SILKWORM THE MAGAZINE OF SILK PAINTERS INTERNATIONAL V. 29, I 1, SPRING 2022

SILKWORM THE MAGAZINE OF SILK PAINTERS INTERNATIONAL V. 29, I 1, SPRING 2022

SILKWORM Spring 2022 P age 18 Festival Returns! Prepare for the SPIN event of the year! Details inside. EDITOR Autumn Prosser WRITERS / CONTRIBUTORS Kim Boyer Addie Chernus Suz Knight Nadja Lancelot Gloria Lanza-Bajo Diane Lawrence Jeanne Miller Autumn Prosser Karen Rose DESIGN Autumn Prosser MEMBERSHIP Susan Cunningham ADVERTISING Ronda Lanzi MAILING LIST Gloria Lanza-Bajo PRINTING The Printed Image, LLC 2022 Silk Painters Interna onal All rights reserved. 6 Silk Inspiration by Addie Chernus Learn about different techniques and innova ve methods Addie uses for crea ng silk art. 10 Spring Renewal by Autumn Prosser A well-organized and harmonious art space is good for the house and good for the soul. 14 Chapter Quilts Revisi ng an earlier project and learning what became of the different chapter s quilts. 3 From the Editor 5 President s Message On the cover: Sunfl ower Scarf, Ronda Lanzi 2 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

FROM THE EDITOR Dear members, I know Spring arrived last month, but the weather finally feels like spring here in the midwest. There s something inspiring about flowers burs ng into bloom, birds chirping in the trees, and a warm breeze to remind me winter never lasts forever. As Spring is a me of renewal, this Silkworm aims to bring you mo va on and fresh ideas for a crea ve and prosperous season. First, Addie Chernus graciously shares some of the truly unique ways she creates silk art. Her ideas and methods are sure to get the crea ve juices flowing in your brain. Next we look back on a project of the past: Chapter Quilts. These were first highlighted in the Fall 2014 Silkworm [Vol. 21, Issue 3] and today we find out where they are now. The innova ve ways these quilts were designed, developed and ul mately u lized shows more examples of the endless imagina ons of our members. Thank you, Gloria Lanza- Bajo, Nadja Lancelot, Diane Lawrence, Suz Knight, Jeanne Miller and Karen Rose for your contribu ons to the ar cle. Finally, get excited, because Fes val is back on! I bring you a highlight of what to expect from this September event. Registra on will be opening soon, so be sure to watch your email for more informa on. SPIN members have sent me many wonderful sugges ons and ideas about what you would like featured in future issues of Silkworm. I truly appreciate all of your ideas and encourage you to keep sending them to: autumnprosser@gmail.com. Un l next me, stay crea ve! SILKWORM Spring 2022 3

WE VE GOT THE STUFF YOU MAKE IT ART All the dyes, paints, & tools! The best source for blank 100% silk in the nation! FEATURED ARTIST: KRIS BUCHANAN Hundreds of sizes and styles! Dharma Trading Co. is your one-stop shop for all of your fiber art costuming needs. We are the nation s largest supplier of blank dyeable fabrics and offer hundreds of styles of scarves and blank clothing. We stock a full line of dyes, a massive selection of fabric painting supplies for every project, and provide top-notch support every step of the way. 800-542-5227 dharmatrading.com

PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Happy Crea ve Season, As this season unfolds, we are inspired to make plans, start new crea ve projects and finish or pass on older projects. Our members are star ng to meet again in-person and that is really rewarding. At our most recent Chapter Presidents Council mee ng, led by Chapter Chair, Bonnie Kurka, I was thrilled to hear about the ac vi es occurring locally, in-person or online. Mee ngs, art fes vals, gallery openings, farmers markets, all definitely renew our posi ve outlook for gathering. Our Fes val Chairs, Christy Greene and Diane Allen have created a wonderful program for the Fes val. A er reviewing Class requests from 2021, it allowed Christy and Diane to tailor the classes and instructors to your preferences. 2022 will allow much greater personal and group freedom at Arrowmont and that is a bonus! Please check the website for a tenta ve fes val schedule. Also, a er being fortunate enough to travel to Florida to take a class, I realized what a good economic value that our fes val offers. A variety of interna onally known instructors, a beau ful, convenient learning environment along with ac vi es with like-minded ar sts is truly an amazing opportunity and I hope to see you there. Remember, June 11, 2022 is the opening day for Fes val registra on. Sign up early to get the classes you want. Thank you for your membership and please stay posi vely crea ve, Kim Kim SILKWORM Spring 2022 5

