Bright Summers Day

How about this for memories of summer.

I have been experimenting with new ways of using silk in my work. Just painting it had lost interest for me so I have started to manipulate it first and then paint it. Very pleased with the result. I orginally intended to complete the centre using thread and silk cocoons but time ran away with me and to finish it in time for the latest Silk-n-Threads exhibition I had to use acrylics instead.

MARPLE EXHIBITION - SILK PAINTINGS

This year's Society of Marple Artists exhibition was held the weekend of the 27/28th April. I exhibited 5 painting in all and sold four so I was very pleased.
Still get a buzz when someone wants to hang one of my babies on their wall!
The poppies above were completed in silk dye and then embellished with free machine embroidery.

The datura lilies above were again painted in silk dyes which need to be steam fixed.

These teasels were my first attempt at acrylics. I chose a block canvas as support and these teasels sit on my work room desk and have been crying out to be painted for a while now. The texture was achieved by using puff paint whicht reacts to heat and gives this interesting surface which can be then be painted.

More Silk

This clematis grows through a quince in my garden and I can get close up and personal as it is situated alongside a path. I used silk satin for the support and embellished with free machine embroidery and beads.

This anemone blanda grows under shrubs in my garden. Unfortunately the colour has not reproduced exactly in the photo, it has a more purple tinge. Each of the individual stamens are free machine embroidered which becomes the focal point of the painting. Again I sold both of these painting and I still get such a thrill when someone likes my work enough to put it on their wall.

Embroidered Silk Paintings

I discovered silk painting in 2004 and since then I have realised how appropriate the rich colours, especially those of steam fixed silk dyes, are for the basis of a free machine embroidery.

The centre of this group of Azalea heads are free machined using a gold thread.

The above photos are a reflection of some of my work so far. The vibrancy of the colours lend themselves to flower portraits. Free machine embroidery has been used selectively for the centers of the flowers. I did these in the first year of my experimenting with silk painting and I sold all three which immediately spurred me on to continue.

I continued to use silk paint and dye on scarves and bags as well more pictures. I also joined the Guild of Silk Painters. where I gained immense support from local and national members in the skills and knowledge involved in silk painting. More examples to follow.