NEW PAINTING WORK | Waves and Dunes Paintings


                   
Left: Waves © 2016 by Angela Heath
Right: Dunes © 2016 by Angela Heath





Meet Waves and Dunes, each acrylic on canvas size 12"w by 16"h.
This are my impressionist landscapes of Kill Devil Hills in the beautiful Outerbanks, North Carolina.

For sale separately or together.
Check out more of my paintings at: www.aheath.faso.com.

Enjoy!

NEW QUILTING WORK | 2016-2017 Collection | Future Code







My 2016-2017 quilted collection of designs is called Future Code. I've finished my cutbook of designs and have been sampling these designs on fabrics for the past few months. The first three quilts Future Code, SinePlay and PixelBall are in the binding stages and will exhibit in 2017. Yes, it's a long process! Learn more about Future Code at: http://www.fabricworksstudio.com/future-code/.  
Image credit: Future Code © by Angela Heath

NEW PAINTING WORK | Silver Lake, Lavender Hill, Aqua Gardens


Silver Lake, © 2016 by Angela Heath

Lavender Hill, © 2016 by Angela Heath

Aqua Gardens, © 2016 by Angela Heath

Meet Silver Lake, Lavender Hill, and Aqua Gardens. These are all scenes from my new abstract landscape series. They are all acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 inch and are for sale at my abstract painting website: aheath.faso.com. Be sure to sign up for updates at the website.

Enjoy!

INSPIRATION | Eileen Fisher and Sustainability

Image and logo credit: Eileen Fisher Website, http://www.eileenfisher.com

Eileen Fisher is one of my inspirations. Her company and fashion brand makes and sells simple, classic clothing that is sophisticated and beautiful. She tauts the use of sustainable fabrics not just for the "fad" of it but because integrates with the vision of her company.

I remember when Eileen Fisher introduced her brand in 1984. She started with only $350 and a dream of doing simple, Japanese style clothing for women. I saw her early collection of Japanese kimono like tops and wide legged pants in black, burnt umber, white and gray. The collection was too expensive for me at the time but when I became a professional, I purchased some of her iconic pieces. The simplicity of her pieces reminds me of Donna Karan's brand. Simple and classic.

Years ago, when I started FabricWorks Studio in 2004, I wanted to emulate the simplicity and timelessness of Eileen Fisher. I don't quite think I'm there yet but I feel like FabricWorks' pieces are clean, simple and contemporary. It is an aesthetic that I aim for each time I produce a piece.

Sustainability at Eileen Fisher

As a company, Eileen Fisher has always aimed to create pieces in the USA and use organic fabrics like cottons, linens and silks. Nowadays, the pieces are not only made with organic fabrics, but are dyed using BlueSign technologies. Eileen Fisher is one of few fashion houses to use textile dyehouses that use the certified BlueSign technologies. According to the Eileen Fisher website, they use a dyehouse in China and one in Barcelona, Spain. (http://www.eileenfisher.com/certified-dyeing/bluesign-certified-color-without-compromise/)

Image and credit: Eileen Fisher Website, http://www.eileenfisher.com

Fabrics and dyeing are just a few ways that Eileen Fisher (EF) promotes sustainability. EF is the only fashion brand that accepts lightly used clothing from its customers. Yes, that's right! You can basically recycle your EF clothings for $5 and the company will sell the clothes and donate the promote to causes for women, girls and the environment.

Eileen Fisher is a globally-oriented company that believes in businesses making a positive change in the world. They have made being socially conscientious a business practice and not just a hip thing to preach. I also love that years ago Eileen actually sold the company to her employees and maintains a position as the head creative director. It shows her long-term commitment to empowering others around the world. Read about the company's "Vision 2020" at: http://www.eileenfisher.com/vision-2020/.

Here are some good resources on Eileen Fisher and her company.

How I Did It : Eileen Fisher, Inc Magazine

Be a 'Don't Knower': One of Eileen Fisher's Keys to Success, Huffington Post


FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet "The Lone Bird"


"The Lone Bird". Copyright © Angela Heath
Lately, I've been doing a lot of digital photo collaging and have just finished this image called "The Lone Bird". This image has a similar theme as the Lone Owl metaphor for a while. To me this is a subtle, the connotation is taking the road less traveled. 

Enjoy!

