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<\/a>A long number of years ago, while\u00a0 driving through Montana on a fishing trip,\u00a0 a giant billboard along the hiway caught my eye. It was an advertisement for an artist, who happened to paint on silk. The colors were vibrant and the work whimsical and fun and depicted the lifestyle I lived at the time. Oh wow! Being completely taken aback by her work, a vow was made. Over the years I had searched out her work, and did not know\u00a0 then this would become my medium of choice. Painting on silk, wow!\u00a0 Working with oil paints since being in junior high when I could get my hands on paints and something to paint on. I hid them from everyone. When I left home to raise a family is when the long, long hours of painting at night began,\u00a0 when no one was around. (I have never been one of those souls who needs hours and hours of sleep). I did this for years. Early in the predawn hours,\u00a0 slipping back into bed, and sleeping till\u00a0 being bombarded with kids to get up.\nKnowing about different canvas types,\u00a0 I figured painting on silk was the same as painting on linen, or plain canvas, the silk was prepared already and pre-stretched on\u00a0 bars in the same manner as canvas or linen, what was the big deal or hoopla about anyway. Boy was I wrong.\u00a0 However, immersed in my daily family life and changes going on there raising a family- this dream went on a very far away back burner.
\nBut, despite my efforts\u00a0 (then without the internet) I never was able to find real insight into the process with out having to go to a far away country, and how it all worked. A few years back, a local artist and instructors name was given to me, only then did I began to find out more information. By then, the internet had been a huge part of my life for a number of years,\u00a0 finding several websites of other silk artists who pointed me in the right direction for supplies.\u00a0 Guessing it would be too expensive to just jump in, and go for it until one day while with my daughter in a gift shop looking at silk scarves, I mentioned it to her.\u00a0 She asked me why not give it a try, on a small scale.\u00a0 I did and became immediately transformed. It was wonderful to follow blogs, and websites regarding silk artists and painters. After that, it was time to try to take a class. No looking back any more.
\nFor me, painting on silk, was nothing like painting on watercolor paper, canvas, linen, board of any kind and nothing like painting in any other medium I had experience in. But in the beginning it was like painting on a paper napkin with watercolor paint, it ran everywhere. I just did not know enough about it and not knowing how to control the dyes it was like painting in watercolor run amuck if you just free flow. Just like everything else, there is a learning curve, and I needed to do my homework, study and yep, practice, practice, practice and keep doing it hands on.
\nSilk is not applied to a canvas, board, paper, until after the painting is completed<\/em> <\/strong>and the dye is set, either with heat or steam. Just part of the process. It takes dedication, work and years to acquire the skills to completely master it, and someone is always advancing the process\u00a0 – a new skill can be<\/p>\n
<\/a>Silk on Stretcher Frame\u00a0 Before Steaming<\/p><\/div>\n
learned. Almost everyday I learn more and more about this fine art.<\/p>\n
So many wonderful Silk\u00a0 and Fiber Artists have given so much advice, hints, tips\u00a0 and listening to them has been the best thing I have done.\u00a0 I try what they share when I can and adapt it to my style and use what I can of the information.\u00a0 I was never interested in showing someone how to do something before as I get so lost in what I am doing it is hard to teach it and I thought I was too critical and it was hard for me to let people do it their way. One day my father said what’s wrong with that- you do everything you do your<\/em><\/strong> way. Yep-he hit a nerve!<\/p>\n Classes are held every month and it is such a good time meeting the people who come and have developed some great friendships from this. It is a magical thing to watch Take care, and I hope to see you along the river of colors on my pallet soon.<\/p>\n Anderson<\/p>\n<\/a> some one develop their talents.\u00a0 If you would like to learn the basics of silk painting, please give me a shout <\/a>out as it is a very exciting medium to learn and very rewarding. Private instruction is offered locally, taking beginners through to an advanced class in a series of three to five classes.\u00a0 You can also take a Silk Scarf Painting Class<\/a>, which is offered in groups of six maximum. These classes can be in your home or a studio of choice and last about three to four hours depending on how many are in attendance.<\/p>\n