The Art Cloth Network call for new members is here!  January 15 – March 15^th 2016.

Art Cloth - cloth transformed by adding or subtracting color, line, shape, texture, value, or fiber to create a compelling surface and composition that reflects the hand of the artist.

Members of our group find that the opportunities for community, conversation, sharing of techniques, inspiration and resources have benefited our art and creativity. While some of us also make art quilts or mixed media work, the group is focused on art cloth and its specific surface design techniques and approaches that meet the definition above. This includes making lengths of art cloth, art cloth to be used in art quilts and/or wearable art that comprise a body of work that reflects your creative hand.

Send a request to jeanne@jeannesisson.com in order to receive detailed information and application instructions.

New Directions

18 January 2016

The hard cold air of today's January wind is creating a draft in my studio.
But I hardly notice as I am hard at work creating my new series. Last Spring, I
actually tore up some precious and beautifully dyed cloth. At first I was a little horrified. But, amazingly enough, that event set me on a new course. I am exploring shame and pride in the female form with the kimono shape in two and three dimensions as the substrate.

I will make twelve pieces following the color wheel and allow the process to develop the pieces as I do.  I like the chance to develop my knowledge about dye in a systematic and deep way. I want to use this opportunity to investigate techniques I haven't used consistently, like printing with thickened dye.

I began by developing the imagery and converting them to silk screens and thermofax screens and a stamp. That took all summer and much of the fall.  In November I started exploring color.

Starting with yellow,  I made samples in silk broadcloth, handkerchief linen and silk organza to explore the color palette that would represent shame and pride. I am now sorting the printing and dyeing order on silk broadcloth.

As I go along I will add posts here to keep you informed of my progress!