Painting with Fabric

I have some of the best friends in the entire world! So, when one of my dearest emailled me this from the sundance catalog and asked me if I could paint something similar for her, I couldn't decline.

"Earth Ground Sheep Who Stares at Leaf"

Now, I'm not an artist.  That being said, I do get inspired by other people's work, but put my own twist on it.  So, I asked my friend if it was ok if I used a medium that I was more comfortable with.  I had seen this technique several years ago on a quilting show that used to air, and I had been dying to put it to use.  This was the perfect subject.  So I got to work ... after all her birthday was the very next week, and how perfect ...

I title her "Earthen Sheep Staring at Leaves".

So here is how i made this. First, I took a bunch of solid colored fabric and cut it to pieces.  Literally:

Then, using the original image and a muslin canvas, I mixed and matched the fabric colors to arrange them on the canvas for the background.  I step back and blur my eyes a lot for this step, looking for good color and flow.  This really looks like a mess, but we are about to reign it in ...

Then, I take black tulle and cover the whole canvas.  The tulle is going to keep all those tiny pieces in.  It also helps to "blur" the colors without taking away from their impact.

Next, you put in as many safety pins as you possibly can without disrupting the fabric.  This step is important! Also, because there are so many, I don't like to close my safety pins so that they are easier to take out while I'm quilting, but every now and again one falls out and then the little fabric pieces get jumbled.

Once you have it all pinned up, carefully take the whole thing to your sewing machine.  With your stippling foot on, go to town.  I use a clear thread on top and a neutral medium grey or brown thread for the bottom. Test your tension first though.  With most quilts you start quilting in the middle and work your way out, but for this one I like to baste around the edges first, then I go in and do my quilting.    I use patterns that match my medium.  Usually I just go with what inspires me at the moment.

The next piece of the puzzle was the sheep and the leaves.  I decided burlap was what I wanted to use.  So I googled "how to draw a sheep", and found this:

I used it as my guide to draw my sheep.  Then, I traced it on a piece of freezer paper for my template.  I ironed the freezer paper to my burlap and cut the sheep out. I then chose a matching thread and embroidered around the sheep to affix her to the background.  I then cut two leaves.  I didn't use a template for the leaves, just my eye balls.  I also added some detail to the sheep and leaves with some embroidery thread.

I then took an antique frame and painted it black.  And I trimmed the edges and stapled the canvas inside the frame:

It was a blast to make, and my friend LOVED it so I'm very happy with it.

In coming weeks, I'll show you the two others that I did using the same technique.

Happy Tuesday!