Impressionist art quilt

I painted this silk fabric a a month or so ago . I liked it, but how to turn this fabric into an art quilt? As usual, I needed to run things around in my head for a while. What techniques to use? To applique or not applique? What style quilting to use? Lots of choices available, which ones to use.

I have found that using applique, a lot of thread painting, or dense quilting, tends to obscure the fabric design. Which in this case, I wanted to highlight.

I finally worked out the plan of action. Keep the focus on the painting itself, no fussiness to detract or obscure. I have found that the more I add to the fabric; applique, thread painting, dense quilting, the less the background is noticeable. It covers the design on the fabric. Since I’m dye/paint my own fabric, I often have this debate with myself going on.

What I liked about this fabric was it’s impressionist style, the way it resembled a watercolor.

.New piece of silk painted and ready for next step

I kept thread painting to a minimum, a little to add grass that faded off into the background, creating the “meadow”. With the quilting, although needed , keep wanted to keep it unobtrusive.

I finished it and posted on Etsy.

A nice thing happened. A rep for Pebeo Company, Setacolor contacted me. They need an art quilt which utilizes Setapaints for display at the Quiltcon show. They will have a booth and want a quilt to illustrate how Setapaints can be used in Art Quilting. This is the quilt that they want.

We’re still working out the details, but it is a done deal.. I am so excited that they asked me and it is such a good product that I genuinely love. The consistency is perfect for what I do, it is a permanent dye like paint, it can be diluted or thickened to suit the need. The selection of colors are great.

I generally paint my silk with a diluted form. I use Setapaint to create my silk “paintings”. For this quilt, I used watered down Setapaint, in a wet on wet technique, to create the impressionistic style.

I love how versatile they are..No they didn’t solicit any comments on my part, I am speaking from genuine appreciation for the product. So I’m jived!

SOLD

Posted by:Barbara Harms Fiber Art & More

Barbara Harms-Up Close and Personal I'm a fiber quilt artist, working in mixed media . Art runs in my family. I must have inherited the art gene. By my teens I had narrowed my focus to painting. I joined the Las Vegas Artist's Guild, their youngest member at the time. I was totally out of my league, a teen, in a room of adults. Mute, taking it all in. I hoped I went unnoticed, a fly on the wall, unlikely. A silent teenager in their midst, I’m pretty sure they noticed. But being emerged in art, exposed to serious artists, was a great experience. I’ve painted for most of my life. So, there you have it, the "glorious" beginnings of my artistic "career"! I've continued to paint for most of my life. I was introduced to quilting after moving to Oregon and instantly fell in love it. It was new and exciting, I jumped in with both feet. As enjoyable as I found quilting, I began to miss painting. Then, I discovered fiber art quilting, I was finally home. My Process & Approach For me, it's the process of creating that holds the strongest attraction. I love starting with a tiny seed of an idea; vague and blurred around the edges, then I follow where it leads. My style is fairly loose and instinctual. The choices and decisions that come up as I work on a piece, are made based on my gut feelings. This can result in quite a few changes in direction. This approach can lead to many changes in the direction. it takes The outcome can come as a surprise. I love that element of surprise. Sometimes everything just comes together & I think that this is one of my better ones. I can’t wait to show someone. I feel like a six year old, running home from school, a drawing in hand. He can't wait to show Mom. At those times I'm smiling like the Cheshire cat.