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Drina Fried
USA
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“Usually, a watercolor study or digital manipulation is the prelude so that I get the sense of which pieces of fabric will work best for each potential art piece.”
Drina Fried, Ed.D. describes the embellished fabric collage process as beginning with a blueprint to guide the composition. Many often a hundred or so swatches of silk, organza, suede, cotton, etc. are chosen for their various textures, colors, and chroma. Fabric is dry glue-backed before being cut and each piece patiently placed onto the substrate of linen or canvas. The composition is heat-set then, and UV protected with two coatings of a fabric spray that binds to the fabric over a 48-hour period to make it almost impervious to the effects of light or dust.
Tranquility #2 (Red Couch) | Mixed Media
$4,000
30 X 28
The ruby red couch invites the viewer into a living room made of various materials such as silk and suede. Tapestry and the fireplace contains embroidery and appliqué, Shadings throughout are executed with fabric and acrylic paint. In the background, see a watercolor of a winter scene of the artist's childhood home in Buffalo, New York. The glass tabletop is organza, allowing viewing through it to the prior layers, much like transparent paint. Best of Show- Las Vegas 2009 Celebrating Life
However, it is still usually shown under glass to stop the inclination viewers have had to run their fingers over the various fabrics, to feel the textures. At this point more traditional art takes over: Fried uses acrylics and/or fabric paint, thread, crystals and other lasting embellishments with the goal of lightening or deepening shading, contrast, unity, bringing out perspective and detail needed to transform each interior, still life, floral, cityscape, or landscape into her vision.
Tranquility #3 (Arborarium) | Mixed Media
$3,500
Third in a series of 5 Embellished Fabric Collage interiors.
The foreground invites the viewer to look out the window into (a
watercolor on paper ) a bike path where I once bicycled.
The pillowcase is suede, with acrylic paint for the
shadows. A piece of silk my husband gave me from a trip of his became the table
and the globe elements; etc. Seeing the embellished fabric collage here looks like a
painting. However, the texture and depth is even more interesting in the original .
From a distance each original most often resembles an oil painting. Looking closely though, it becomes clear that one is seeing a one-of-a-kind complex collage, without 'duplicability.' Her Biography: Born- Buffalo, New York, 1943; is currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2008. Her father was a jewelry display manufacturer (Gerald Fried Displays) until he was 90 years old.
“My artwork was in solo and group art shows, often winning art awards in central California.”
Her mother was a homemaker, amateur writer, and became a self-taught artist after seeing some of Drina's water media. Drina's mother, born Mary Margaret Combs, is the daughter of Taylor Caldwell, an immensely popular author in the late 1930's to the early 1980's of 33 bestselling novels. Drina is only granddaughter of Taylor Caldwell, and in 2016 she and her brothers were given back the rights to her books.
Maintenance Free Aquarium | Mixed Media
$3,500
There are 3 tiny Indian bracelet mirrors on the water's floor, which can be seen glistening as one
views the original. I prefer a maintenance free aquarium, as there is much that needs to be done to keep fish and seaweed living. The fish appear to float
(organza is used in the fins, so as to see the background though it), and silk greens give a sense of undulating in the water. If real, there'd be daily
feeding of your whole group....and maintaining the water's proper alkaline. And more.
Fabric: Silk, Suede, etc. for room elements. "Outside" is a watercolor scene of Las Vegas; Oil painting over fireplace & Acrylic
Tranquility #4 is fourth in the series of 5 Embellished Fabric Collage interiors.
The hotel room invites the viewer to look at the wine and cheese elements on the hassock before
noticing the window mullions (the wood part holding the glass in.)
Tranquility #4 - Mullions Out to Vegas | Mixed Media
$4,500
Since earning a living as an artist was not easy, Drina had other careers - dental hygienist (1963 until more college), short stint as first and third grade teacher before becoming a school psychologist for 32 years, and a Marriage Family Child counsellor and Educational Psychologist in private practice. Then came: https://vimeo.com/657305012.
“My aspirations are to do as well in my chosen fields of visual artist and as an educational and counseling psychologist in the area of teaching ‘offensiveless defense’ along with two rules for safety, in order to reduce suicides and homicides.”
“My own book, ‘End Suicide and Homicide - And The Harm In Between’ which began in 2005, will launch in 2023.”
At this point she has many works of art carefully preserved in storage. Twenty years in visual arts, enjoying mostly producing embellished fabric collages, led to art shows and awards. For example: "Hawaiian Hut" won "Best of Show" at the Boulder City Art Guild. 11-10-14 2015 - Best of Show -" Renee's Park" – diptych - Las Vegas Art Guild- Spring show.
