Fibers I

We will be creating reusable heavy paper stencils to create a 3 color stencil design.  We will be incorporating stamping into this sample as well.  There examples on the board.

Stencil designs can be all on a single piece of paper or on several depending on how you want to create your design.

Reusable stencils can be made from plastic as well, but for this assignment we will use heavy weight paper because it is abundant in the loft.

You will be turning in your stencil(s) along with the sample, so don't throw it (them) away!

We will be watching several tutorials for this assignment to get you on track.  The first shows how to create an original stencil using 2 approaches.  The second shows how to use the stencil and brushes. This is not a painting!

This video show one of 2 techniques used for applying the stencil paint.  The swirling techniques is the more difficult of the two styles.  The other is a tapping technique.  Brushing lays down to much color, making the fabric stiff.  It can also bleed under the stencil easier.  One last note.  We do not have spray adhesive, but can use tape to secure the stencil to the surface.

Over the weekend I will find a good video to show the tapping technique.  Have fun designing.

This quick video shows how multiple colors can be applied using a single stencil.  Watch the stencils carefully as they are peeling them away from the wall.  This is one of the advantages of stenciling over silk screening. The big key to creating a successful stencil painting (especially on fabric) is keep the paint very thin!  The paint should add color, not weight and stiffness.

This tutorial is from the Art Institute of Chicago.  Show the tapping technique for stenciling.  It also show how human hair was used to "float" a circle in a circle.  Stenciling is a great way to design t-shirts, bags, pillows and many other pieces.  The stencil can be reused as well.  Make sure you keep those stencils.  They will be turned in as part of your grade.  (Silk screen stencil are not turned in.  They are too fragile)

LaunchPad: Stenciling

This final video shows how to use contact paper as a stencil.  You can try this on your final, but not for your sample.  You would have to get your own contact paper.  Ask around at home, often there is some there waiting to be used.

Fibers II

Grouting

1.  The caulk must be 24 hours old to grout.

2. You must wear gloves and cover the counter top with paper. Tape the gloves at your wrist to help keep them on your hands.

3. Place about 1" of the grout in the provided bowl.  Do not make a cloud and do not breath the dust!

4. Add small amounts of water to the grout.  Mix well in between adding the water, using gloved hands.

5. Add water and mix gradually until the mixture is similar in consistency to mayonnaise.

6. Working quickly, press half dollar sized dollops onto the glass.  Do not rub the glass, but instead press it down into the grooves.

7.  Work all the way out to the edges.  Check that the sides look nice.

8. Scoop any remaining grout into a heap on the paper.  Wipe out the bowl with paper towel and then rinse and finish cleaning it out.

9.  Wipe the grout off of the glass using wads of paper towel.  Prep this ahead of time.  You will need 8 to 10 wads depending on the size of your piece.  Discard the paper towel as it fills with extra grout.  Keep wiping until the glass is clean.  Allow the piece to rest and finish drying.  

11. Everything must be done in one class hour including clean up.

Fibers I

Fibers I

You are working on Surface Design. You can work on any of the following activities:

1.     Silk Screen 3 color design sample

2. Final project for Fabric Dying

3. New sample-mixed media

4. Silk Screen Worksheet

I demonstrated silk screening before break. If you missed it, ask your classmates for help.  It is very important to check that you clean up after yourselves. No containers or tools left dirty in the sink or on the counters.  No paint in the sinks. All screens should be rinsed, dried and returned to the storage rack under the flag.  Everyone has work to do!

Each student should have 1 color printed on their sample fabric at this time.  To print the next color, attach the next stencil to the screen. Add blocking papers as needed. Use the lightbox (under the refrigerator) to help line up the the next color on your already printed fabric.  Remember to attach the fabric ink-side touching the new stencil. Printing and clean-up is the same as you have already practiced.

Mixed Media-students will be creating a design that uses color pencil (cabinet #13), craypas (oil pastels in cabinet #13), a texture rubbing plate used with the color pencil or the craypas (block printing cabinet), permanent markers (locked in cabinet #4) and paste paint (in the blue Apple Computer box on the cart, and use it's dimensional qualities).  There are examples on the board. Be creative.

Everything must be cleaned up before you leave.  

Fibers II

Fibers II

Bead weavers-keep weaving

I have left supplies for bead mosaics (small squares) and glass mosaics (large squares) samples.  

Bead Mosaic-Use a permanent marker to create a design. You must not use the batik wax.  Use the wax with the can in the pan to apply 3 to 4 even coats of wax to the surface of the sample board after you draw the design.  The thickness of the wax is equal to half the height of the beads being used. Can someone who did this last year help out?  T-pins are used to pick up the beads and either fingertips or a pencil eraser is used to press the beads into the wax. Press once firmly, or the beads may fall off.  You should work from the center out or there will be strange gaps in the design.

Glass mosaic-these students must work in the classroom (115) on top of paper using the provided cutting board and tools.  They draw a design on the board.  Using the tools, cut the pieces of glass to shapes that will match the design.  The shapes must be smaller than your thumbnail.  The spaces in between the pieces must not be larger than the tips of your pinkie finger.  The glass should also not touch.  Even spacing is the goal.  The pieces are attached with caulk.  To do this, the group (3 or 4 students) should squeeze a half dollar sized dab of caulk on a piece of scrap paper.  The caulk is kept in cabinet #13. White caulk is great for clear glass and clear or white caulk is fine for opaque glass.  Use toothpicks to apply the caulk to the glass.  Then firmly press the glass onto the board into the desired position. The cutting board should be kept under the counter under the mirror.  You may need to be make space.  You must clean up well or you will not be able to do this as a final assignment.

Students with ideas outside of the these 3 options should email me their ideas, or try one of the 3 options until I return.

Check that the iron and the wax are unplugged.

Art Show Tags!

If I have artwork of yours saved for the art show, please make a tag for it using the sheet be the computers. The backing paper is the deep purple paper. There may be some on the cutting board in the main art room. See Ms. Kleman if you have questions.

Fibers I

Paper Stencils for Silk Screen Printing

1. Create a design made up of 3 colors.  Small and intricate does not work well for your design.

2. Label the colors in every shape

3. Get 3 pieces of printer paper.  Label each one with one of the colors.

4. Trace the shapes from the original design that are the same color that labels that page.

5. Repeat this process with the remain 2 colors and sheets of paper.

6 . Use an exacto knife and a cutting board ( found in the toolbox cabinet below the scissors drawer) to begin cutting out the shapes.  Save everything from the paper, including the paper and the cutouts.  Use our pink sketch paper to create an envelop for each color.

Fibers II

These videos represent a couple more options that we will have to choose from for the mixed media unit.

Basket making

Bead mosaic

Glass, tile and stone mosaic

Next we will be learning how to silk screen.  You will need to create a drawing that requires 3 colors.  You can use markers or color pencils to mark the colors.  Do not create design details that are too small.

This video is similar to what we will be doing in class.