Want to download (save) this image? Visit my Image Copyrights Page first to read my disclaimers.

FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet "The Lone Owl"

"The Lone Owl" Copyright © Angela Heath.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of digital photo collaging and have just finished this image called "The Lone Owl".  This image consists of about 2 background images (brown wheat, black accents) I created plus the owl on a branch image. I've been wanting to do some work with the lone owl metaphor for a while. To me this is a subtle, calming piece with the connotation of taking the road less traveled.

Enjoy!

Want to download (save) this image? Visit my Image Copyrights Page first to read my disclaimers.

FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet "Sand on the Beach"


"Sand on the Beach". Copyright © Angela Heath

Lately, I've been doing a lot of digital photo collaging and have just finished this image called "Sand on the Beach". What's wrong with this picture? Is it real or is it fake? The answer is yes and yes. The picture is of real sand and grass from Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. On the other hand, the blue sand in the image is not. Kind of surreal isn't it?

Enjoy!

Want to download (save) this image? Visit my Image Copyrights Page first to read my disclaimers.

NEW WORK | Into the Forest



"Into the Forest". Copyright © Angela Heath

This is "Into the Forest", acrylic on canvas, 12 x 24 inch. For sale.

Check out more of my paintings at: www.aheath.faso.com.

Enjoy!

NEW WORK | Bright Lights in the City



"Bright Lights in the City". Copyright © Angela Heath

Been dreaming of cityscapes recently. I think I have a series coming.
This is "Bright Lights in the City", acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inch. For sale.

Check out more of my paintings at: www.aheath.faso.com.

Enjoy!

QUILTING | 3 Great Ways to Hang Your Finished Quilts


A few weeks ago, I was researching some interesting ways to finish smaller quilts. I found some great ideas that I want to summarize for you here.

SAQA 2016 | Reflections on the keynote with Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi



I just received my latest copy of the SAQA journal which had a great article by Cindy Grisdela outlining Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi's (http://carolynlmazloomi.com/) keynote address. Dr. Mazloomi is a highly influential, African American quilter, historian, author and curator. In the '80's, she started the Women of Color Quilters Network, http://wcqn.org/.

BOOK | Acrylic Illuminations by Nancy Reyner





Acrylic Illuminations: Reflective and Luminous Acrylic  Painting Techniques
by Nancy Reyner

I just picked up this book by Nancy Reyner (visual artist) this past weekend. It is a great read on acrylic painting techniques. I thought that this book presented some interesting techniques on pouring, metallic effects, and creating optical and luminous effects.

NEW WORK | Take a look at me now


"Dreamcatchers No. 1" Copyright © 2016 by Angela Heath


Phil Collins had a popular song in the '80's called Against All Odds. The song had a great line in it "take a look at me now" that I used as the title of this post. As a fabric artist for the past ten years with FabricWorks Studio, I've realized a dream of mine which was to start painting.


I've love painters for the longest time and have been studying the lives of famous painters since I was a child. My favorite artists are Monet, Kandinsky, Kahlo, and Van Gogh. Recently, I've begun tracking African American abstract painters such as Norman Lewis.


I've wanted to experiment with painting abstracts on canvas for a few years now but just have not gotten around to it. Finally, I've been able to begin a daily painting practice.


So, take a look at my abstract paintings HERE.

INSPIRATION | Norman Lewis PAFA Exhibit Catalog



Last week I received the exhibition catalog from the PAFA (Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts) show of Norman Lewis. It is a wonderfully detailed, well-written book that is a whopping 288 pages. The art pieces are in full color and many cover a full page.

I'm still in the process of reading and researching the wonderful tidbits from it. So far, I've learned that Norman Lewis actually had an estimated 2,500 works. In addition to paintings, sculpture and drawings, I also saw some quilts! Impressive. He was a true artistic spirit...willing to experiment with many different mediums. More to come.


You can check out this beautiful catalog here at the PAFA website, HERE.

SUMMER STUDIO | Studio Clean-Up Finds #1





I've been cleaning up my studio for the summer and have run across some interesting finds! Most of what I have found are magazine clippings of books, art events, catalogs and profiles of artists. What I like to do is revisit and "follow-up" with the subject of the clippings. Then, I decide if I want to


This week I found the following tidbits:

1) Creative Home article on Kathy Cooper - Kathy is one of the most popular floorcloth artists. She creates artsy, whimsical designs.  Still going strong, check out Kathy's Cooper's website at: www.kathycooper.com.

