Featured Artist : Mary Copenhaver | SunSational Prints

Hello, I am Mary Copenhaver, the owner/artist at SunSational Prints. I have been an avid quilter for a number of years, and my attraction to design and color led me to sun printing, in which I can create my own fabric prints. Sun printing (also known as sun painting or heliographic art) is a process in which photo-sensitive fabric paints are applied to moistened fabric. I exclusively use Setacolor Transparent Paints from Pebeo, which are available from Dharma Trading Co. Leaves, flowers, feathers, shells, stencils, or other objects are placed onto the wet, painted fabric. The fabric is then placed in the sun where the rays and heat set the color on the portion of the fabric that is exposed. The shadows of the objects are imprinted on the fabric.

I only use 100% cotton fabric; either Kona Cotton - PFD or cotton sateen for my creations. Both are available from Dharma Trading Company. Sun prints can be matted and framed or used for quilting, wall hangings, pillow covers, totes, table runners, wearable art, or other arts and crafts projects. A group of my sun prints have been selected by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (www.robertkaufman.com) for inclusion in their Fall 2007 fabric line.

My website is: www.sunsationalprints.com