“Shiny” by Peggy Osterkamp – silks dyed with black walnuts [click to enlarge]
I was busy over the holidays making this piece. All the fabrics were dyed with black walnuts I collected in early December. Some I put in iron water for a short time to “sadden” or grey the colors. There were two different fabrics which were shiny so I could play with the color differences when I turned them 90 degrees. I cut the squares and turned them 90 degrees from each other to get the same effect as changing the nap in corduroy or velvet. I mounted the pieces on cotton fabric strips and moved them around to make the composition. Then I mounted all the strips on black fabric. Everything was joined with long straight pins. Some time ago I realized the straight pins in my pin cushion were too fat for silk fabrics so I got “Extra-Long Satin Pins”.
Last night when only one light was on in the room, the pins themselves shimmered for further effect.
When I got started I wanted to know what fiber my fabrics were made of. I went to my files to look up “burn test” and there was a page from my own book! I’m still not exactly sure of what I have—it came from a warehouse sale I went to in November. I think they are silk. Here is the chart from my book, “Weaving & Drafting Your Own Cloth“.
I love these pieces
Love black but
You were using shells and hull
You are insirational
Yes, the whole walnut that had fallen to the ground–hulls and all. they were black and had been in some rainy weather.
for future reference access list of approved test methods from AATCC.
https://www.aatcc.org/test/methods/
I read the title as My New York…shiny! Fun piece(s).
Beautiful piece, gorgeous hues. I love the three dimensional effect of the pins, and the rhythm they impart, which complements the rhythm of the squares.
I hadn’t realized these were the Walnut dyed fabrics. Very clever with all the turning. I want to see this one in person.
Diane
Beautiful and very interesting artwork. Thank you for sharing and explaining the process!
As always, I love how you keep experimenting and sharing your process. The results look great and you are inspiring me to break out my dusty loom again!
I was so very lucky to have been one of your students, back in the day, when you had a study group in your Village apartment.
Lauren Singer
Great to know you are in touch Lauren. Yes, those were the days. I just counted up–that was a LONG time ago. I’m now 77! Peggy