Tag Archives: painting

Finished piece
Posted May 14th, 2013 by Roxane Lessa

Why Paint On A Quilt?

IN THIS ISSUE

  • FEATURE ARTICLE: Why Use Paint on a Quilt?
  • NEW WORK:  Quilting it
  • COMING SOON:  May 25: Fused Applique and Paint Class, Thimble Pleasures, Chapel Hill

Feature Article:  Why Use Paint on a Quilt?

Before 2005, I had never dreamed I would be using paint on my art quilt, or as I now like to call them, textile paintings.  I took a class with Esterita Austin at a quilt show, and I was intrigued.  And scared.  Terrified I would “wreck” my little practice quilt.  Over the years, I have overcome my terror, and now teach others to do the same. (See upcoming class in Chapel Hill below).  I always say, even if you mess up royally, you can always fix it.

For example, once I was making a desert landscape quilt and the sky needed soft blending colors.  I messed up my first attempt, cut it off, painted a better sky, and attached it back onto the rest of the piece.  See what I mean?

Offending sky-gone.

Offending sky-gone.

 

Finished piece

Finished piece

 Mojave Sandstorm 

Using another photo of Pete Saloutos, I created a hot orange and purple desert with a sandstorm coming over the mountains.

Materials: Hand painted ( by myself and others), hand dyed and shibori dyed, and batik  cottons, fused, machine and bobbin quilted,various threads.

16″ X 44″, SOLD, 2011 

 But, back to original question:  why paint on a quilt?

  • more depth
  • more realism
  • tiny details
  • soft blending- hard to do with fabric pieces
  • it’s fun, and the results are fantastic

If you paint, please use a softer blend made for fabric, like Setacolors or Profab paint by Prochem, or Jacquard Paints.  I also like the fabric medium GAC Golden 900 for making the paints easier to spread on fabric.  On the areas you paint, the hand will be crisper, but not as crisp as regular acrylic paint.

NEW WORK:  Quilting it

IMG_5523 IMG_5522

The new piece is called?  Because I don’t know the name of this plant.  Anyone who can tell me?  Any gardeners out there?  Anyway, the quilting is almost done.  I have to laugh-I almost never stipple quilt, but the pink veins on this plant called for exactly that.  Lots and lots of stippling.   And yes, the white spots are painted on!

For the techies out there, I used neon trilobal polyester thread, a little rayon thread, some green trilobal polyester, my trusty #14 Topstitch needle with the top tension at around 2, and clear Superior Mono.Poly in the bobbin.

What are you working on now?  Are you going to paint on it? What do you need help with? Ask me below.

 COMING SOON

 May 25: Fused Applique and Paint Class, Thimble Pleasures, Chapel Hill

 TESTIMONIALS from participants:

I feel a big boost in personal confidence re: making choices and quilting.  Thank you! 

The small class allowed for more individual help and encouragement.

Thank you so much- I  learned a great deal and have much more confidence in my skills!!

 About Roxane

Roxane is a full time studio textile artist and teacher with two girls and 1 fat cat.  She is a 2012 Niche Award Winner and exhibits her work all over the world.  Roxane enjoys traveling, knitting and most of all working with students who want to create their own fiber art, and not simply make other people’s patterns.  Her work is in several private collections and loves doing custom commissions.

If you and a small group of folks want a more private instruction experience, call me.  We can work out a studio workshop in my studio. Just drop me an email:  roxane@roxanelessa.com

  Permission to duplicate: You certainly can use this blog, just be sure to credit me and include this link, Roxane Lessa.  Hey, if you like this blog, please hit the FB or Twitter icon in the top right sidebar and share with others!  That’s why they are there…..:)

 

 
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IMG_5373
Posted January 30th, 2013 by Roxane Lessa

Miriam’s Quilt

January is almost over!  I had a lovely birthday a few days ago.  Plus, I got to teach an impromptu private workshop yesterday.  Come see what we made…. 

 

IN THIS POST:  MIRIAM’S FIRST QUILT, DID YOU KNOW? 

So a few days ago, one of my students emails me and wants to know if I can do a quick private workshop for her niece from out of town.  I thought about it, and said, why not?  I’m so glad I did, because I got to share with a young girl the making of her first textile creation.  That doesn’t happen every day!  We planned, fused, cut and sewed in a very spontaneous way, and two hours later she had this to hang in her room:

IMG_5373

I hope her aunt will teach her how to quilt it now! When I haven’t taught in a while, I forget what a rewarding experience it is to share what I know.  While we’re on that topic:

If you and a small group of folks want a more private instruction experience, call me.  We can work out a studio workshop in my studio. 

DID YOU KNOW 

You can create a shadow on your pictorial art quilt by the cunning use of paint and a little water?  This technique is very effective if you want to create a shadow without covering up the under fabric.  And it’s so easy, but I recommend practicing on a scrap first.  So here’s how I went from this:

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To this:

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First I brushed a little water on the parts I wanted to shade (to the left of the trees).  Then I mixed my color, thinned it with thinner and brushed it over the wet parts with a sponge. The water makes it blend softly without covering up the fabric underneath.  After it dries you may want to do it again, because it dries much lighter.  I think I may do some more shading there later.  Next week I will be working on some sparkly highlights…If you have any questions about this process, please comment and ask below.

To see more painted art quilts of mine, hop on over to my website Roxane Lessa Fine Textile Art.  They are there for your viewing and purchasing pleasure!

 

 Permission to duplicate: You certainly can use this blog, just be sure to credit me and include this link, Roxane Lessa.

 
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IMG_5369
Posted January 22nd, 2013 by Roxane Lessa

Painting Progress

Hey Everyone,

Last week we had some comments from my peeps about different ways to baste your quilt layers.  Check in the comment section to get some more ideas.  And if you have other ideas, I’d love to hear them!  One idea from Katherine had me cracking up- she said “[others use disposable earplugs]on the sharp end of the pin.”  I couldn’t help thinking- who has hundreds of  earplugs lying around?  And what a weird look you would get if you bought hundreds of them!!  Still, it would work to save your hands from sharp pins!  Thanks everyone for all your comments!

 IN THIS POST:   DID YOU KNOW? PAINTING PROGRESS

DID YOU KNOW

that the paints I use are developed for use on fabrics? Regular acrylics can be used, but the it will be stiffer when dry on the fabric. I have used Setacolors on both silk and cotton.  I have also used Jacquard paints and powdered Pearl Ex pigments.  One cool way to get just glitter and little color is to mix the pearlescent powders with a medium.  If you look closely on the white area of the flowers, you will see a light pearlesence from using Pearl Ex and Golden fabric medium.

Angel's Trumpets

Angel’s Trumpets

 

 My medium of choice is Golden GAC 900, fabric painting heat-setting medium.  It also makes your paint glide over the fabric better. Just mix, paint, let dry overnight, and heat set with your iron.  These days, I’m using Prochem textile paints, which I order from them.  Click on the link and you can get them too!

PAINTING PROGRESS

IMG_5369Some more progress on the commission.  I am working on the darkest shadows right now.  I mixed red and black and the Golden medium and a little thinning agent to get that color.  I do plan to use some sparkly powder for the highlights later on.  I can’t wait to quilt this one!

Do you paint on your quilts?  What kind of paint do you use? Do you paint before or after quilting?

If you and a small group of folks want a more private instruction experience, call me.  We can work out a studio workshop in my studio. 

 Permission to duplicate: You certainly can use this blog, just be sure to credit me and include this link, Roxane Lessa.

 

 

 
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