Fiber Arts

Hawk Feather

A lot of my work involves using found objects and recycled and repurposed materials. FEATHER is just such a piece using a molted feather from a broad tailed hawk and a sheet of handmade paper using asparagus and kale stems, corn husks, pineapple, day lily, and daffodil leaves, grass clippings and abaca. I have a large variety of handmade papers, and went through them all, but this combination really seemed to work best. FEATHER is a one of a kind piece because while I do have a couple more sheets of this particular paper, I found only the one feather. To the best of my knowledge, no hawk was harmed in the making of FEATHER.

Abstracting Emotions #8

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #8 is the eighth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled dark field monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from scrap black and brown BFK, watercolor and business correspondence in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print. In a way ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #’S 6 and 8 are companion pieces. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

Abstracting Emotions in MRAC

I am pleased to announce that juror Joseph Borrelli has selected my hand inked and hand pulled monotypes ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS#3 and ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #5 to be part of the Manayunk/Roxborough Art Center’s Annual Juried Show. Both of these pieces are printed on handmade paper I made using scrap watercolor, printing, and business papers together with abaca pulp. They were then mounted on different sheets of handmade paper I made using abaca, cotton linter, and salvaged natural fibers such as asparagus stalks, corn husks, and old blue jeans. The Show will run from Sunday, July 21, 2019 through Sunday Series , July 28, 2019 at MRAC’s gallery located at 419 Green Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19128. There will be an opening reception from noon until 3pm on the 21^st.

Abstracting Emotions #7

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #7 is the seventh in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled dark field monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from corn husks and abaca in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

Art of the Gerrymander in Webster Arts

Webster Arts

I am very pleased to announce that juror Roxanne Phillips has invited my Joomchi wall hanging THE ART OF THE GERRYMANDER to be part of the Webster Arts national juried “Works on Paper” Exhibition. Webster Arts is located at 483 E. Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119 and the Exhibition will run from July 16, 2019 until August 30, 2019. And I am even more pleased that at the opening reception on July 16, 2019 THE ART OF THE GERRYMANDER received an “Award of Excellence” one of only three awards given out.

Abstracting Emotions #6

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #6 is the sixth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from kozo and black dyed kozo in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

Abstracting Emotions #5

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #5 is the fifth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from an old pair of blue jeans. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

Abstracting Emotions #4

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #4 is the fourth in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled dark field monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which were shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from abaca, cotton linter and dryer lint in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print. (16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #3

ABSTRACTING EMOTIONS #3 is the third in my “Abstracting Emotions” Series which uses two different types of my handmade paper. The printing, a hand inked and hand pulled monotype, was done on paper made from scrap watercolor, BFK, and business correspondence paper which are shredded, boiled together, sheeted and Plexiglas dried to create a white/off white relatively monochromatic and smooth printing paper. The print was then mounted on a different sheet of my handmade paper which was made from corn husks, and pineapple leaves, together with abaca in order to create a patterned and textured counterpoint to the print.(16” x 16”) (2019) ($250.00)

GUILD OF PAPERMAKERS – MCCC EXHIBITION

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I am very happy to announce that three of my pieces THE ART OF THE GERRYMANDER, PORTRAIT OF GAIA: 2018, and MEMORIES OF THE FALL will be part of the Guild of Papermakers Exhibition at Montgomery County Community College. The Exhibition will be held in MCCC’s Fine Arts Center at 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, and will run from May 21, 2019 until June 29, 2019.

John Fansmith

Artist