Eye of God | Mixed Media
$2,000
This is one in a "Universe series" of 4Fabric Collages. I didn't want fiction. So I sought and received permission
from Sky Lab Images to transform the photographs I ordered. Theirs is a composite of images from the ACS
instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope..... the closest example of a
planetary nebula created at the end of the life of a Sun-like star. Embroidered on it are my musings: Oh God, how can your universe go on and on, galaxy after galaxy, without boundaries?
March 2015 to 2017- Featured artist at City Lights Art Gallery, Henderson, NV. April 1-30, 2017; 4-29-16 Meet the artist reception Henderson Cultural Center solo art exhibit - May 1 - June 29, 2017 - Tuscany village Group Art Show Reception, Henderson, NV.- May 6, 2017 Helldorado Public Art Show, auction and reception, Las Vegas, NV - 2017, "Horseback View Of Vegas"- 3rd prize mixed media-Helldorado Show, Las Vegas, 2017; Paradise Antique Mall, Las Vegas, NV- continuous artwork April-June, 2017 Boulder City Art Guild Featured Artist, Sept. 1-30, Boulder City, NV ; Sept.9,2017 Artist's Reception. 2016-December 16/17, 2016 -Barcelona International Art Fair, Barcelona, Spain. http://vimeo.com201520976
Stratosphere Atmosphere | Mixed Media
$3,500
The Stratophere is iconic in Las Vegas. It can be seen from miles away at night. There are huge amounts of decorator thread sewn into this art piece, after the initial layers of silks and other fabrics are glued into place.
December "Must I Always Smile" 1st Prize Mixed Media, 2015 Celebrating Life Art Show- showed at Charleston Arts Center until July, then Las Vegas City Hall until Sept., then Mayor's Chambers until end of Dec. 2015. Sept. Tuscany Village Artists showed at the Crepe at Tivoli Village, LV; Oct - 1st Prize “Stratophere Atmosphere” 1st prize Las Vegas Art Guild Juried Show Local Color III; 2014- Month of April, Solo art show with reception (4-26-14) at Rainbow's End, Las Vegas NV. Jan.-July 14, 2014, embellished collages showing at Henderson City Hall; Water St. Henderson,
NV 89015.
Fabric was chosen guided by the colors and textures in the photograph I took at my mother-in-law's condominium in Century City, Los Angeles, CA. Then a mirror image was created. (The upload didn't allow both pictures to download; and they are each a little different. I used a tiny hot iron technique to individually deepen the petals' depth. (The diptych pair are $4000; They would each be $2200. if purchased separately.)
Renee's Park (Diptych) | Mixed Media
$4,000
“Clients purchased my artwork predominantly in the United States.”
Hawaiian Hut | Mixed Media
$4,000
There is wool for much of the hut; 2 Figure shapes in foreground are by Daniella Gruber. She was 12 or 13 at the time, and her two figures may
have been her first paid art. I embellished them with fabric clothes and a beaded purse. The rest was inspired by a picture I saw in Hawaii. It may have even been on a telephone book cover. I would like to know to whom to give some credit. I think my stepdaughter's figures add to the
ambiance of the scene.
The Tuscany Village Artists, a group formed in 2013 by Drina, created art weekly in the Recreation Center until Drina moved to Las Vegas, NV in 2019. "Hawaiian Hut" won Best of Show at the Boulder City Art Guild. 11-10-14 Presenter Speaker for the Las Vegas Art Guild on the topic "Finding Your Niche." After 4 years as writer for the Las Vegas Art Guild presenters, Drina stepped down from that volunteer job.
Then she founded and began as lead manager of the Descendants of Taylor Caldwell, LLC, republishing Caldwell's works as eBooks, print books, and audiobooks - the Taylor Caldwell’s legacy of over 33 bestselling novels.
This 1st of 5 Tranquility pieces won first prize when it was first shown in a California exhibit. It was also juried into other shows after this. The foreground flowers and table lead the viewer up to the window to look out into
a moonlit mountainous landscape. The first layer is composed of various
materials such as silk and suede. At that point fabric paint and embroidery add
interest, color variety, and shading.
Tranquility #1 | Mixed Media
$3,500
Paradise Antique Mall, Las Vegas, NV- continuous artwork April-June 2017
Boulder City Art Guild Featured Artist, Sept. 1-30, Boulder City, NV; Sept.9,2017 Artist's Reception 2015 - “Best of Show" - Renee's Park - diptych Las Vegas Art Guild- Spring show, March 2015. From 2002 until coming to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eventually or Now | Mixed Media
$5,000
Although no one has lived forever yet, WHEN the eternal voyage begins is important on Earth. Who's to say that by choosing to rally and take the pomegranate and greens healthy route, much can be gained by
postponing the grave. This was my husband's favorite piece when I first hung it in our bedroom with 2 others in the 3-part series. Then it was the colors that got him,
“I will concentrate on Speaking, Consulting, and Coaching for the rest of my life.”
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