On A Roll...

...with the monoprint thing... it's getting interesting.  I started with a painting, and then took two monoprints from it, one on cloth, one on prepainted paper.  I suspect the painting isn't quite finished...but I'll need to wait and see. 

And then I thought... use the rest of the paint... and play with greens.  These photographs aren't terribly accurate in terms of colour; apparently my camera doesn't like green... but they're an approximation.  They get looser as I go on, and the paint gets less.

All four are on cloth : the first is on transfer dyed lutradur, just for interest's sake, really.  I don't think every one of these is successful...but I won't know until I've added stitch.  And if they're not, it's okay.  This is about process, not about result.  What I am pleased about, though, is that these feel like mine.  They don't refer to anything or anyone, and whilst I have no idea at present what this is 'about', I have the feeling they'll tell me.  This is my preferred way of working: no idea, no picture in my head that I have to somehow follow, just me, the cloth and the paint.  And that's how I like it.  Now to see if I can find some thread...

Yes, It's True...

I really will dye anything. I've been dyeing vintage cloth for a while now, I love the way it feels, soft with use, usually much better quality than anything you can buy today. This particular piece is a napkin, which I did some very basic batik on, forgot about, overdyed and ironed out... I'm really very pleased with the way it turned out.

The problem, of course, is that I bought it to cut up, and I can't bring myself to do so. Repurposing may be all the rage, but I find it difficult to sidestep the original context that a textile piece has. Mind you, I have managed to cut up tablecloths for pieces, so perhaps all I need to do is wait. Or let someone else do it!