Wednesday, September 23, 2009

fabric-o-rama

my etsy pals are having a little challenge on the melange blog. glenda bailey, who is a fabric addict, has challenged all the melange members to use fabric in our art. as a costume designer, fabric is always a part of my life. this love for fabric made it's way into my art. from the first altered book i made to the dolly shrines that i have been working on this week, chances are if you are looking at one of my pieces, there's apt to be some fabric on it some where.

using fabric for me has always been about texture. besides the fact that i don't seem to have the patience (or the skill) to make anything come out "flat", i love to have texture in my work. when i started this art journey and making altered books, i quickly found that fabric had so many uses. first, i adds texture and interest to the surface, secondly, i used it to cover the myriad of mistakes i made, and lastly, it help the pages from sticking together. now, there are fewer mistakes to cover, but i still use fabric. besides, it's a resource that i have tons and tons of. there was a time when i was selling bags of fabric scraps on etsy because i had so much of it.

the scrap bin is getting smaller. mostly because i have a special project, that i have been working on for craft shows. all i am going to say right now, is that it makes excellent use of scraps, in a truly artist way.

the piece that really shows how versatile fabric can be as a medium is in my altered book, "angels have wings." the cover is a corset and fabric is found on almost every page, from the flames that engulf the workers of the triangle shirt waist factory from hand embroidered flaming heart of Mary that boldly sings out on the final page.

i love using fabric so much, it's pretty much always been a part of my art. i do recommend that you take the plunge and try it yourself if you haven't already. you might like the results!




6 comments:

Glenda-TwoCoolTexans said...

I knew you had been a costume designer, I don't recall ever actually zeroing in on the fact that you used fabric in your other work. Well, I should have paid better attention! Lots and lots of lovelies to look at. Eye candy galore, Lorraine.

kartika said...

I love your blog and your art is wonderful - I love mixed media and your altered books are lovely - you have inspired me big time! Kartika

Elizabeth Johnson said...

Very nice pieces and an enjoyable blog.

whyte said...

I remember the first time you posted that altered book, I love it just as much this time!! It's just perfect in composition. Always love your work Lorraine.

Artsnark said...

wonderful pieces! Love your top photo too

Gerushia's New World said...

I truly adore your particular way of utilizing your vintage images. Gorgeous work!

I hope you don't mind, I've included your link on my newest blog. I use to be Garden Painter Art, but I finally took the plunge and changed my business name. It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time. So....I have a new blog and a new Etsy shop. Garden Painter Art is no more.

If you get a spare moment, would you mind changing the old link on your blog from Garden Painter to http://gerushiasnewworld.blogspot.com. ?

Thanks so much:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
(Formerly Garden Painter Art)