Cynthia St. Charles Store

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Small Works Auction


Yesterday, I noticed an article in the newspaper about the upcoming deadline for donations for the Small Art Auction, a fundraiser for Yellowstone Art Museum. I'd intended to contribute something last year, but missed the deadline. They want 9 x 12" pieces of art and they will frame them for the auction.

Earlier in the week, I purchased a tablet of canvas paper in a 9 x 12" size - just a coincidence that it is exactly the size they want for the auction. I bought it because I have been wanting to create mixed media collages combining paper and fabric. I have been looking for something I can paint on without having it go all wonky, but also something thin enough that I can stitch on it. This 136 lb canvas paper, made in France, has a canvas texture, and I discovered, it does not buckle when painted. It is easy to stitch with the machine, and I was able to sew the buttons on by hand, as well. I used some ugly demo fabrics left over from my workshop. The buttons are vintage, from my rejected button collection. I think I am going to call it "Rejects #1" because that is pretty much what it is made of.

The fabrics have been hand painted, sun printed, fused with painted Wonder Under, stamped with one of my latest homemade stamps, and stitched in place on the painted paper background.

I look forward to seeing how it looks in a frame among the other donated art. It may be the only way I will ever have my work shown in the local art museum. Oddly, I have exhibited in many other museums around the state and country, but never here in Billings.

3 comments:

Julaine said...

I am intrigued...where did you find that canvas paper?

Cynthia St Charles said...

Julaine, I found the canvas paper at Michaels. It is made by Canson, and I think I paid about $6 for a table of 10 sheets. Cynthia

Nikki said...

I love the energy of this pieces. A wonderful combination of paint and stitch. It looks like a fun material to experiment with.