EcoDyed Paper

Its that time of year again... the annual Qld Spinners Weavers and Fibre Artists' Cookup.  Over 4 days a group of dedicated paper-obsessed groupies converge at Fibrecraft House to do 'all things paper' - cooking plant fibre, making paper, rusting, decorating paper and other paper-based activities. 

This year I led a session on EcoDyed Paper, based on a technique I learnt from India Flint in September.  Subsequent experiments at home revealed that I could dye the paper without having to sew silk onto it first.  I have an aversion to hand sewing, thus skipping this step was quite a relief for me!

The results at the Cookup session were fantastic - the colours and marks came up beautifully using onion skins, metal objects, black grape skin, and eucalypt leaves, amongst other things.  The girls were so surprised that such success could be achieved without chemicals. 

We had exceptional outcomes using Micador Raines Watercolour paper - 300gsm with very little sizing - it soaked up the colours in the dye bath beautifully.  Not surprisingly we cleared the shelves of Raines paper at Oxlades that same afternoon!

Keep a look out on my blog for more photos, as I continue with my dyeing experiments.



The bundles ready to dye -
we ran out of paddle pop sticks
due to enthusiastic bundling



Bundles coming out of the dye pot - note the rich 'black' brew!

New Years Resolutions

Well another year has passed and we're right into 2011 now.  Scary!

In keeping with my New Years resolution to 'print, print, print', I've already spent my first day for 2011 at the Impress Printmakers' Camp Hill Studio, with my printing-pal Cathy Money.

I decided to revisit my Bower series, this time using 2 different bird images.  I delved into my box of 'goodies' and found some mini ric-rac which features in some of the prints.  I also tried talcum powder which gave an interesting 'aquatint' type of effect - something more to be explored in the future!

One of my other New Years Resolutions was to de-clutter my storage areas.  I'm happy to say that I have once again regained control of my spare room via a large shelving system I sourced from Officeworks.  And my large papers finally have a home thanks to the creative skill of my partner Craig - he has transformed a old kitchen cupboard shell into a paper storage unit.  

My next area for attack is the garden shed - its currently stacked with plant fibre that unfortunately has suffered in our recent wet weather conditions and desperately needs composting........wish me luck!

First Monotype Workshop for 2011

I'll be holding my first monotype workshops for 2011 on 14 & 15 February at the Caloundra Regional Gallery.

These workshops are short - 3 hours long - a exciting introduction for those new to the technique, or for those who have experienced the wonder of monoprinting, an opportunity to explore more of the layering and beauty that can be developed with multiple print runs.

The cost is $35 including materials.

For enquiries and bookings, contact Caloundra Regional Gallery Ph. 5420 8299 artgallery@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

The Latest News

I just realised that I hadn't blogged for a few weeks, but a lot has happened in my art practice......

Bower1, Monotype, 2010

At the annual Impress Printmakers Auction in late November, I sold one of my favourite works 'Bower1' which had featured on the invitation.

In December, I sold 11 of my monotype prints, to be framed and hung in the Mater Private Hospital.  These prints include a selection from my pineapple series and my bird series - Bower, Homage to the Pidgeon, and The Trouble with Turkeys.  It gives me great pleasure knowing my colourful and often quirky artwork will lift someone's spirits whilst they are in hospital. 



Craig waiting patiently for me,
this time outside Neil's Art Store, Fitzoy.
 He is so supportive!



Other news.... in the first week of December I travelled to Melbourne with my partner Craig and was able to check out a lot of arty special places around the city area.  Of particular note - The Sticky Institute where I found a den of zine culture.  In Fitzoy and Collingwood, I visited Beautiful Silks - beautiful fabrics and threads, I bought enough silk to make a pinafore to eco-dye.  Also Neil's Art Store where I took a peek inside their press workshop and had a interesting chat with their press engineer.  In Zetta Florence, I found gorgeous paper accessories featuring imagery such as birds and butterflies.  I also visited Australian Print Workshop's Impressions exhibition - Suzanne Danaher's etching was my favourite.  In.cube8r gallery - artists rent glass cubicles to display their wares - what a great idea!  And in Preston, Pedigree Paper - a factory outlet of paper, fill a bag of offcuts for $5.  A very busy week travelling on trams, trains and buses, and my bag on the return flight was much, much heavier!







