Sunday, February 17, 2013

En Plein Air Quilting

My artist niece, Coleen (Claire Bleu), as we call her accompanied me home from sewing retreat in SC. I was so glad for her company for the 9 hr. drive home. She had a hankering to do some en plein air (French for in the open air) painting, and in this case fiber art painting. I was eager to learn from her with fabric so we worked together on separate “paintings.”
First she sorted my fused fabric scraps and snippets by color. IMG_1476
She drew her outlines onto her fabric canvas and I photocopied my picture to get templates for my picture.IMG_0012
This was supposed to be a 3 hour project, but it ended up being more like 3 days of fun, not work!IMG_0007
Claire’s picture depicts our farm including the hog barns, shop & pump house, and grain bins. Somehow she made it beautiful, just beautiful!IMG_0014
I’m anxious to see her project with the thread painted on it and all finished up.IMG_0016
During the day, Claire Bleu painted on this portrait until 5:00 when it got too dark to see good. She worked on the fabric painting in the evenings and at night.IMG_1478
All too soon it was time for her to go home. Her brother Gabriel was going to GA for the weekend, so she went home with him.IMG_0018
Be sure you check out her website Coleen Barnhart. I think you will like her paintings.

7 comments:

1. JuneFlory said...

Both fabric paintings are beautiful. I am amazed how just little snippets of frabic have turned into works of art. Looking forward to seeing how the thread painting will complete them.

2. Katie said...

thoes are beautiful

3. Coleen B said...

And I loved being there! I'm sorry we couldn't actually do the three hour outdoors idea because I still think that would be fun (if it wasn't cold and raining), but I don't regret having a more detailed picture or the time I spent working in your studio with you at all!

4. Emily H said...

Ladies, if you're not careful you will have a waiting list of commissions to do. This is fabulous.
-aunt em

5. sandra said...

Those pictures are stunning!!

6. Fullfilling my Dreams said...

What can I say, the two of you are amazingly talented. Such beauty!

7. QuiltinGal said...

I am wanting Clair Blue to come to my home and give me lessons.

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