"Snap, Crackle, Poppy"

Over the years, I have worked with silk and even taught silk painting 101. One of my favorite techniques is using "crackle" as a background. Crackle is a thick paste like material applied to the surface, allowed to dry; the dried fabric is then scrunched by hand creating cracks and valleys in the surface. Silk paint which is watery thin, is then washed over the surface settling into the nooks and crannies. After the paint is dry and heat set from the wrong side, the crackle is removed. 

 

 If you're having a hard time finding crackle, the same effect can be achieved through the various flour pastes and potato dextrose paste - a little messier to use, but achieving the same effect.

 I decided to use the same color for the background as the images.

 Since the paint is so thin, it needs to be "contained" by using a resist in order to create a specific shape. I used a clear, water soluble resist to outline the shape, let it dry and fill in the area with silk paint. After the paint dries and is heat set, the resist can be easily removed by soaking in water for a short time.

 The paints are transparent allowing the background fabric to show through the flower petals. I like this look as it gives more dimension to the piece.

 I free motion quilted the background using a monofilament thread giving texture without additional color to the piece. The flowers were outlined with silver metallic thread (Sliver which is flat and shiny).  Since this is the only stitching on the piece, I thought stitching around each image twice would give a better effect.

 I had some extra painted fabric and decided to use it as a backing.

 The piece was wrapped around a pre stretched canvas; the hanger used was eye hooks with picture frame wire.

 I really like this way of hanging when using canvas.

And the name - Snap, Crackle, Poppy which came to me as my favorite cereal as a child was Rice Krispies and the 3 little guys on the box cover that say - "it will snap, crackle and pop" in your mouth - Am I aging myself...again!