stand photo was taken by Ruth Anne Parker in Maui.

Although the goal was for each participant to be inspired by the image, exact replication of the photo was not expected. (But, certainly allowed.) Therefore, we wanted a photo with lots going on, and this one met that criteria. As you'll see in coming posts, some members reproduced the entire image. Others were inspired by the colors, the textures, or one particular element.

Watch for future posts to see the results!

Playing with Molding Paste

Posted by Ellen Lindner

At a recent Dirty Dozen meeting, Ruth Anne showed us a ton of cool ways to use a variety of gel mediums. I was especially intrigued with the molding paste, so I came home and began to play with it. The results are fairly subtle in this first piece. In it, I used sequin waste as a stencil for the paste. Once it was dry, I painted the entire piece.

The green piece utilized needlepoint canvas as a stencil, and produced very good results.

I learned one thing: when it comes to molding paste, more is better. The subtle images that I attempted with stamps and such didn't show up very well.

BTW, both of these fabrics were painted with matte medium, before anything else was done.

This was a lot of fun, and I'll definitely try it again!

Reward for a Morning Walk

From Ellen Lindner

I know that observation is a large part of inspiration. And that practicing those skills improves them. So, I was delighted when, after four days of walking past them, I finally noticed a patch of Black Eyed Susans. As the dog tugged impatiently on her leash, I gleefully picked handfuls. As I did so, I noticed that the flowers that were past their prime were equally interesting. (Another observation!) I picked those ratty flowers with only half their petals, and ones that had no petals at all. Plus the buds. What a wonderfully diverse collection.

Since I'm doing a series called "Around the Neighborhood," I think there's a good chance these flowers will make their way into a quilt.

Abstract from Realism

From Ellen Lindner

At our recent play day, we did an exercise about finding abstract designs around us. The assignment started with photographing objects throughout the house. Later, we were to sketch one of the objects, removing as many details as possible, in order to reveal "the essence" of that object.

I decided to try a similar thing with some photos from that day. My question: How much could I omit and still be able to show the essence of these items?

I'm sure you can identify the old phone, above. I was struck by the strong design of this little photo. Maybe a future quilt design?

Can you identify the items below? (They belong to Jill.)

Yep. Her crocs.

This is a fun, and I think, valuable creative exercise.

Fun Play Day

From Ellen Lindner

We had a fun play day at my house, yesterday, with projects ranging from hand work to computer work. Although we were initially spread out, by late afternoon we had all migrated to one spot. After all, it's all about the socializing right?

Above, L-R: Ruth Anne, Paula, Peggy and Barbara

Above, L-R: Martha and Jill

Class Results

From Ellen Lindner

As mentioned in the previous post, I found this class to be challenging - in a good way. My project is shown, in progress, below. Eventually, it will resemble prickly pear cactus, but I think it has quite a way to go yet. But, perhaps, you can see some of the 3D effect that was created by shading with paint.

One of my classmates, Sue Dennis from Australia, posted more class photos on her blog. (See May 21.)

Class with Leslie Gabrielse

From Ellen Lindner

I recently took a 3 day class from Leslie Gabrielse, a professional artist from Holland. The class was very interesting, challenging, and exhilirating!

Leslie's techniques are nothing like those used in mainstream quilting. (He's been making fabric "paintings" for over 30 years, and only recently learned about art quilts.) He paints directly onto the fabric with acrylic paints, and attaches everything with big decorative hand stitches.

One really useful technique is that of using a sheer overlay to mark and position the fabric. Leslie uses a product called Tarlatan, available from Dick Blick. He marks his design on it, and then can mark right through it to the fabrics below. See his funky teapot, in progress below, with and without the tarlatan overlay.

Quilt National

From Ellen Lindner

I'm just back from a SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) conference, in Athens, OH. As part of the fun, I got to attend the opening of Quilt National. Wow! The quilts were amazing: VERY innovative, and (mostly) beautiful.

My roommate for the conference was Anna Hergert, from Canada. She was absolutely delightful AND, she had a quilt in the show! Here she is with her quilt, which is 3D.

The diagonal panels create large rolls in the front. I think you can tell in the detail shot, below.

Board Book Results

I'm having great fun playing with my little board book. (See "Something Different", April 2009.) My plan is to use it as a canvas for quick compositions and experiments.

As my first creation, I made this little paper collage of a strawberry. It was fast and fun! On the facing page, I taped off squares into which I'm spreading various acrylic mediums, to create a sample board. That's fun, too - and useful. I've also done quite a bit of documenting on that page, recording the products and techniques used on both pages.

FYI: As a collage glue, I used diluted gel medium (gloss.) Just like I do with my glued fabric collages, only with a higher water ratio.

Interesting link: I was inspired to do this little collage after seeing the work of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson. She does fantastic work!

Something Different

Lately, I've seen some really interesting art books. These are usually books that have been altered with a variety of mixed media techniques. They look like they'd be a lot of fun to create, so I've decided to give it a try.

I started with a board book, purchased at my local childrens' consignment shop. I painted the pages with gesso, and propped it up to dry. Because some of the pages briefly touched, the gesso got "messed up" into a frost-like pattern. No problem: I took detail shots of the cool pattern and then smoothed on another coat.

Now that my book is dry, it's on to the fun part!

P.S. If you're not familiar with gesso, it's the stuff that covers prepared artists' canvasses. It provides a good base for just about any medium.

I Did it Again

I changed horses midstream.

I was happily working along on a new piece, deciding on the placement of lots of small orange circles. Then, I had, what was for me, a very radical thought: What if I made this a very calm almost monochromatic piece? What? ME monochromatic? I let that idea percolate for a while and decided to audition some sheer fabrics in similar colors.

So, this is where I am now. The photo shows my collection of "cut" (actually soldered) sheer circles. My circles went from opaque orange to sheer blue-greens and such. I'm liking it!

This is the thing about changing horses: I generally find the new one much fresher. I'm almost always happy with my midstream radical changes.

And this is the other thing: these ideas come over time. They're not my first inclination. I think that's one of the good things about the slow process of quilt making. If I were a painter, I could more quickly display my first thought. But then, these slow ideas wouldn't have a chance to develop. Something for me to remember when I get in a hurry.

A Visit to the Focus on Fiber Retreat

I recently got to visit the Focus on Fiber retreat, in New Smyrna Beach, FL for a few hours. Oh what fun! I arrived in time for dinner and Show and Tell. (Apparently, I just missed the dancing.)

Everyone present was clearly having a blast, while also being very creative, and productive. There was gorgeous fabric drying on the line, beautiful surface design going on in the wet studio, and lots of fantastic works-in-progress visible in the dance studio. There was a buzz in the air from the wonderful sense of camaraderie, as well as the adrenalin surges that accompany creativity.

The photo shows a close up of the beading on Marianne R. Williamson's quilt, Constellation. It caught my attention as it was draped across an ironing board, with the beads sparkling beautifully in the afternoon light.

The retreat is held at Atlantic Center for the Arts, which is a fantastic facility. Nestled in the middle of palmetto bushes and oak trees, it's a true retreat in every sense of the word. For more details on the retreat, see http://marymcbridearts.homestead.com/Retreats.html or contact the organizer, Mary McBride, at mrsgorgon@gmail.com

Posted by Ellen Lindner:

Our recent play day at RiverHouse was loads of fun! We spent some time photographing and sketching our beautiful environment. Then, we all made small fabric collages which were inspired by what we'd seen. A very creative exercise.

This is my favorite photo from that day: fire plant hanging down from the porch