Creating Painted Floorcloths, Creative Home, September 2002, pp. 30-32

2) Course catalog for John C. Campbell Folk School - this school offers an extensive list of courses in art, music, and dance in Brasstown, North Carolina. Be sure to visit their website HERE.




DRAWING ON FABRIC | Rainy Day Blues



Copyright © Angela Heath

Meet "Rainy Day Blues". Here's another one my drawings on fabric (I call these fabric paintings) with Derwent colored pencils and ink blocks.  Rainy Day Blues was an improvisational piece done on guess what? A rainy day. I just looked outside of my window and saw grey and blue. I guess the flecks of yellow coming through were my hopes of a little bit of sun.

Notes
Rainy Day Blues is on a 16 x 20 inch piece of treated cotton fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric. The colors used in this piece are bright blue, deep indigo, sea blue, sherbet lemon, ink black.

Check out the Derwent products at my store, HERE.




DRAWING ON FABRIC | Autumn Sunrise


Meet "Autumn Sunrise". Here's one my drawings on fabric (I call these fabric paintings) with Derwent colored pencils and ink blocks.   Autumn Series is a piece that I did as a painting study. I actually did an underpainting for the tonal values of sun yellow, mustard, baked earth in this piece.

Notes
Autumn Sunrise is on a 16 x 20 inch piece of treated cotton fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric.

The entire piece uses an "impressionist" technique where I create these markings of ink colors next to one another without blending them. This technique is easy and can produce very impressive pieces with no brush work! The colors used in this piece are  - 

Trees: tangerine, poppy red, mustard, willow
Branches: baked earth, willow, bark, mustard
Grass: teal green, ionian green, field green, leaf green, apple green, deep indigo, sea blue, tangerine, poppy red, chili red, sun yellow
Light: sun yellow, tangerine

Check out the Derwent products at my store, HERE.




DRAWING ON FABRIC | Hay in the Field



Meet "Hay in the Field". Here's one my drawings on fabric (I call these fabric paintings) with Derwent colored pencils and ink blocks.   In Hay in the Field, is one of the few paintings that express my feelings about escaping from life in the city. The "hay" in the field is me - alone but content, enjoying the sky and grass underneath my feet.

Notes
Hay in the Field is on a 16 x 20 inch piece of treated cotton fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric.

The entire piece uses an "impressionist" technique where I create these markings of ink colors next to one another without blending them. This technique is easy and can produce very impressive pieces with no brush work! The colors used in this piece are  - 

Field of grass: sun yellow, field green, apple green, willow, antique white, chili red,
Hay: willow,  chili red, navy
Sky: Color wash with foam brush, navy, field green,

Check out the Derwent products at my store, HERE.




DRAWING ON FABRIC | Nothing Between Us




Meet "Nothing Between Us". Here's one of my latest drawings on fabric (I call these fabric paintings) with Derwent colored pencils and ink blocks.  Nothing Between Us is dedicated to my parents and their great marriage. Going on over 45 years, my parents have remained committed to each other and have wrapped themselves in a cocoon of warm, embracing, endearing love.

My Notes
Nothing Between Us is on a 8 x 10 inch piece of treated PFD cotton Kaufman white fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric.

For this piece, I primarily used colored pencils of colors navy, cobalt blue, yellow, and green. This work uses a little bit of brush work but not much because I really didn't want any blending.

Check out the Derwent products at my store, HERE.



DRAWING ON FABRIC | Guiding Light



Guiding Light

Meet "Guiding Light". Here's one my drawings on fabric (I call these fabric paintings) with Derwent colored pencils and ink blocks.   In Guiding Light, I explore my need to find clarity in a world of tangled webs. This imagery reflects a need for simplicity and purposefulness in a world of obligation, unnecessary tasks, and overall chaos.

Notes
Guiding Light is on a 16 x 20 inch piece of treated cotton fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric.

The entire piece uses an "impressionist" technique I'm developing in which I create these markings of ink colors next to one another without blending them. This technique is easy and can produce very impressive pieces with no brush work! The colors used in this piece are sun yellow, apple green, purple, fuchsia, sea blue, and field green.

