Kitebuilder.com

[AhMayzon]

There is an idea wandering about in my head for a new project.

I was looking at the stained glass windows in the church I attend; the figures on the windows use a lot of black shading within individual colors of glass, and I like the effect.

I'd like to try to mimic this on a kite and am unsure of how to proceed.
I've thought about combining applique and painting (applique the main design; shade with paint?) Then I've thought about trying to paint the whole thing (heaven help me).

Anyone have ideas / tips / suggestions???

Here's a closeup pic of the window in question:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/98269113/219650851NQGeic
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Donna
Dutzow, MO

[stevef]

Ooo now there is some shading! Not an easy project, but possible. And worth the time - it will look great! Which graphic will you try? or both? What kind of kite? I hope it will be a big one! The the larger the graphic the easier it will be.

I would probably do a combination of applique and Design Master paint. Look to Scott Hampton for inspiration:





The traditional "Randy Tom" technique of stacking the fabrics, sewing, and cutting will have to be modified. Think in layers. Start and finish the background and work in layers to the foreground. Sometimes you can "make" the shade first be fore you sew (like the blue background pieces on the left). Other times you could apply the black shading after sewing (like the white and green). Use masks and/or stencils to prevent overspray.

Read Bruce Lamberts thoughts on spray painting too:
http://www.kitebuilder.com/inventory/designmaster.htm

Click on the link then scroll to the bottom and read
"Bruce’s “Yankee Doodle” paint design on black Orcon"

This is a great project Donna, you will learn alot. Take your time, do one layer at a time, and think hard about the next step before you begin.... Keep us posted on your progress.

Oh, and wait a while... I'm sure others will chime in here with additional techniques and suggestions.
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Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice!

[stevef]

another thought.... look at the white Jesus robe.

Draw your design on paper to scale.

Take a big piece of white and transfer the white robe onto the cloth. Draw pencil lines every place where you want a black line.

Now, using black paint and the actual graphic, spray on the lines to duplicate the black shade on the graphic.

Now place the white behind the previously finished background piece.

Add a piece of black to the front side.

from the back side, sew on the lines.

Relief cut the front, removing the black and the background, revieling the white robe..........


This is just a technique, you will have to think about what sews on first. before the robe, you should deal with the blue and green backgrounds.... you might even add the head before the robe. Think about how YOU dress, what layer is last..... after the robe, add the red cape.

Always think in layers....

I really like this project... I have a BIG window in my house and I've been thinking of some kind of sewn Ripstop shade. I think i am going to incorporate this technique of black shading.... thanks for the inspiration Donna!

lol (i think)
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Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice!

[CJQ]

ZOWIE, this thread has spun like a werhlwind. neat stuff. It all began with Progs question about shading and it evolved into Donna having a vision of a stained glass window grafic for a kite. The dialog in between has been extreemly educational.I am NOT an expirenced Applique Kite builder. It's difficult for me to envision the layer technique and applying it to a spicific grafic. Shading just introduces more confusion into the game. However , I would like to cast a vote to have Donna go forward with her Stained glass window grafic project and post her progress along the way so we novice appliquer's can learn the the skil . I have made a gazillion kites ,but never have I made one with an applique grafic. Further , I have attended a couple of Jose Sainz's classes on app;ique but I cant remember the part where he explained the layering mothod, and that I would like to learn . Soooo Donna do your thing !!

[AhMayzon]

Thanks for the tips!

It will definitely be big - I want to be able to see this thing from a distance when it's done! (Plus I had the same thoughts of bigger being easier). Also, the real windows are huge.

Haven't totally decided on the type of kite; perhaps an Edo or variant thereof, but I don't really know yet.

There are ten of these windows in the church, each with a different pair of graphics. This one happens to be my favorite. I've always liked that angel, and would probably be inclined to try it first, but ultimately I want to do both.

Think I'm going to dig some pieces out of the scrap box to play with, and see what happens...
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Donna
Dutzow, MO

[Barbara]

You'll probably be happiest/most successful with a combination of painting/dyeing and applique. You'll have a chance to learn from one of the top innovators in these techniques at MAKR this year. Susan Lennon, the artistic director of Premier Kites, and winner of the Beauty in the Air award at the smithsonian will be teaching her techniques for the first time.
this is how she describes her classes: Class 1: The “I’m Not the Creative Type” Painting on Coated Rip-stop Nylon Class. We will explore the various techniques for hand painting and dying on Ripstop while working on specific design of goldfish. At the end of the class the participants will be well on their way to having finished or will have finished the painting and dyeing of this specific design which can be later sewn into a 20" x 20" square kite. There will be no sewing in this class.
Class 2: The “I Have Ideas of My Own” Painting on Rip-stop Nylon Class. Many people already have ideas of what they would do if they knew how to paint and dye on rip-stop. In this class I will share the various techniques that I know and try to assist in making your own ideas happen. I will have large squares of white rip-stop available and scraps of other colors. At the end of this class participants will have started on projects of their own and learned all the tricks that I know about painting on rip-stop as well as resources for doing further research of their own.

This will be a unique, exciting opportunity to expand your bag of tricks. We feel honored and very lucky to have her teaching this year,and that's not to minimize the talent of our other fabulous instructors.
MAKR will be held March 11-13, 2005 in Oregon IL, about an hour west of Chicago, only $115 retreat fee.
Barbara
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Chair, AKA Kitemakers' Competition Committee
Coordinator, Midwest Area Kitemakers Retreat
Join us for the next MAKR, March 10-12 2006, contact me for more information!
www.makr.info

[KiteSquid]

Please test the durability of any coloring process you want to try.


I make a 12" by 6" flag to place on my car antenna.

I apply the colors i.e. Design Master, dye, markers, etc... to the flag and allow them to set.

I place the flag on my car antenna and drive for one hour at highway speeds.

If the colors can hold up to that abuse then it will hold up to being put in a bag and flown on a kite for several years...

If it does not hold up then I know I will not use that tehnique on my kites..


BTW make sure the flag does not rub on any part of your car as it will take paint off!!!!!! and scrach glass!!!!!!


Also this is a good way to test your seaming techniques!!!!!!!!!!

Also to test fabric durability!!!!!!!


How would I shade the fabric in ways other than already described
???

Probally useing an overdying techinique... Acid dyes on Nylon and Disperse dyes on Polyester.

Another way is to print the dyes onto the fabric but you would have to find sombody with a large format printer that dyes fabrics. It would probally cost $75 per yard to dye, but worth it!!!!!

Also how can you simplify the graphic and still have it "say" wahat you want it to??????



Also Susan Lennon has a great eye for art!!!!! you shoudl have seen here kite for Smithsonian last year!!!!!!! NICE!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

[kitepoor]

I am thinking about the stained glass. In the windows that I have seen, it appears to me that only the shading is hand applied, and quit possibly heat set, IMHO something with lead and then fired in a ceramic kiln.

the point is why not make the design as usual and then shade with a black sharpy with dots on the back, like the pointalist painters?

just a thought
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Randy
a kite a nice thing
kite in the air a beautiful thing
kites to share the coolest thing

[stevef]

These are 100% Painted or Dyed, but here are few more examples of shaded work that I pulled from the Bowed Album.

Susan Lennon (I dont know why she isnt smiling, she won!)


Scott Hampton:


Dave & Diane Butler:


John Pollock:

_________________
Steve Ferrel
Measure once, buy twice!

[wdrwilson]

These are wonderful examples... and very inspiring..

I plan on making a few butterflies to start and experiment with the shading with DM paint.

Now to get to MAKR this year it's only a short drive