Pat Hardie - Altered Art Studio

Adventures with artquilts, fibres, neckties and 2 very fine flatcoat retrievers - Gypsy & Reo

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Pierre Cardin meets Folkart




Another exercise from Pamela Allen's class. This one was to extend the 'story' of a very small image printed on fabric. I chose this funny lady with pursed lips. Unfortunately I don't know her origins. If you know who she is or who painted her, I would love to hear from you.
The composition came together quite quickly. I also learned first hand how an 'arbitrary artistic element' can cinch the deal so to speak. I completed the big hand raw edge applique on an impromptu trip to New York City with my friend, Robin, getting quite enthused about the choices of embroidery floss colours I had on hand. When I got home, I determined that again a tie would be the finishing touch, hence, Pierre Cardin in the title. This piece has been machine quilted & thread painted on a double layer of batting and stretched over a wood frame. I quite like this effect. It is a small piece (10"x12"), so the 'frame' helps it stand out from the wall giving it some 'presence'. In fact it is now on display on the livingroom wall. That's high praise from me.

I had so much fun with this 'exercise' that I want to search out more of these folkart images to play with. Perhaps a series is forthcoming.

Sound Wave - a line exercise







This piece was started in Pamela Allen's workshop this summer at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario. She gave each of us a piece of fabric and were told to complete the pattern. The fabric piece could not be cut and I believe it was to be no more than 1/3 of the final piece.
The piece given to me looked more like a fish skeleton. Can you find it? I began happily building around it only to discover that I was telling a story and not building upon an already established pattern. This is my second attempt which happened rather quickly for me as I spend way too much time cogitating in most instances. It was displayed on the wall during our critique session and basically was a finished composition. BTW - all fabrics are recyled, the binding is a gorgeous, pure wool from a woman's skirt.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Seaside Hotels











Here's another piece that I just recently finished although it was started quite some time ago; the inspiration dates even longer ago than that.

I was playing with my serger and a bucket of scraps. In particular I was exposing the wrong side of the seam and stitching for effect. After a bit the manufactured fabric began to look like very tall buildings. The next image that popped into my mind was one of our travelling along the Gulf coast with me trying to catch a glimpse of the ocean. Only from time to time was that possible due to the number of buildings along the shore and that blocked the view.

It's obvious that the viewer in this case is not in a car, but perhaps in one of those cruise ships moored off-shore. Perhaps this is what they might see from their deck-side chair.

The Wedding House
















The inspiration for this piece is again a14th-15th century illuminated manuscript, specifically the Tres Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry. The three photos that appear on one side of the house come from this book of hours. I chose January, the season of gift-giving and Colin's birth month; April, the engagement of the Duke's grand-daughter, and May, le joli moi de mai as Lucie is French and May is her birth month. These images are inkjet printed on aluminum foil. A total of 7 men's ties were used for the exterior walls, roof and rooftop railing. Various found embroideries, jewellery, chain & coins from a belly dancer costume, buttons, couched gold cord, painted bamboo skewers, rhinestones, & metal coverall fittings adorn the house along with free motion quilting. The house is supported by 4 plastic thread spools covered with copper metallic embroidery floss and button feet. The roof top railing hides the opening slot through which cards and envelopes can be 'posted' at my son's wedding reception. This house can also be displayed as a wall hanging due to the hidden zippers at each corner.

The Wedding Quilt











What with my oldest son's upcoming wedding, I have been inspired to actually do something with three of the six figures won at a silent auction 3 years ago. Mary, Mary (of 'quite contrary' fame) has been on and off my design board too many times and as a result is currently confined to the closet. The muse just wasn't working or Mary, Mary was just being - well, contrary.
However, when I connected my son with the figure I call the Laird because my son borrowed the full kilt regalia to wear to his MBA graduation party, it seemed that the Laird may very well have proposed. Of course, we're still not sure to whom as you will notice in the finished piece. Which one is the bride? Perhaps she is both.
All fabrics are recycled. In its previous life the background fabric was a woman's jacket which I've pieced using big hand raw edge applique and then free motion quilted. Various found appliques, embroideries and a distorted version of the real church drawn with the sewing machine and coloured with crayons and Shiva Paintstiks create the wedding scene. The border trim was given to me and hand-dyed twice to get the right shade. I was thrilled to see that only the background and not the brown embroidery changed colour leaving the lovely pattern visible.
I see this piece as a contemporary version of 14th-15th century illuminated manuscript tradition. These wonderful paintings in book form often repeat similar elements with rich design & colour, but all the while depicting everyday events. Notice the contrast between elements - the country church with the richer cathedral-style one, velvet-like fabric with the aluminum foil of the church spires, the plainess of the fencing and detail of the figures. I'm sure there are other details that reflect the 'book of hours' look.
For more about illuminated manuscripts & another piece inspired by them, please refer to the Wedding House post.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Wedding artwork




My son (the one getting married) & his bride-to-be asked me back in May - 'Have you any idea of what Anne, the ring bearer, might use that is NOT a cushion'? 'But of course' I said. 'Look at these little boxes, one of which I made for my neighbour's granddaughter. Son picked out the tie he liked from among the over 1000 I have and the deed was done. After all I've had more than enough practice in making fabric boxes. In this case we decided on a hinged lid and ribbon holding the top closed just in case Anne might trip while walking down the aisle.
In my next post I'll tell you about their second request.


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I've been blogged

Today I got an email from my friend and fellow artist, Pamela Allen, saying that a former student of hers visited the Transitions exhibit in its second (of three) venue (Cary, NC) and has posted pictures of both our pieces as well as others.Check out photos of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, a lovely old restored hotel & what Jeanne McBrayer has to sayhttp://allthingsquilty.blogspot.com/2009/08/all-things-quilty-field-trip.htmlA few folks have mentioned that I haven't posted anything on my blog for some months. So very true, but soon to be rectified. I shall be posting pictures of my latest creations inspired by medieval-gothic illuminated manuscripts (or book of hours as they are also called) and also by my oldest son's upcoming wedding.Stay tuned while I try to remember how to assemble the description & pictures in some sort of cohesive order. Oh yes, one has to do everything in the opposite direction. Maybe if I had a website it might be easier, but I don't so ....