CAMERON ANNE MASON

There are a number of steps in my technique of making a 3-d fiber sculpture. I generally start with my sketchbook. I make lots of sketches when I’m planning a new series.

Once I have a sketch that I like I make a paper model. I use tagboard, which is thick enough to have some body but thin enough to be flexible. I just tape it together as I go, taking it apart and reshaping it until the whole thing works. Working in paper gives me a chance to work out the details before I commit to the time and materials involved in a finished project.

When the pattern is complete I cut out the pieces in Peltex, or some other non woven stiff interfacing product. Next I select my fabrics.

Before I go any further, I paint the edges of the peltex in a color that goes with my fabrics. It’s a very thin edge, but if it’s white it will really stand out.

Next, I make a “sandwich” of the peltex and the fabric. I use a iron-on adhesive, like mistyfuse, to glue the fabric to the lining. I trim the edges of the fabric as I go. Once the sandwich is ready to go, there are five layers altogether: outside fabric, adhesive, peltex, adhesive, inside fabric.

Once the sandwich is complete I choose my threads and free-motion stitch the piece.

The very last step is the sew the piece together. I use a zig zag stitch when I want the pieces to lay next to each other, and a regular straight stitch when the pieces overlap.

I just dropped off seven boxes of art for the Phinney show. I feel such a sense of lightness!

Carkeek Park in Winter

It may be cliched for artists to say they’re inspired by nature, but really, what else affects us in such a global, yet personal, way? In Seattle the winters are gray, with glimmers of sunshine now and then shooting rays of golden angled light which gild edges and bring detail into sharp focus. The work for my upcoming show, Earth and Sky, was inspired by walks on our Northwest beaches from the broad contours of the landscapes to the whorl patterns of driftwood.

Pratt Fine Arts Center
Friday-Sunday, 10am-6pm, 5/1 – 5/3/2009
course fee: $260

Using fabric as a canvas and thickened dye as a medium, you will make marks with tools from stamps to silkscreens. You will explore the unique qualities of the silkscreen, its abilities to reproduce multiple images without using photo emulsion processes. You will create textured and layered art cloth which can be used in collage, print, art-to-wear, and quilting.

For more information about registration go to pratt.org or call (206) 328-1260

Pratt Gallery at Tashiro Kaplan Building
306 S. Washington St., Suite 102, Seattle
March 5-8, 2009
Opening reception March 5th, 6-8pm
Hours: 12-5pm Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment. For appointment call 328-2200.

Fiber works by Cameron Anne Mason and Ann Maki
Phinney Neighborhood Center Gallery
6532 Phinney Ave North, Seattle
February 6-7, 2009
Opening reception February 6th, 7-9pm
Hours: 9am-9pm Monday through Friday, 9am-2pm Saturday