Check out the Derwent products at my store, HERE.



DRAWING ON FABRIC | Somewhere


Somewhere

Meet "Somewhere". It's one of my abstract, semi-representational drawings on fabric with Derwent Inktense colored pencils and ink blocks.  Somewhere is one of the first paintings that I began connecting to my many journal sketches. Somewhere is an image that came to me in my dreams about flying over the land that I live. In it, I fly free over the land in the my imagination represented by the sky.

Notes
Somewhere is on a 16 x 20 inch piece of treated cotton fabric. I treated the fabric with a combo of 2:1 parts water and textile medium. This helps the dyes bond to the fabric.

For the sky, I applied the ink blocks in navy, purple and cobalt onto wet fabric and then painted it with a flat angle paintbrush. The ground is sun yellow with a little mustard applied over it. The ink block daubs are poppy red, chili red and baked earth.

Check out the Derwent products in the Fabric Painting section of my store, HERE.



NEWS | Art on Demand in Philadelphia MOMA


So, I just love Philly's Museum of Art's Art of Demand program.
Through it, you can purchase print reproductions on paper and canvas of some of the great artworks from their collection. You can also get them framed! Costs are not too bad from $25 (16 x 13 inches, $35 (22 x 18 inches) and $85 (3 x 24.25 inches) for paper and canvas.

My favorites are of course, their collection of impressionism and post-impressionism AND their vintage exhibition posters. These are the posters from their past exhibitions! So cool. What caught my eye was the poster from their 1972 Silkscreen exhibition. It's really nice!

Check it out:


Love it! I'll definitely plan to make a purchase. I'll be in Philadelphia for this year's SAQA conference this April and will demonstrate one of my new ventures with fabric painting at MakerSpace. More to come on this soon.


INSPIRATION | Abstract Expressionism - Norman Lewis


Norman Lewis (1909 - 1979) was technically the first African-American abstract expressionist painter and teacher.

He lived in Harlem all of his life and was born to Bermudian parents.

He maintained studio space at the Harlem Art Center and participated (along with Jackson Pollock) in  art projects for the Works Progress Administration or WPA. The WPA was a massive effort in the 1930's under FDR's New Deal agency to put unemployed people back to work.

CANCELED | Drawing with Dyes on Fabric | SAQA MakerSpace

Sorry folks !

I will NOT BE ABLE to attend the SAQA MakerSpace event on April 1st!

Not to worry, though. 



More to come, so watch the blog...


FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet Electric



To date, Electric is the "purest" form of abstract in my collection. of the latest in my studio quilt collection and is available as a MADE-TO-ORDER quilt. Check out more details on this quilt at: http://www.fabricworksstudio.com/electric-2/


FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet Confetti PopArt



I just finished binding my new quilt piece called Confetti PopArt. It's the latest in my studio quilt collection and is available in 2016 as a MADE-TO-ORDER quilt. Check out my studio website
http://www.fabricworksstudio.com/confetti-popart-2/ for more information on ordering quilts.


NEWS | SMARTBOX (Birchbox for Artist)


Image by Pixabay


Smartbox.com offers a great little service that sends you art supplies and a project each month. It is a little pricey at around $50 bucks per month but is a great way to learn different art media and forms. What I like is that the supplies are the real ones...no cheap dime store variety. From paints to pens, brushes to paper, they send you EVERYTHING you need to complete a full project. You can pay $50 each month or lock in for around $40 bucks for 3 months.

DESIGN | INSPIRATION: Missoni "Chic Chevrons"




I LOVE Missoni prints. This chevron design is so simple and elegant. It could be a rug, a bedspread, a poncho, etc. This timeless design crosses many product categories. Here are my favorite categories for Chevron:


NEWS | Bohemia Blue accepted at AQM show - May 15th to July 31, 2016




I just found out that Bohemia Blue has been accepted for this year's

AQM show in Oberlin, Ohio.
 
It was just 1 of the 34 quilts chosen out of 312 entries! 

Yeah!


FRIDAY PHOTO | Meet ERUPTION




Meet Eruption, one of my newest quilted tapestries. It is a beautiful chaos and calm all at the same time! The story of the ongoing struggle in my own life. Check out more details about Eruption on my website at: http://www.fabricworksstudio.com/eruption/


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