The Great Del Rio Paper Makeover
Process
I dismantled the original piece, then scoured the canvas in soda ash to clean it remove the sizing.
Because cellulose fabric doesn't accept natural pigment dyes unless it is treated, I soaked it in soy milk overnight, dried it on the line... and repeated that for three soaks/three days. In this process, the protein from the soy milk permeates the cellulose and helps it to accept the dye.
Then when I was ready to print the canvas I soaked it in plain water to make sure the fibers were ready to absorb, then dipped it in a Home Depot bucket of home made rust water for 40 seconds.
Then it was time to lay out the leaves. I used Sycamore, Oak and Japanese Maple and focused on creating a frame for the paper. I folded it toward the center and rolled it on a heavy iron pipe. I bundled it up, then boiled it for 90 minutes in a heavy iron dye pot - Eucalyptus leaves and iron water.
Because cellulose fabric doesn't accept natural pigment dyes unless it is treated, I soaked it in soy milk overnight, dried it on the line... and repeated that for three soaks/three days. In this process, the protein from the soy milk permeates the cellulose and helps it to accept the dye.
Then when I was ready to print the canvas I soaked it in plain water to make sure the fibers were ready to absorb, then dipped it in a Home Depot bucket of home made rust water for 40 seconds.
Then it was time to lay out the leaves. I used Sycamore, Oak and Japanese Maple and focused on creating a frame for the paper. I folded it toward the center and rolled it on a heavy iron pipe. I bundled it up, then boiled it for 90 minutes in a heavy iron dye pot - Eucalyptus leaves and iron water.
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When I unbundled the canvas, I had to rinse out the excess rust. When I work with smaller pieces I rinse them in a bucket or in the sink... but this one required a more creative solution! I pulled out the hose and sprayed off as much as I could.
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I ordered a curtain hanger to hang it with, and first put it up on the wall to make sure I liked the placement.... and to take photos of the detail.
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After I sewed across the top I hung it back up, then I tied the additional string on when it was hanging, so I could see better how it looked as I added more.
