Saturday, September 17, 2016

draw august, paint september

To try to keep the momentum up on some sort of daily sketching, I've been participating in #PaintSeptember this year. It's just like #DrawingAugust, but posting a daily painting of some kind on twitter. Well, it sure hasn't been every day for me. Every time I have my hired helper here for a few hours, it means No Extra Things on that day and at least a day afterward (Recovery Day). I also missed an entire week when the kittens arrived, which was a very fair trade-off :)

But I have been trying. I think there have been eight September paintings so far. Yesterday I tried to sit in the South Paddock and draw my workshop, but Campion became very interested in my watercolor pencils.


And decided to fight me for them. The rogue!


I gave up (but did not surrender my pencils!) and settled on the porch with a stalk of Solomon's Plume. Here it is, and as always, you can left-click any image to see it more clearly in a gallery window, then just click the "x" to come back to this page:



Now I want to share with you something I've been thinking about for a year.

Last autumn, I tried an experiment. I had a few of my #DrawingAugust pieces printed by Spoonflower to get a sense of how different original materials on paper might translate into fabric. The results were surprisingly satisfying - clear, detailed, nuanced - although you will have to take my word for it this morning because this is an extremely poor photograph of the sample:

watercolor (daylily detail)
graphite (beans)
Ink line drawing (sunflower)
digital composite of colored line drawing (fern)

Had some help with the photography. That's all I'm sayin' ;)



That swatch has been on my fridge for months now, reminding me to think in terms of potential fabric design during #DrawingAugust this year. I'm leaning toward printing cotton fabric with a botanical design. What do you think? Perhaps some of the line drawings, like this:


And/or some of the watercolors, like this:



It occurred to me this week that I have plenty of ideas and enough raw material to work with already, but am just apprehensive about the expense of a fabric-printing venture. What if it's a dud project, just because I didn't think through the technical aspect beforehand? But...what is the technical aspect of fabric design?

Spoonflower's website is fantastic for the logistics of getting your design ready to print, but - does this make sense? - I'm pondering the technical aspects of using fabric.

I don't know enough about the uses of fabric to know the answer!

Then light dawned: many of my readers sew - and sew amazingly beautiful things! So, may I ask a favor? If any of you have suggestions about what makes a printed fabric work for you, or - and this might be even more important - if there are things that make a particular printed fabric a problem for you...please leave a comment or pop me an email! My sewing-person skills are minimal, and there are probably loads of things I wouldn't even think of, that are totally obvious to a skilled and experienced sewing-person. I gratefully welcome your thoughts and recommendations!

And now, since the humid, overheated, bug-filled weather is beginning to relent, Piper and I will try to have more time in our "studio." This folding chair with backrest and added cushions makes a wonderful difference in the length of time I can work before I must creakily move again. Instead of 10 or 15 minutes, I have worked steadily for over an hour! A few years ago, I would never have imagined that such a statement could be a cause for celebration. But it is, it is, it is!


The chair weighs over 7 pounds and is One More Thing to carry - along with backpack, cushions, water bottle, treats, etc., so we don't go far. That's okay! At least we GO! Sometimes I take Piper for a walk in the woods first, then we go back to the car for my gear and walk back in just a little ways to set up the studio. And buffet.

Cool enough this day to bring buttered bread for a snack.
Not to belabor the point, but: spread to the edge ;)

This is a portrait of a Studio Companion who has already had five treats,
but who knows you put six treats in your pocket:


I hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start!
Will you have an opportunity to spend some time outdoors today?
~~~~~

7 comments:

  1. Very nice drawing. You got skill!

    Spoonflower is fantastic! I love the weekly challenges there. It use to be a lower amount you could vote for, difficult but better than a larger number.
    As for fabrics, if you've thinking about business wise, then consider quilting. Create a series of about eight or so companion patterns that will make a neat quilt.
    I've had on my will do someday list (years actually)printing out my original patterns to make clothes to sell online or in a local boutique.
    Whatever you decide, be confident your patterns are better than any other.
    Have fun trying out on paper making repeat patterns. Link to my favorite instructions:
    http://www.designsponge.com/2008/05/welcome-julia-and-how-to-make-a-repeat-pattern.html

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    1. Well thank you SO MUCH for both the compliment and the advice! Your idea about creating a set of companion designs is exactly the kind of thing I need to hear about, because yes, I am trying to approach this as a possible "independent designer"opportunity. THANKS! :)

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  2. You are so talented! I love your art companion too : )

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    1. Hey there, Tipper! Thanks, you are very kind. And Piper is available for musical events, too :)

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  3. Your artistic talents wow me. I'm afraid that I don't have any great advice for you (or any advice at all!). But I do relate to the inability to sit still for long. I'm really glad that you figured out a good way to do it! I, too, love your art companion. I'm glad the heat is letting up so that you two can have more outings.

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  4. So many good topics in this post: your artistic ability, that youtake the time to do it, your sweet animal companions, and Spoonflower. I, too, am considering a Spoonflower project. I will wait and see how your idea progresses. Such an inspiration you are!

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    1. Judy, I'll be very interested to hear about your Spoonflower ideas too. Maybe we could collaborate on a project!

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