Sunday, July 7, 2013

The Last Pictures of My Marbling Play Date

After trying just "regular" marbling (see here and here), Pat (my play date friend) and I decided to try some different techniques. This is my favorite piece of the bunch. I imagine part of the reason is that it is my favorite color scheme. I love the way the black is so graphic and bold against the yellow and orange. I like the pop the red gives it. I used a long-handled brush I purchased at Dick Blick to pull the shapes from round to pointy.

I tried a stencil cut from fun foam. I cut ovals into the stencil I used for this next piece of fabric. The stencil lays on the "size" (as Dharma calls the liquid on which the paints float). The designs on the fabric are made by dropping the paint into the holes in the stencil. I think I'll do some stitching on this one. These look like little flowers or trees to me, so I'll be stitching some stems/trunks.

See where I got the idea about little flowers or trees? This is what it looked like when it was wet. I like the parts that look like stems/trunks.
I have to say I really HATE this pastel color scheme, but I did an experiment with this one. I liked the effect I got when the thread served as a resist on one of the other fabrics. I wanted to repeat that, so I laid a thin yarn-type thread out in circles onto the "size." What I found was that this thread sunk a bit too deep into the water to serve as a total resist, but it did sort of keep the paints confined into those circles. The teal colored thin circle shapes came about as a result of that color breaking through the thread circle. I think this piece might have some potential when overdyed.
This piece reminds me of a comic; I guess it is the colors. I used a thin cotton thread as a resist on this one. I also pulled the thread through the "size" once color had been laid down. I think an overdye job would be nice on this piece too.


Here are the two iridescent pieces I did. Pat and I got so excited about washing them out that we didn't wait the time Jo suggests on the DVD. She suggests waiting 48 hours before washing out fabrics with iridescent paints. We didn't wait a full 24 hours. What can I say? As you can see, some of the paint came off (although, I do like that effect too). Again I have NO idea what caused the spots on the right side of the top piece and on the left side of the bottom piece. My friend says, "That is just the nature of the beast."

All in all, I learned a lot and found out I LOVE marbling. I definitely will be doing it some more. I have purchased more paints and a larger tray. Now, I just have to figure out how I will use it in the work I'm currently doing. I have some ideas already...

 

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Whatever you choose to do, it will be beautiful....it always is!! I love your creativity and artistic talents.

Lisa Chin said...

Beth - these all look awesome! I love the tree one. I really like marbled fabrics that aren't marbled - like your first one. There are just so many possibilities!

Nina Marie said...

Ohh I didn't know you could marble with a stencil - VERY cool!! gotta try this - although I have heard that marbling is VERY addictive!

Judy Warner said...

Glad to see your final results. The effect of that long brush is special. I think my favorite piece is the last - it is so rich in color and texture.

Regina B Dunn said...

Really fantastic results. So many possibilities for great art. It will be hard to choose which way to go. Looking forward to seeing the products.

MulticoloredPieces said...

Hi, Beth. Lovely results--so many possibilities with such interesting fabric. Marbling does such amazing things. Very tempting!
best, nadia

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Fascinating to see the variety you achieved during your marbling play date. Every piece inspires possibilities.