Alternative Mark-Making- Fiber Arts
Fiber Arts are another beautiful way that artists make marks with less traditional drawing and painting materials. Visit some of the links here to learn more about fiber arts.
Check out my blog post about fiber artists.
- Mrs. Bjork's Pinterest Board on Fiber Arts
- Mrs. Bjork's Pinterest Board on Dyeing and Eco Printing
- Mrs. Bjork's Pinterest Board on Felting
- Mrs Bjork's Pinterest Board on Quilting Arts
- Mrs. Bjork's Pinterest Board on Stitching and Embroidery
- Embroidery in Other Countries
- 10 Inspiring Fiber Artists to Check Out
Felting is the process of using fibers to create a painted-looking surface. The wool fibers are bound together through two processes of agitation: dry felting where the needling process binds the fibers together.
Embroidery/Stitching
The artist uses a variety of stitches and special thread called embroidery floss to create an image, words and other elements to their stitched work. There are many forms this can take including cross-stitch which uses a series of x shaped stitches to develop the color, tapestry which tends to be thicker and can be either stitched or woven.
Mixed Media Fibers
Artists who use a variety of techniques including felting, stitching, quilting, sewing, knitting and more to create interesting one of a kind pieces that are sometimes similar to collage.
Shibori Stitching and Dyeing
Shibori is a traditional Japanese method for creating patterns on fabric with dye by binding, stitching, folding, or twisting. Stitched shibori allows for greater control when dyeing, and can produce really beautiful results. Many Japanese fabrics including kimono employ shibori techniques and patterns. Many of the patterns are inspired by nature. A great book on the stitches and processes is: Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing
Blick sells Indigo Dye kits that work well with Shibori stitching and folding techniques.
Jaana Mattson is a very talented needle felt artist.
This next video is long. You don't have to watch the whole thing, but just watch a section to get a feel for how to needle felt. After that you could fast forward to see the results.
Wet Felting: Heat or water and agitation bind the fibers together
Embroidery and Stitching
Emily Tull: Thread Painter Artist
Basics of Embroidery and Stitching
Mixed Media Fiber Artists
Lauren Austin:This is her bio from her website- "Lauren Austin has been designing and making quilts for over 30 years. Prior to turning to art and art education full time, Lauren worked as a US diplomat in Latin America, as a human rights and civil rights lawyer and as a legal writing professor at Syracuse University School of Law. Lauren was the Community Artist in Residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, until 2009. She then lived in China for 5 years, working on quilts, learning Chinese and providing art demonstrations and workshops to area community groups and schools before returning to the Houston area and then Michigan. Now, she is happy to be back in sunny Orlando, Florida."
I got to meet her in Ann Arbor at the Art Festival in summer of 2017. The photos here are from that show. Check out her blog and website.
https://thatblackgirlart.com/
https://thatblackgirlart.com/blog
Sara Lachner: Uses fibers and stitching techniques to make art. She also uses fabric to create collage like pieces that involve many different fibers techniques.
https://thefabricofmeditation.blogspot.com/
I got to meet her in Ann Arbor at the Art Festival in summer of 2017. The photos here are from that show. Check out her blog and website.
https://thatblackgirlart.com/
https://thatblackgirlart.com/blog
Sara Lachner: Uses fibers and stitching techniques to make art. She also uses fabric to create collage like pieces that involve many different fibers techniques.
https://thefabricofmeditation.blogspot.com/
Shibori- The Japanese Art of stitching and fabric dyeing
This website contains a great deal of information about Shibori and coincides with the book Mrs. Bjork has shared,.
Some other excellent overviews of Shibori are here:Vic
Seamwork Shibori Article
Victory Patterns (also discusses natural dyes
Spoonflower Blog
Martha Stewart Shibori Slideshow and Article
Shibori Stitching Handout PDF from Karen Elzinga
Some other excellent overviews of Shibori are here:Vic
Seamwork Shibori Article
Victory Patterns (also discusses natural dyes
Spoonflower Blog
Martha Stewart Shibori Slideshow and Article
Shibori Stitching Handout PDF from Karen Elzinga