Sunday, April 13, 2008

Pink Silk

The title Pink Silk may seem strange for this piece, but let me explain. This is a 5x5 for a book project, In the Pink, by Jo Anne Owens. So that's why this piece is pink, pink, pink. Hot pink as a matter of fact. I titled it Pink Silk, because this is actually made from approximately one inch strips of silk fabric. Yes indeed, I pulled out an old silk blouse that didn't fit me anymore, and cut it up to use in my art. This blouse was made out of teal smooth silk. After I cut the strips, I frayed the edges, then Mod Podged them down onto my usual -- frozen pizza cardboard -- in different directions, with some overlapping going on. I tried to glue them on with lots of wrinkling for good texture. I let it dry overnight, and when dry, the surface almost felt like plastic.

Then I did the painting with Anita's Acrylic Paint, first fuschia, then baby pink rubbed over the elevated parts. After painting, I glued down pink cheese cloth, dyed in beet juice, on the right side. (Although it's kind of hard to tell it's cheese cloth in this photo, but up close it's easy to tell.) The vertical pieces on the cheese cloth are painted large, flat toothpicks, and the horizontal pieces are seeds from my yard, painted with the baby pink. The heart was punched out of a paint sample, then painted fuschia. Underneath it is a pink feather, that got rather segmented when I applied gel medium, but I decided to leave it that way.

The most amazing part to me about this piece is how using the silk came out, and provided such great, different looking texture. This is with using one inch strips. Next time I think I'll cut one large piece, and scrunch it up as I glue it on, and see what that looks like. It might look very similar to this piece....or maybe not. Maybe it will have a different effect. Well, one thing is for sure. Experimentation is FUN!

18 comments:

ScaryCheri said...

oh this piece is so cool Val. I love the idea of the silk shirt in shreds( I think I have mine in my fabic stash drawer in fact) never thought to rip it and paint it. You are so creative. Thanks for sharing this technique. Hugz, Scary

mary schweitzer said...

You are the Texture Queen! So inspiring! You always get me thinking in new directions. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.
Mary

Anonymous said...

This is a marvelous piece, Val!! I absolutely love it!
Lizbeth

christygrant said...

Val, my inventive friend, you've done it again. This is great! Your experiments always amaze me. Keep up the good work!

Sharon said...

This piece is absolutely beautiful! What a fantastic idea!

Debbi Baker said...

Fabulous page and terrific way to get texture!! And all that pink really works on your page!

Elis Cooke said...

Val, your experimental skills are amazing!!! A great integration of so many unusual items to create a wonderful composition! Thanks so much for inpiring me! namaste Elis.

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Val - this is so cool! I have some blue and green silk I may just have to try this! Marva

Denise Moore said...

Love your Pink Silk Piece. I love texture and you found a great way to get. I often am in the thrift store and see gorgeous silk blouses but have no idea what to do with them. Thanks for the inspiration.
Denise

The Tattered Rose said...

Great piece! I save my old silk blouses too and now I will have something new to try! If you're up for more experimentation you might also try Golden Gel Medium. I've had a lot of good luck embedding fabric in it!

~*~Patty S said...

Really Love the texture and depth of this piece and I'm not even seeing it in person! Love the use of found items especially something as yummy as silk! Thank you for sharing and for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

great piece Val!! I can't believe it started out as a teal shirt!!
**Chris

Moonwillow said...

Your work is amazing and so intuitive! Beautifully done.

Anonymous said...

Kewl I love it, I'm not a pink fan but this turned out great!!!

Jo Anne O. said...

Oh my, Val!!! I am SO excited to see this one in person! Thank you so much for sending in such a cool piece for my In The Pink collaborative book project...I ADORE texture and this one is full of just that! YUM!

Unknown said...

Gotta love it when experiments turn out so great! This piece is full of life and very yummy! Just grabbed a silk blouse out of the bag I had ready to take to a Thrift Shop! Thanks for the idea.

Anonymous said...

Yup I'mmmmmmm baaaaack!!!!


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Anonymous said...

Val - this piece is gorgeous. It will make a wonderful addtion to the project. - Nicki