Taking my Silk Screened Fabric through the Quilting Process

Below is a section of my first stitches, I decided to utilize the direction of the stitches to emphasize my water surface texture.  I also chose a contrasting bobbin thread to create an image visible from the back.  

And here is the piece nearly complete, you can see the binding isn't finished in the back but my goal is to add a sleeve for hanging after completing the binding.  This piece will be on display in Tyler's fall show in September 2012. 

The back view:

And the detailing:

Recognizing Themes

Sometimes it is hard to find the themes or the undertones of ones own work, and it is helpful to have others review and critique your work in order to fully appreciate areas of development you may have otherwise neglected or not even noticed.  In a recent group critique my work was called "transcendent", "mystic", and was said to have "haunting secrets".  I find that these elements resonate with me as the true purpose behind my work - with the color choices, context, and media being secondary.  I have a more clear understanding of my own work as a result of third party evaluations.  This is the real benefit to group critiquing.

Some quick charcoal studies of my parents the other night. 

Learning Silk Screen on Fabric and Quilt Making

Through an organic process of trial and experiment, I developed several pieces of printed fabric, shown below with the fabric for the backing of the quilts.  I focused on color themes, as well as nautical elements and seasonal designs.   From these I will develop several art quilts, with the process of stitching used to enhance the linear quality of the image.

I have selected the ghost ship painting on fabric (a reoccurring theme in my more recent works) to develop over the next week...