If you've never come across a "Mickey Lawless Skydyes" piece of fabric, I think her style can be a mixture of impressionism and expressionism with a basis in reality. The step-by-step photographs showing Mickey making different types of fabrics, from summer, stormy and night skies to earth, sea, gardens and landscapes show you e.g. how she blends emotion in a dramatic sky with a more realistic seashore in the foreground, linked by water that starts out carefully planned but changes as she works with it.. To quote her: "Ah, the unplanned gifts of water and paint."
The book starts with a good "how to get started" section covering fabric, applicators, supplies, directions, preparations, paints, mixing colour and some colour theory. This is followed by11 step-by-step projects which are interspersed by variations on a theme e.g. sunset, and made-up quilts using her fabrics. The painting techniques also tell you how to get textures in your paintings by e.g. using coarse salt.
This book is really for beginners or people afraid to experiment with painting. If you're comfortable with the techniques and not worried about "ruining" a piece of material, rather spend your money on another pot of paint.
Oh yes, if you give this book as a present to anyone, be sure to give them some white cotton fabric and pots of fabric paint too. It would be cruel to make anyone have to wait before they could try out some of the projects and techniques in this inspiring book.
Published by C&T Publishing ISBN 1-57120-072-X
Related Links:
Mickey Lawler's home page for Skydyes.
On-line catalogue to buy her fabrics.
A schedule of her appearances around the US as a teacher and fabric seller.
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