Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Rainbow Fish School

I think I have improved this. I used some color pencils to do some highlighting on some of the fish, particularly the larger fish in the center area. I tried doing some stitching, but that was not effective. Let me know what you think.



Here is my piece with a detail. It is silk with screenprinted fish, using Lumiere metallic paints. It was then overdyed with Colorhue dyes. The fabric was laid over bubble wrap to give the bubble texture. I have just started experimenting with these dyes. They strike very quickly and require no chemicals or special batching. Once they are dry, they are done. They can be used on linen and wool, also.

I wish I had made a new screen with more detail as the fish are sort of blending into the water, but I guess that is what they do!!

17 comments:

Chris Predd said...

I love the background colors and the mysterious fish....they're very real as they disappear into the background. Those dyes sound interesting......

Lori Gravley said...

The rippled quilting is lovely, and I can see what you mean about the fish blending into the background. I would sort of like them to stand out a bit more, too. But since Lumiere is so hard to convey in a photograph, I think they probably look even more muted in the photo than they do in person. The colors are beautiful.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Hi Gerrie, the quilting lines add so much movement. I wish the background was a lighter value so the wonderful fish prints could stand out more. Great idea...definitely worth doing some more of this
Cynthia

fastfriday said...

Gerri, love the way the different colors of fish give such depth to this piece. What did you use for a screen? Is this thermofax or something else.? Gail M

Gerrie said...

Gail: Yes that is a thermofaax screen that has the same fish in 3 different sizes sort of randomly placed on the screen.

Kathy Angel Lee said...

You have to look for the fish which is what happens when they're in the water. Can you tell us more about the Colorhue dyes?

"Rhojo" Baldwin said...

Love the colors! I think the detail is lost on the background as others have said, but it's very interesting that I like it that way. Anyone who's fished knows that they look like that under the water.

Maybe some metalic or rayon thread work in a similar colors would add the additional contrast to the fishes.

Gerrie said...

Rhonda! What a great idea! I think I will do a little hand stitching on them.

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

I too wish the background was a bit lighter so the fish prints showed up better. The water is great, lot's of movemnt.
These dyes seem like they would be a lot of fun to work with.

janice pd said...

Love the subtleness of the whole thing. As another fisherwoman, this is how they look in the water. Wouldn't change a thing.

Wen said...

Very cool. The undulating quilting lines are a natural for the shy fish. Nice silk screen. I love the detail of the scales on it.

LAQuilts said...

It is pretty subtle in the coloring - but that is how one would look in the water. A very cool whole cloth quilt and the quilting is perfect.

Joni said...

Great use of color Gerrie! Your fish are subtle but very nicely done!

Roberta Ranney said...

Hi Gerrie - I like where you are going with this. I think a bit more contrast between the background and a couple of the fish would be good. I particularly like that I don't really see any whole fish. When I've been fishing that seems to be all you really get to see - unless you happen to actually catch one!

Della said...

Good job. The fish are beautiful and I get a sense of movement under the surface of the water.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Yes, I think the color pencil highlighting improves it...it makes the fish shape more visible and beautiful!

Vivien Zepf said...

I love the colors here and the silkscreen -- lovely! I agree that the fish needed a little accent color and I think you added just the right amount. We often just see a "flash" as the fish swim through the water. The rest is muted.