Crickyn

To me, styrofoam plate prints look similar to graffiti when printed in black. So I decided to paint some of the prints today from new plates I carved recently. I used mostly purple, yellow, gold and fushia for this series of work. I like to restrict my color palatte on small pieces and block in the colors. These are done on 5×7 sized canvas boards. The spontaneity of printing plates inspires me to be more accepting of what happens; I sure can’t control what a plate prints like. Most of all, it’s a fun process.

It’s been a long time since I posted anything stitched and the reverse applique I did post several months ago was not new work. This mixed media piece is brand new, sewn yesterday. The illustration is from an old children’s book on butterflies and moths and the process they go through in all the stages of their lives. It also had a handy list of what each caterpillar eats. This illustration happens to be of a Gulf Frittilary and it’s food, the passion flower. It was inspired by the view from my sewing machine of dozens of Gulf Frittilaries flying around my birdbath and the passion flower they lay their eggs on. One of the most prolific of our butterfly population, with yellow sulphurs, monarchs and black swallowtails as the summer progresses. The piece’s foundation is a vintage linen napkin and other materials are lace, an oil stick rubbing of a leaf, wool yarn and an old sermon with beautiful handwriting. Fun to make just using up whatever is in arm’s reach.