Fabric Painting and Journaling

Basic Tools and Techniques for embroidery:

• Learn Hand Embroidery with Me: Basic Stitches, Part 1, (for beginners) 
• http://sublimestitching.com/pages/tutorials
• http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/

Textile Paints:

 

• Dye-Na-Flow (The many uses of)
• http://www.jacquardproducts.com/textile-color.html

 Colorless extender:

• http://www.jacquardproducts.com/textile-colorless-extender.html

• Sketchbook or drawing paper for creating draft sketches
• Pencil or drawing tool
• Brushes and paint materials
• Cardboard and plastic
• Tape
• Felt
• Scissors, embroidery floss, needles
• Acrylic or fabric paint
• Colorless extender (optional)
• Rub a Dub sharpie
• Fabric pens

• Students will design a 2 dimensional painting on fabric then use journaling to incorporate personal meaning into the piece
• Students will learn both processes of painting and journaling
• Students will embellish their piece with hand stitching

Step 1 – Instructor presents artist’s websites, books, and other resources for students to see a variety of approaches to use for journaling in art.Instructor leads students through a questioning process about their identity: Who are you Really?

• Your clothes?
• Your exterior?

OR

• Your actions?
• Your beliefs?
• Your passions?

If so, what are they? What will your footprint in the world be? How can the student represent these ideas visually using symbols, words or representing an action?

Just like Susan Shie, the student should strive to connect to their deeper self. Their artwork should utilize good composition practices and be bold in design.

Step 2 – Instructor can come up with a theme for the project of let students work independently in choosing a specific theme for their artwork.

Step 3- Students will create thumbnail sketches in their sketchbook or scrap paper, developing imagery that connects to their deeper self. Optional: Students can create a draft on watercolor paper first to get a sense of painting their design.

Step 4 – Instructor demonstrates how to tape plastic to cardboard and muslin over plastic on cardboard, emphasizing the importance of plastic and muslin being taut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place the muslin over plastic, tape all 4 edges with about ¼” of tape on muslin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardboard Note: Copy paper boxes and lids work well for cardboard. Plastic wrap or discarded shopping bags can be used for plastic.

Step 5 – Instructor demonstrates drawing with Rub a Dub, explaining how it is formulated differently so it does not bleed on fabric.

Students can trace watercolor or use pencil first, but pencil will not erase off muslin.

Step 6 – Painting – Students can use watered down acrylic, or if budget allows, fabric paint. Colorless extender is used to thin out paint for value techniques. Students paint their pieces.

Note: I created an example of full-bodied acrylic to show how it is like plastic and will be difficult to stitch through. If using acrylic, watering it down works very well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 7 – Journaling – Students use fabric pens to journal over painting. Journaling should be used along with an added design element to create pattern, texture, and add the visual interest of piece. Instructor reminds students to revisit the questioning process in Step 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 8 – Embellishing – Instructor demonstrates embroidery techniques to be used to embellish piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optional: students can research stitches and then share with classmates.        

• Formulate an artistic investigation of personally relevant content for creating art.
• Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods and approaches in making works of art and design.
• Reflect on whether personal artwork conveys the intended meaning and revise accordingly.
• Develop and apply relevant criteria to evaluate a work of art.
• Generate a collection of ideas reflecting current interests and concerns that could be investigated in art making.

Journaling – an account of day-to-day events. c : a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use.

Taut – tightly drawn; tense; not slack

Embellish – make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features

Embroidery – the art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric, leather, paper, etc., with a needle

Needle – for sewing in ends

Mixed media – items and materials used to bring the sculpture to creative life and in making additional elements that add visual interest

Muslin – lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave

Embroidery floss – or stranded cotton is a loosely twisted, slightly glossy 6-strand thread, usually of cotton but also manufactured in silk, linen, and rayon

Susan Shie’s website –http://www.turtlemoon.com/

Art of the Quilt – Susan Shie – http://www.artofthequilt.com/shie.html