There is so much variety in how we all see things and how we
interpret what we see.
Unique styles of expression are very interesting to me. That is why I am always excited to find other fabric collage artists who are willing to share
their work.
Today I am showcasing the work of Christine Penna from Redding, California. Her style is very loose, which I like, and she uses surface threads and stitching which adds another dimension to her pieces. She gets her inspiration from paintings and from life. Locally, they call her the "scrap lady" because she goes around the quilt shops on sew days to collect all of the scraps that the quilters would otherwise throw away - a woman after my own heart :).
I will let her explain how she began "painting with fabric"
"When I started learning to quilt, I very quickly
decided I didn't like the "traditional quilting and piecing process" I
admire them but don't have the patience for the preciseness of the process and I
tend to get bored!
Years and years ago there was a article in Good
Housekeeping about creating pictures using fabric and it stuck in my
brain. After I started looking for another way to use fabrics, I found the
wonderful world of "Art Quilts" and got hooked! Living in a rather small
town I didn't have access to taking classes so I just starting reading
everything I could find on the Internet regarding threadpainting, collage work,
fusible applique, etc....................
The Memorial Quilt of my dog was my first attempt
at putting together a collaged piece! I printed the picture of the dog and
fused it to the background piece and then just started cutting, piecing and
sewing! (the yarn on the tree was the result of working late at nite after
a few glasses of wine! I just call it "whimiscal"). It was also my
first attempt at threadpainting which I enjoy!
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| Fabric Collage by Christine Penna |
The other pieces were the result of
trying to recreate some paintings I came across with fabric and thread! I
tend to try to do pieces that draw the viewer in a little
deeper........................
Fabric Collage by Christine Penna
With each piece, I try to explore different
techniques and styles. I really enjoy the challenge of creating a fabric and
thread piece as if it were a watercolor or oil painting.
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| Fabric Collage by Christine Penna |
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| Fabric Collage by Christine Penna |
My next project will be a landscape using all those
hundreds of little pieces of fabrics I've been collecting the last year! I
think I will try to use the process where you slice up a bunch of fabric into
spaghetti-like pieces and group them into little color piles and then using
Bonash powder, fuse them down on a background piece."
I look forward to seeing that particular project. Thanks, Christine for being willing to share your artwork !
Keep up the great work !
