Textile hardeners are changing the way artists work.

The most exciting new medium in visual arts is textile hardeners. This medium and new techniques are changing the way art is made. Now you can convert almost anything around you into a permanent indoor/outdoor sculpture.

Create a bronze sculpture from scratch in one day or less

This is Doug Simpson, professional artist at Artplace, Inc. This one method has totally changed everything I create in terms of fine art.

I started looking for this seemingly secret knowledge - at least I couldn't find it - about 25 years ago. Two years ago, I discovered it by accident while looking for something else.

It's really no secret if you know how it's done.

I saw an ad for making "garden statues" out of t-shirts. Make a statue out of fabric? Now that sounds interesting.

It took me a whole 5 minutes to get the online order filled out.

So how does it work? It is a textile hardener. Not like anything that you might have tried before. It is a polymer based liquid. The combination of this medium and most any natural fiber will make sculpture.

Saturate and solidify.

This medium will soak into the fibers of natural fabrics, fill in the space in between, and dry to a solid plastic like consistency. The more natural the fiber, the harder the surface.

Almost anything that will absorb liquid can be hardened. Organic materials such as

* leaves
* grass
* feathers
* paper
* old rags
* clothing
* yarn
* cotton batting
* hundreds more!

It works as a bonding agent.

Not only will it solidify fabrics, fabric hardeners make a superior bond between dissimilar materials. For example, bonding fabric and glass, or wood and metal.

Much of my personal art uses a metal background that becomes my canvas. After doing some fire work with a torch and welder, I pick up the textile hardener. I work on top of the modified metal with cotton fibers, paper pulp, epoxie clay, glass, acrylic and automotive paint.

Your local builder's supply becomes a huge art store!

The pink and blue sheets of insulation foam from the local builder's supply become a source for inexpensive sculpture and wall art material. Cut it, shape it, stack it, or hang it. These hardeners bond to foam with no adverse effects on the foam.

This means you can create a substructure very quickly and has an endless supply of material. This surface can then be covered with fabric, paper, or other materials to create a hard surface. The hardener can also be painted directly over the foam for a smooth hard surface.

Paint it or use it totally transparent.

Textile hardener comes in colors. It can be colored with pigments or paint. It can be painted or glazed.