Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I’m in the middle of making a ‘rusty’ journal using the pieces I have made with my mystery fabric and wanted to use some text at the front of the book. So I took the definition of rust from the dictionary, made a Thermofax screen and used an oxide red acrylic paint to transfer the text to the page.
I also used the screen to print onto a rusty background. This one is acrylic paint.And this one is Metallic Iron Paint with a Rust Activator over the top – but it didn’t work. I think maybe the fabric used is too porous.
Last year at Ally Pally I was very taken with this piece of work by Sally Paton in the students exhibition and had been meaning to try using text on fabric with Xpandaprint.So I then decided to use Xpandaprint through the screen. I have a few ideas in mind and thought I would play around first to see what effects I could get.
This first one shows white Xpandaprint on a rusty background after it has been heated. The close up shows more clearly the Xpandaprint standing proud of the surface.I wanted coloured Xpandaprint but am not quite sure how to do this without it affecting the qualities. This sample has been mixed with acrylic paints – from a tube. The mixture was slightly runny – I wonder if the heavy body acrylics would work better. The colour does of course come up much lighter as I only used a very small amount.The next idea was to use fabric paints. I didn’t have the colours I would have liked so mixed some yellow with black and added a small amount of gold metallic. This time I mixed the paints first before using some of the mixture to slowly add to the Xpandaprint. I was only using a small amount of Xpandaprint at a time as not only is it far too expensive to waste but it needs to be worked with quite quickly.Then I got to wondering if perhaps I would get a darker colour with a powdered dye without it affecting the consistency of the Xpandaprint. I used Brusho powder but strangely enough the mixture went very runny – maybe it is the actual mixing process that makes this happen.This wasn’t very successful at all. The screen slipped and when heated the Xpandaprint text just merged together in places. For this next sample I mixed some disperse dye thickener (Manutex?) in with the Xpandaprint and Brusho – and at last I seemed to be getting somewhere. This print is on duck cotton. Seems to work well as the surface isn’t so porous.The next one is also a duck cotton background but it has been coated with white acrylic. The screen slipped all over the place on this one. I haven’t been mounting my experimental Thermofax screens in a frame, just using duck tape around the edges as per the Clare Fenton DVD.
I decided to paint over this one – spur of the moment, so not so good. I know I could get texture by using a stencil and even using a different product i.e. molding paste but with the screens the edges appear a lot sharper, especially with text. Obviously, I wouldn’t bother to colour the Xpandaprint if I were going to paint over it.And this is the crow stencil I used on the painted hanging I showed recently.Definitely a process that is worth investigating further.
But this here is more like what I have in mind.
Screened on to a layer of rusted scrim placed on a rusted cotton fabric.And what also appealed to me was when heating the Xpandaprint I had a mini-bonfire in the workroom – results here:I shall try again with this but making the text at least twice the size it is at the moment which I think will help to get more definition. I think too, that although the scrim was lying relatively flat it may have benefited from being hooped before printing.

18 comments:

Linda and Michelle said...

I really like reading your process, especially after seeing the fabric done. What you're doing looks really intriguing.

Vicki W said...

Thanks for sharing all of this great detail!

Pat said...

Great results. You are really getting to grips with your Thermofax machine.

Heather said...

I wouldn't have thought of using Xpandaprint like that, but it is most successful and very striking. All your samples are interesting and whilst they may not be exactly what you are aiming for, I'm sure you will use them in other ways. Thankyou for telling us your working methods. Love the crow stencil and I've ordered THE books! Not long to wait now before I can get my nose into them.

Unknown said...

Thanks Lynda, I am experimenting with (we call this puff paint) all week, this saves me a lot of time :-)

Julie said...

The crow is beautiful, I really like the effect. I wouldn't have thought to use puff paint for text but these experiments look very interestin. I hope puff paint doesn't go off. I've got some that's several years old.

Doreen G said...

I really like the white one Lynda.
I love how you seek out the what if's and end up with so many variations.

Judy Alexander said...

I love puff paint. It makes great trees, rocks and just great textures. I paint mine after it drys on the surface and is expanded. Shiva paintsticks work great for highlighting.

Heather said...

It's me again - just to say how thrilled I am with Stitching the Textured Surface which arrived this morning. I was lucky enough to get a little goody bag too. The photography in the book is wonderful and every page is gorgeous. There is so much information and inspiration in it, that we'll all be kept busy for ages. I'm like a dog with two bones as I bought Maggie's book too!

sewbeit said...

I have just received THE BOOK.
I have only had time to flick through but it looks superb.
I was also one of the lucky ones to receive one of your postcards. Many thanks I shall treasure it.

hippopip said...

Thankyou for a fascinating and informative blog I cant wait to give it a try

Susan D said...

You're book arrived at lunchtime. Far too hot to do anything so I've been drooling over it deciding what to try when it goes cooler, so much to choose from.

Sandy said...

Lots of experimenting. You do keep trying which is the only way to see if something will work.

Sharne Gregory said...

I've got your book, and have thoroughly enjoyed looking through it. I cant wait to sit down and read it properly and experiment(school holidays on the horizen) Congratulations to you both!

neki desu said...

we're doing the rusts again!
from the bottom up #2 and 4 are smashing, esp#4

Digitalgran said...

Fantastic results. I would love a thermofax machine too, but I don't suppose I ever will :(

My book hasn't arrived yet, but I can't wait, I want it NOW!

Penny said...

My book arrived and it is very exciting to see what I may be able to do if my overloaded brain doesnt stop me!
Many thanks to both you and Carole.

Unknown said...

love the rust infact love all your work !!