My new art boxes are done!!

Today I finished up and shipped my art boxes for release November 1st! I am so excited about this new collection of work. We still have a few original boxes left so drop by the ArtBox and check them out. The first group is whimsical song birds done on painted fabric and quilted. I had started another collection of old keys which I also love but it was all collaged and I think I want this group to stay as a fiber group. The fabric is painted, gessoed, stamped, and distressed before the birds are placed on and painted. I then shadowed and highlighted before quilting.

 This next group are my vintage women, each sporting a hat with a lot of meaning. Each painting also has a saying; Friendship goes best with Tea and Cookies, Baking feeds my soul etc. This series has more women and collection pieces that go along with them. If you are interested in a custom piece please feel free to contact me!

 My process was to first draw out the girls, this is where I refine the drawing and make sure I am happy with everything before transferring it to fabric. I then choose the fabric background I wanted them to have and then I transferred them to the fabric.

 I then began to paint the face and continued until everything was painted, shadowed and detailed.

 As I was painting the figure I was using some of the dots and splashes in the background fabric to turn into flowers, bees etc.

As I paint I wipe off some of the paint so that some of the background shows through in some areas.

 As the painting progressed I continued to add details and shadowing with a charcoal pencil and some liquid pencil to give it a vintage look.

 When I was happy with the way everything turned out I collaged on some text at the bottom of the piece that says "Gardening Grows my Heart" and Garden Girl is born. I then took her to my sewing machine and quilted her, being careful to not ruin her expression. I hope you enjoyed the process!
All of these art boxes and more from some of the top fabric artist will be available at the artboxcsa on November 1st, just in time for your Christmas Shopping! See some other links below to see some of the other artists amazing work!

More artists showing their work for the ArtBoxcsa! 

Jamie Fingal

Sue Bleisweiss

Deborah Boschert
Tracie Lyn Huskamp
Leslie Tucker Jenison
Lyric Kinard
Kelli Nina Perkins
Judy Coates Perez
Kathy York

Sometimes it just works!!

I have been working on some art box paintings for our new release and realized I had to redo some of them do to the fact that my museum wrapped canvases were of lesser quality than the others I bought. A bit frustrated and discouraged I headed back to my studio to work through the problem. I drew up a bunch of different images and ideas I had but nothing seemed right, it just didn't do it for me. I remembered that I had thought of something the night before and thought that I should make one up before deciding to do all 6. I drew up my idea and then transferred it to fabric, and as though a miracle happened, it all seemed to come together for me. It happens every now and then but I was so excited about this project! It is so me! I started with my design,transferred it to fabric and then painted it, adding details here and there. I am so excited to share it with you, although I have many others to do still. This is my "garden girl" which is so me! I hope you like her as much as I do!

A variation of this design will be available as part of my newest art box line, November 1st, 2012. Look for it at www.artboxcsa.com