My Favorite Resist Tool

I mentioned that I used an interesting little Japanese tool to create some mechanical resists in my natural dyeing class with Michele Wipplinger.

Here is the little tool clamped to a table, with some silk mounted and wound with string. I doubled the silk around the tool as it was so delicate.

After tying off the string, I removed the silk and created a row of similar 'fingers' in the scarf.

I then dyed the 'fingers' with some quebracho red and steamed the scarf to set the dye. After the steaming, I untied the scarf.

 

I really liked the effect of the dyeing - the gradations from the wrapping suggested flowers to me - you can see that a little more clearly in this close-up.

I decided to keep this piece as is as a record for future experiments and then play with a second piece. This time I worked with logwood grey in painting during my wrapping stage. I didn't apply as much paint and the result was more diffuse.  I painted over the first stage after I steamed it with some madder. 

As you can see, the results are quite different.

It sure is fun to play! I suspect I am going to explore working with this little tool quite a bit more!

More on Natural Dyeing with Michelle Wipplinger

At the start of our class on Surface Design class with Michelle Wipplinger of Earthues we each received a bag of primarily mordanted silk to use in the class. This saved us hours of prep work. Many of the pieces were delicate silk scarves. There was also one beautiful cotton shawl.

I totally enjoyed exploring the art of dyeing with these fabrics. I played with silk screens, stenciling and resists, including an interesting Japanese tool that created an effect I absolutely loved and that I will write about later this week.

Here are some of my efforts:

My first two projects.

 The photo above shows my first two attempts at working with natural dyes. I did some silk screening and painting with sponges on the left lighter color piece. The darker piece was simple painting with natural dyes.

These two scarves involved more playing with painting with natural dyes.  I also added some effects with pigments to the lower scarf.

Finally, here are two of my indigo pieces. I will eventually add some additional touches to the bottom one. I learned that I really loved dyeing with indigo.

Pushing My Limits, Again.

So, I just spent the last three days in an intensive workshop on natural fiber surface design. I somehow manage to find these opportunities to push myself to my limits. It is always worth it as I then integrate what I learned into my life. After all, that is what growing (and living) is all about, isn't it?

So, I walked in to this workshop with amazingly little knowledge or experience of the whole field of dyeing and general surface design. I have known for a year or two that I needed to learn more, deepen my understanding, and create a stronger base for my art. I received an email about this class a number of months ago - the dates and subject matter sounded right and it was only 20 minutes from my home so I signed up.

Michelle relaxing for a moment

As a result, I had the opportunity to study with Michelle Wipplinger in a class called "Painting and Printing on Cloth: Mark Making the Natural Way." Michelle owns Earthues in Seattle, WA and has been involved in the field of natural fiber dyeing for the past 40 years, traveling extensively internationally to learn and collaborate.

It was clear to me as people introduced themselves at the start of the class that I was in way over my head, surrounded by design professionals, some of whom had traveled up from NYC to study with Michelle. But, it was great. My head was spinning by the end of day two but everyone was friendly and supportive of the few of us who were really 'beginners.' I absolutely loved it!

And, wow, did I learn!

Michelle brought a host of examples of cloth dyed with natural dyes and pigments.

Silks dyed with natural dyes

dyed silks then painted with pigments

We began with some simple painting with natural dyes and then progressed through working with pigments, indigo dyeing, and an assortment of techniques that we as participants wished to explore.

Our group at work

 Our backgrounds and interests were so varied that we all just naturally plunged in and went off in different directions, at different rates of speed. Michelle managed to be everywhere at once, answering questions, offering suggestions, making sure that we all were getting what we wanted from her class.

The drying racks, filled with our efforts, were fascinating to look over.

It was absolutely wonderful! Next post, I will share some of my own efforts.