Thinking of Blue and Getting Maroon-ed

March 14, 2016 | JP Dawes Artist

It was a mild winter and spring is early. My woad stayed green so I will have a bumper crop this year. I thought it best to use some of the leaves stored in my freezer. A funny thing happens with woad when heat is used. The indigotin present in the leaves turns shades of pink and maroon. When a dye vat is made with woad it is a beautiful blue. This was the blue dye plant in Europe before trade routes opened to the orient for other indigo sources.

2 upcycled silk blouses were layered with frozen woad leaves, then processed in the pressure cooker. The strong dye (indigotin) penetrated all layers of the bundles leaving full and ghost prints. I love the depth created with the leaves this way. Be sure to right click for an enlarged image to see the detail.

Maybe it is Done

March 9, 2016 | JP Dawes Artist

I have always been seduced by the cloth. I “see” shapes and images in swirls of color and rust. As a child I created my own alternate reality to entertain myself.

This was a narrow hand dyed cloth that was cut and stitched together. I saw the river and trees at sunrise. Is it a pieced art quilt now or is it a whole cloth quilt? You decide!

Just Because

February 29, 2016 | JP Dawes Artist

I am so rich to have such a wonderful friend as Geri deGruy. We ‘met’ in the SAQA online critique group. I invited her to play along with the Arts in the Cards atc trading group and we got to know each other better as artists and people. Once in awhile there is that rare soul that you just make a connection with. Geri is one of those people.

Imagine my surprise when I received a box in the mail with her return address. Inside was a box with 6 of her wonderful small art pieces. Not prints, the real deal! And the best part, besides being from her, is they were ‘just because’. How cool is that to have such a wonderful friend! Click her link above or on the photos below to visit her website. I think you will be in awe of her talent!

On My Design Wall

February 26, 2016 | JP Dawes Artist

The beginnings of a new series. The pivotal fabrics are from my design in Andover fabric’s Urban Texture collection. I know it is sold out because I bought the last 2 bolts in December. If you might want some of it, send me an email. I have it available in Wilde Thistle Gallery.

I am thinking of calling the series The Colors of the Ozarks.

Hand Dyed Ribbons

February 19, 2016February 20, 2016 | JP Dawes Artist

Getting some dyeing done in the studio. These will be in the Etsy shop soon and are in the Wilde Thistle now. Don’t these remind you of the painted desert? Yummy red desert color on satin faced rayon ribbon, one inch wide. The Etsy listing.