September 1, 2006
To Sign or Not to Sign.
That is the question.
It is difficult to see in this photo but that is my signature in the bottom right of the above photo.
I have to talk about this. I took a short marketing lecture by Hollis Chatelain, whose work I admire. Her stitch and thread use inspire me no end and I like to daydream about how she paints. Anyway. In the marketing lecture she was adamant that we sign our work.
I have rebelled against this for many reasons. Not all artwork needs to be signed. I firmly believe this. Some pieces ought to be signed on the back, instead of the front and some just need to get signed.
All signatures need to be unobtrusive.
Another thing I rebel against is the label we are asked to sew on the back with our names, addresses, date of birth, blood type. I guess if I were an oil painter I could just write the pertinent information on the stretcher bar and sign the back of the canvas. Stretcher bars can be replaced like, say when you move and your address changes. Labels can be replaced too I suppose, but...
I guess this is the basis of this rebellion: I feel this is an effort by the traditional quilt police to ensure that the legacy of quilt making become/remain documented.
As an artist I feel I should decide what I think merits a signature and what doesn't. And how I want a piece signed and where. And why.
Now I will step off of my salt box. No flaming. I would love to hear what you have to say, in a civil manner.
Here is a first attempt at airbrushing. I learned a few things. Like how to break my perceived rules (I can mix thickened dye IN the bottle, as I go, the dye needs to be pretty thin but still thickened)
It would be nice to figure out what the equivelent of Frisket paper is for working on cloth. Freezer Paper isn't sturdy enough, the dye is too liquid and it seeps under the edge. Contact paper leaves a gooey residue. I have an email into Bear Air, where I buy my airbrush supplies about this. I don't have Frisket paper on hand or I would try it. I will wait for the advice they give before purchasing anything.
I asked for help on Airbrushing with dye from the DyersList, though because I am on digest mode, I haven't heard back yet. We are also all on vacation, it being Labor Day weekend and all. So if any of you know anything about Airbrushing with dye? Please contact me.
And yes! I used a mask to do this.