On Exhibit at the Danforth Museum of Art

I am very honored to be one of 72 artists whose work is hanging in the Danforth Museum’s Annual Juried Exhibition through September 18, 2022.

This evening my sweetheart and I attended the members only opening. It was wonderful to be with people again, and see many artists and friends who we haven’t seen since pre-Covid times.

My piece Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #3, is mixed media on two layers of stitched fabric that is stiffened.

It’s one of many fiber pieces, and one of quite a few pieces about Covid.

The Danforth Museum of Art is located at 14 Vernon Street in Framingham, MA.

New Work in Progress, Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave #2

 

I squeezed in some time last week to stitch the top and bottom fabrics together for my new painting, Hoping to Avoid a Second Wave #2. Next step is to cut out the “holes” from the top layer of the monoprinted construction fence fabric to reveal the drop cloth below it. This weekend has been BEAUTIFUL weather, in the 70’s, and I'm trying to be outside as much as possible after being inside during all the heat we just survived. We shall see.

New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5 is the fifth (and maybe last) piece in this series, and not as overly geometric as my other work. Maybe it's a new direction and maybe not. We shall see.

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. Fabric paint on a drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fence, represents germs we can not see. 

The top whole cloth layer of the fence is stitched to the drop cloth foundation below. The fence “holes” are cut away so drop cloth pattern can be seen through the fence. The two layers of fabric are then stiffened.

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5 measures 21.5” x 23.5”.

More Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5

I started working on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5 which has unused fabric sections from #4 that are stitched together as one. Like numbers 1 - 4, it has two layers of stitched fabric, a drop cloth underneath a monoprinted construction fence pattern. So far, I’ve cut away the “holes” in the fence pattern. Now to do more stamping. The fabric is not yet stiffened.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5

I started working on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #5 which has unused fabric sections from #4 that are stitched together as one. Like numbers 1 - 4, it has two layers of stitched fabric, a drop cloth underneath a monoprinted construction fence pattern. So far, I’ve cut away the “holes” in the fence pattern. Now to do more stamping. The fabric is not yet stiffened.

New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. Fabric paint on a drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fence, represents germs we can not see. 

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4 measures 23” x 33.75” and is mixed media with two layers of stitched fabric that is stiffened.

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

Before I started painting gray fabric paint in between all of the stitching of the monoprinted construction fence grid on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4, I printed out a photo, and filled in part of the grid by hand with marker to see how I like it partially filled in. 

Above is only the right side of the grid filled in, and below has additional paint in darker areas of the drop cloth behind the grid. At the moment, I'm liking partial as opposed to filling in the whole grid. I like how the lighter grid sections blend in with the lighter areas of the drop cloth.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

I’ve begun painting in between the stitching of the monoprinted construction fence grid on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. The drop cloth pattern underneath is the fabric behind the fence. I was planning on painting the entire grid, but now I’m considering only part of it instead of the whole thing.

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

Last week I started cutting the squares away from the monoprinted construction fence on Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. Here is the drop cloth pattern underneath is starting to present itself. I’m using the photo of the whole piece of fabric as a guide because this piece is not going to be as large as #4. 

New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4

I’m getting ready to start Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #4. Here is the drop cloth (representing the germs) and the reverse side of a monoprinted construction fence on my work table. I’ll start stitching them together ASAP. Then the fun begins.

 

New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #3

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. Fabric paint on a drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fence, represents germs we can not see.

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #3 measures 23.25” x 56.75”, and is mixed media on two layers of stitched fabric that is stiffened.

Even More Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

I stayed up really late last night and added more color inside the red stamped squares over the top layer of fabric and the drop cloth. Here’s a photo of it on my work table (complete with my toes) as I stood on a step ladder. I actually painted fuschia on the BACK side of the fabric so it soaked through to the front somewhat. I'm feeling better about this piece. Next step is to coat it with watered down matt medium to stiffen it. The color on the whole piece will become much richer when it's coated and dry. Then I'll add more details of paint.

More Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

This picture shows all squares cut out of the top layer of fabric that's stitched over a drop cloth. I handstamped red squares on the bottom section and will do the top next. There are also medium blue circles stamped on some of the squares I removed, placed in intersections that don't have any stamped images on the drop cloth behind them. I was thinking of cutting this in half to make two separate paintings but I've decided not to. Of course my self-doubt kicks in at this point. Did I screw this piece up or is while in the middle of working on it? I need to stop over thinking what I'm doing and just keep working. 

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3

More New Work in Progress: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 3, and maybe 4. This series of pictures show as I cut two rows of squares out of the top of two layers of fabric stitched together. The top layer is a monoprint of a construction fence and the bottom is part of a drop cloth. It measures about 28” x 60”. As I remove the “holes” (or squares) in the top layer, it reveals the drop cloth beneath. This might end up being one painting, or two if I cut it in half when it’s done. I’m also considering a name change or a possible new series instead. I’ll decide when I’m finished.

New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs #2

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. A drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fabric, represents germs we can not see. Cutting the “holes” in the fence in the top layer of fabric away to see the drop cloth behind it, is a modified reverse appliqué, for lack of a better description. 

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs 2 and is mixed media on stitched fabric that measures 24” x 27.75”.

Update on New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. A drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fabric, represents germs we can not see. Cutting the top layer of fabric away to see the drop cloth behind it, is a modified reverse appliqué, for lack of a better description. 

The update is I decided to coat this piece in watered down matt medium so it’s stiffened. The colors always change afterward and get richer.

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs I measures 25” x 26.5” and is mixed media on stitched  and stiffened fabric.

New Work: Trying to Stay Safe from Germs

Trying to Stay Safe from Germs I

25” x 26.5”
mixed media on stitched fabric
2020

Monoprinted textures of construction fences are used to represent how we’re trying to stay safe during the pandemic, similar to how construction sites use construction fences as a barrier to keep people out of danger by blocking off the site. A drop cloth, which can be seen behind the stitched grid of the fabric, represents germs we can not see. Cutting the top layer of fabric away to see the drop cloth behind it, is a modified reverse appliqué, for lack of a better description.