Turkey Trouble

Yesterday I spent the day at the Impress Printmakers Studio at Camp Hill, working on a series of monotypes I've titled "Conservation of the Species".  Previously I did works based on the humble pidgeon, but yesterdays efforts concentrated on the infamous local scrub turkeys that drive neighbourhood gardeners wild with their constant nest building and territorial behaviour.  Its another bird species that has a less-than favourable reputation in our urban landscape, but of course the turkeys are just doing what comes naturally.  Thankfully I don't have one frequenting my garden at the moment, but being a chicken owner I often experience the frustration of losing parts of my vegetable garden!

A day of printing is always a beautifully relaxing and all-encompasing experience.  And using the large press at Impress is good fun - the wheel is big you feel like you are steering a shipping liner.

By the end of the day, there were turkeys everywhere!

The press with prints drying in the foreground

Inking up....

Revealing a ghost print

EcoDyed Fashion

After the inspiration of India Flint's workshop in September, I have been 'dyeing' to make some eucalyptus brew of my own.

I convinced Mum that she didn't need her aluminium pot anymore and I was ready to start.

Following the instructions in India's book Eco Colour, I pre-mordanted my cotton blouse using a traditional Japanese mordant technique to help the cellulose fibres to accept the dye.

I then 'rested' my blouse for a few weeks (ie I got distracted by other stuff including my day job) before bundling with leaves and simmering, then letting it sit in the cold dye bath for a week before finally giving up to temptation and unravelling my bundle. 

The colours are subdued but rich and earthy. Yellows, oranges and browns abound with shibori markings from the rubber bands and string used to tie the bundle. 

Whilst I still need more practice to get clear leaf prints, I am extremely happy with my first solo attempt.  Today a pre-mordanted linen blouse (bought for $5 at an op shop) has been popped into the black brew for another week of waiting, waiting, waiting until I can reveal the wonder of eco-dyeing again.

Eco-dyeing feels so gentle and natural and the eucalyptus smell in the house is beautiful.  It fits perfectly with my passion for the natural world.  I also like the idea of 'slow dyeing' where the process is not rushed, it takes it time to brew and work its magic.  The opposite to our frantic lifestyles today!

Thanks India again for your inspiration and guidance. 

Printing Butterfly Angels

Yesterday was all about butterflies!  I did a whole day's printing session with Thumper (my press) to produce 12cm x 12cm prints for several upcoming Xmas shows.  These prints are designed to fit into a CD cover, a novel way to display paper-based works without the expense of framing.

After a shaky start producing prints I was less than happy with, I began to loosen up and subsequently produced some lovely prints with surprising texture and colour.  I found working on a small scale was challenging - I had to limit the number of stencils, plants and other materials to make my marks.  Simplicity was the key - not overworking the colour layers.   I've got a few muddy ones that I can use for collages and book covers, nothing is ever wasted!

I have titled this series 'My Guardian Angel'.  The reference to angels comes from my late Dad's affection for butterflies in his later years.  His butterflies are my guardian angels, perhaps his way of keeping an eye on me!



You can see how loose I was on the inking up for this one!



Lime green is a recurring colour for me, yum love it

Revealed Exhibition

Only a week to go before we install the 'Revealed' Exhibition at Brisbane Square Library!

13 members of Papermakers Qld are participating in this exhibition with over 30 sculptural and 2D paper-based works featuring handmade paper using plant and other fibres.

The exhibition will be launched on Saturday 13 November at 12noon with refreshments. There is also an artists 'walk and talk' on Saturday 20 November at 11am with several members giving short talks on their works.

Please join us for these events. The exhibition will be open until the end of December, you'll find it on Level 2 of the Brisbane City Council Brisbane Square Library at the top of the Queen Street mall.

Opening Night @ 6 Degrees

Last night we opened our group show '6 Degrees' at White Canvas Gallery.  A fabulous night, with a great crowd who braved a rainy stormy night.   Its a great feeling to finally display some of my latest sculptural work.  I received some really positive feedback, as well as lots of offers of more palm inflorescence!

The 6 degrees artists, cheers to us!

My works on show

The crowd on opening night

Studio Time

There's nothing like working away in my studio with the rain falling outside and we've had plenty of that lately!  I've just spent 2 days printing in my studio with 'Thumper'.  I worked on some monotypes for my book making, then a series of works using pigeon imagery.  I've got a soft spot for pigeons, although most regard them as pests and a pooping nuisance!  The prints are a bit 'tongue-in-cheek' - I wanted to celebrate the pigeon as a beautiful bird, though a little common....

2 consecutive days of printing has allowed me to get into a great creative 'head'space and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I must thank my mother-in-law Jan and her husband Allan who collected plant materials for me during their recent caravan trip to South Australia.  I was able to use some of those plants in my work this week.

One of my prints I'll use for book making

One of my pigeon prints, a work in progress