Brian Dykhuizen

Of all the design elements, color inspires me most. Working with dyes allows me to create an endless array of colors, and because dyes are transparent, the colors can be seen through each other, which allows for added complexity.

Typically, I start with a one-yard cut of pimatex cotton, which I've soaked in a soda ash solution. I lay the fabric out on my design table and work with the cloth, wet or dry. If I'm looking for harder edges in a piece, I will work dry. If I want the colors to flow into one another, I will work wet. I find foam brushes work well for applying the dye, which I thicken with sodium alginate. Foam brushes are inexpensive and available at any hardware store. I have also used squirt bottles and spray bottles to apply dye.

In making the tops for my quilts, I wanted to look at the fabric design from a painter's perspective. That's why I like to work with a whole cloth. I start by choosing a color that speaks to me, or a color I want to work with. Occasionally, I have a picture or certain shapes in my mind's eye that I need to see on fabric; other times I just start applying the dye and let the colors take me on the journey.

There seem to be so many rules and requirements in this life. Some days are calm, others are so chaotic that I don't know which way to turn. I think that is why my work is abstract and somewhat random. That is why I love working with dye. Dyes have a mind of their own, so I never really know how a particular piece will look until it is finished. Often times, the challenge is in knowing when to stop. Since the dyes are wet when applied, it is hard to tell how they will look after the fabric has been processed and dried. There have been times when I've been disappointed with a piece of fabric that I was sure had great potential.

My work comes from a personal place. It is to be hoped others can find a connection in my work.

Brian Dykhuizen