Painting on silk can be traced back to the court of Czar Nicholas where the czar's family practiced this aristocratic "hobby" much as embroidery ond needle point were practiced in the courts of Europe. The Russians drew their designs on silk with a resist substance called "gutta percha" and then filled them in in with brilliant colors of dye.
When fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, many of these artists wound up in France, where their fabric-painting skills allowed them to make a living in the burgeoning fashion industry. The silk painting technique lent itself especially well to the art deco look then flourishing in France. Until the 1940s the sources of materials and the techniues of silk painting were closely guarded by the Russians and their French proteges. With the proliferation of new dyes and resist materials this delightful medium has become available to the public.
Silk painting has become a medium for artists and hobby for non-artists. Many of today's silk artists are pursuing multi media approaches, adding screen printing, marbling, discharging (removal of color), shibori (Japanese tie-dye) and any other processes they can think of to create multi-layered, luminous and intriguing wall art, wearable art and yardage.
Silk artists' associations have sprung up around the country in the past few years (e-mail: PaintSilk@aol.com - they may have a website by now) and the First National Congress for Silk Artists will be held in Washington DC this August.
To find out more about Northern California Silk Artists, contact me at fiberjoy@dnai.com or 415-826-8248
JOY-LILY
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