The Progression – Part 1
Textile illustrations are created in stages utilizing a variety of techniques.
This blog will take a look at the process of creating, “Tanzanian Tango.”
I began by determining the final size. It was designed to be part of my special exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX and I wanted it larger than my normal art quilts. It measures 60” x 26”.
The background was created on a piece of 66” x 32” canvas allowing extra space all around. I always work like a painter focusing on the area furthest away and move forward.
The sky was created using raw appliqué fabric collage covered with cheesecloth clouds. You can learn more by watching my fabric collage recorded demonstration. The mountains were then added using organza, tulle and dyed silk fabrics. Delicate fabrics need edges turned under to secure them.
The trees are a combination of fabric collage and free-motion stitching. You can learn more about this process by watching my recorded demonstration on thread painting. I used many different Aurifil 12 wt. green threads to achieve the shadows and highlights in the canopies.
The brush and shrubs consist of Inktense dyed cheesecloth, ribbons, sari silk and blended wools. Learn more about how to paint on fabrics with Inktense in my recorded demonstration.
These were carefully felted over the trees and mountains using a BERNINA #45 Punch tool. Hand embroidered branches and twigs were added using dyed silk floss.
This is a very slow process as felting over any thick areas will break needles.
Next, I created the tall grass and muddy bank. I used a wooden embroidery hoop to hand-embroider over the dyed silks. Covering 60” with hand-embroidery is a slow process, but adds depth and interest to the landscape.
The water was created with ribbons and strips of cotton. The horizontal lines add to the illusion of shimmering water. Free-motion stitching is applied using a hoop to keep the fabrics from puckering.
All of Lorraine’s work supports endangered animals worldwide.