Featured Artist Cheryl Rezendes

Fiber artist Cheryl Rezendes creates beautifully painted and stitched works of art using layered and altered fabric. Learn more about her work by visiting her website.

“Indian Summer” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 24” x 30”

The circumstances of life are always changing. Personal events both within and beyond our control ebb and flow within the confines of the mundane practicality of our daily lives. My life as an artist is no different. So, it goes without saying that my personal process of making art has no option but to echo this same reality.

“Interludes #1” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 40.5” x 12”

The simple line of a drawing, the wonders of color and pattern appearing on cloth, images emerging from the mysterious activity of layering transparent sheets of silk organza as well as the slow and meditative exercise of hand stitching are all processes that make me giddy with joy and hope and yes, even love.

“Interludes #2” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 32.5” x 30”

There is an energy and passion that flows from the tips of my paint laden brushes, that rises up from the surface of the painted and printed cloth, emerges from the needle and thread then travels through my hands and onto the art piece in progress.

“Interludes#3” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 33.5” x 32.5”

It sounds profound, but it really isn’t. It’s just doing the work. Putting in the time. Getting it done. Then stepping back to watch it unfold.

“Interludes #4” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 32.5” x 31.5”

I am passionate about hand painted silk, the spontaneity of simple surface design techniques, hand and machine stitching and how these tools and materials can interact. I love how they can be brought together into a single piece of artwork that has the potential to transform both the viewer’s and my own emotional state and well-being. And in the process, give us all something to think and wonder about.

“Evening Sky #1” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 15” x 33”

I tend work on several pieces of fabric at the same time and over the course of a few weeks or months. I’ll stretch a piece of silk that measures approximately 45 by 80 inches. The fabric is usually painted free form with textile paints that are the consistency of dyes. The paints are applied with spray bottles and brushes on both wet and dry fabric in much the same way a watercolorist applies paint to paper.

“Evening Sky #2” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 47” x 32”

During that same time period, I’ll work on drawings and paintings that I may have created on paper, in my art journal or on other pieces of cloth with different surface design techniques. I might manipulate them on the computer before digitally printing them on fabric.

Artist Cheryl Rezendes in her studio

As these individual works are created, I’ll pin them on my design board, moving them around until eventually the composition and vision takes hold. I’ll stitch certain elements by hand before fusing and machine stitching them together into a whole. Free motion quilting might be added for texture, dimension and density before the slow and methodical process of hand stitching is added to complete the piece.

“Whichever Way the River Flows” Mixed Media and Stitching on Cloth, 39” x 34.75”

Scenes from nature are my primary source for visual inspiration, however I am always trying to push beyond what seems to be second nature to me—such as the use of easy and familiar images, a certain tried and true technique for getting paint on fabric as well as a comfortable way to draw and sew. I have put my techniques for creating designs on textiles in my book “Fabric Surface Design” which covers everything from painting and stamping to batik and monotype printing.

Artist Cheryl Rezendes invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Artwork Photo Credit: John Polak/Artist Photo: Gail Callahan

Link to Carolyn’s original article here.