Since last week I’ve continued to work on my small (about 10 inch square) pieces for my From Sketchbook to Wall class, and have five done (mostly.) I’ve learned that it’s hard to hand sew through fabric covered with acrylic paint, and that I want to hold onto some resemblance to my inspiration landscape. That surprised me as I think I’ve reached a fairly high comfort level with abstraction.
While I love the texture hand stitching gives, in the future I think I’ll use paint and its cousins more to transform the base fabrics. I have lots of painted fabric left for more such textile works, though I think I want to try to create fantasy landscapes next time.
I have lots of photos for inspiration, but I want to use them mostly as inspiration for textures. I like the rough arrangements I did of my painted fabrics better than my deliberately composed ones.
If you’re on Instagram and want to see other people’s work from this class, search #tansyhargantextilecourse.
I’m linking to Off The Wall Friday.
The Snarky Quilter 
Fascinating to see you go from picture to interpretation. So many experiments. Each a lesson.
Always a surprise to see what catches my eye from a scene. In some cases I work in elements not shown in the photo but observed nearby the scene.
Fabulous! I love your fabric interpretatiions!
I swear, I get a rush looking at these pieces; all those layers and that texture! I especially like the first piece. I can understand the “folk arty” – I hand stitched floss on painted cheesecloth leaves and had that same feeling. When I stitch on canvas or heavily painted fabric I pre-poke holes using a slightly larger needle or stiletto tool . It may be twice the work but makes the stitching, especially with floss, so much easier.
As always, this is a very inspiring post, thank you.
Thanks for the pre-drilling idea. I am having issues with my arm again that the brute force handstitching isn’t helping. Also I appreciate your compliment.
I love where you and the textile spirits are going here. Especially enjoying the color play of the “greening up fuzzy first growth,” the rip rap, and the fused leftovers “fantasy landscape.” The serendipity of hand-dyeing (thank you!) fabrics and yarns is helping me embrace representation and interpretation of my world. I am so much enjoying the journey. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
It’s good to hear you’re dyeing stuff as it’s so fun to create with cloth and yarn you’ve colored. With this class I have tried to embrace failure. If something doesn’t work, so what.
Love your spirit of adventure!
I can’t do much adventuring geographically so I figure I will do it in my studio.