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES SPRING INSPIRATION BY ADDIE CHERNUS Pillow Dolls Dolls have always had a special place in my heart. For around 10 years I have been making sewn silk dolls from scraps of dyed silk and yardage. Yin and Yang For an art show I wanted to use Shibori technique for a two sided wall hanging; Yin and Yang were perfect. I used 19mm Charmeuse silk, DuPont silk dyes and water based black resist. Felt was placed between layers. I created Yin, the women, with lotus flowers and petals. Yang, the man, shows a dragon. The Shibori circles are yardage already dyed and some of the circles were resisted. The dyes were applied in several harmonious layers. I employed full-strength dyes for parts of the lotus. Texture was added to the dry silk using dabs of color. The background for Yin is achieved from a blue underpain ng and two layers of black. Yang s background was le white. A er steaming and ironing, I appliquéd the Shibori circles by machine and hand s tching them in place. I use a variety of silk weights and types: Habotai 12 and 16mm, Charmeuse 19mm and organza 5mm. I paint yardage measuring 45 x75. The doll stuffing is ba ng. I created the body and clothing pa erns from scraps and yardage of dyed silk. Dolls are 18 or 26 tall. It is pure joy for me to create the doll clothing. The yardage is dyed in a free-form, abstract manner using DuPont silk dyes. At mes I apply water-based DuPont black resist and Free Flow which allows the dyes to move. 6 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

Lotus Kimono I love the grace and history of the kimono. The shapes of the body and wide sleeves are a balanced design ready to paint. My materials were Habotai silk 16mm, DuPont water based black resist, DuPont silk dyes, and 10mm Habotai lining. The front and back were created separately. The front was cut from my pa ern and the silk borders sewn in place. I drew the lotus plants and flowers, magnolia blossoms and doves on a paper pa ern for the kimono then traced this onto the silk. I a ached the silk to an Arty s frame system and applied a linear resist to the traced images. Once dry, I iron set the back side. To capture the effect of the magnolia flowers, I rewet the area with clean water then applied various strengths and colors of pink and lightly blended the dyes. Many layers of dye were applied using dots on semi dry or dry silk for greater texture and color varia on. SILKWORM Spring 2022 7

Tahoe Summer Quilt Tulip Vest My husband and I have lived in Tahoe for over 20 years. It is a beau ful loca on with many blessings from Mother Nature. I first sketched the design on a large piece of paper and worked out my image and color scheme. This was a long process as it was corrected many mes. Once I was happy with the overall design, I taped the sketch onto my light table and ghtly taped the silk on top of the paper. I resisted directly onto the silk. Resist was allowed to thoroughly dry and then ironed set on the back side. The silk was then a ached to the Arty s frame system where I applied many layers of nts leaving the whites. The quilt measures 45 x62. The resist lines were over sewn with black thread. The water was quilted then boats and sails resisted. Sails and seagulls were formed from cut pieces of dyed 12mm Habotai silk and Jacquard Red Label dye. They were appliquéd by hand. Ba ng was used. The back layer is pre-dyed black 10mm silk. The tulips were inspired by a trip to the Netherlands. We visited the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens which comprise more than 1,000,000 bulbs, as well as small ponds, flowering bushes, swans, flower exhibits and paths which wind through green grassy slopes. Fields of tulips abound in the surrounding fields. The vest shows images of tulips in various stages of growth and color enhanced by my imagina on. It is made from 16mm Habotai silk, DuPont water based black resist, Dupont Dyes and silk thread. The vest is lined with black silk. 8 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

Poppy Surface Resist Poppies can be seen and admired all over Europe. The technique used for this pain ng needs a gentle hand with the brush and the amount of dye on the brush. I strung a piece of 18 x24 Habotai 12mm silk between two trees, sprayed with light sizing, smoothed and let dry. I then outlined my sketch onto the silk with a so pencil. I mixed sizing or vodka to dilute the Jacquard Red Label dyes. The colors were layered onto the silk, some wet on wet, some wet on dry. For the vest pa ern I cut thick paper for a front and back allowing for shrinkage. I then sketched the images on the vest paper. A er a bit of erasing and rearranging, I transferred the images onto the silk using black resist in a linear fashion. Once the resist was dry and ironed, I stabilized each silk piece on Arty s frame system. Once dry, I used a thin water color brush to add stronger dyes to the flower s center. I made a wet stroke and used a small brush to add a drop of a harmonious color. The background was painted with diluted magenta followed by two layers of black dye, allowing each layer to dry. To avoid bleeding into the flowers, I stayed away from the edges of the images and touched-up any missing areas with a very small brush. I like to dab dyes all over the silk using the same color un l I move to the next color and repeat the process. Values are changed using nts in layers of harmonious colors to add depth, interest and textures. Wet on wet and wet on dry were used. When the flowers were fairly finished I painted the background using full strength dyes in a few layers. SILKWORM Spring 2022 9

Kansas Rose, Becky Young SPRING RENEWAL FOR YOUR CREATIVE SPACE by Autumn Prosser T his is the me of year when I want to open all the doors and windows and let the fresh breeze clear out the stale Winter air. This creates a sense of calm and focus that allows crea ve energy to flow naturally. Spring is a perfect me to clean and organize your art studio. Your workspace should be welcoming and inspiring. This is hard to achieve in a messy space. If you re not feeling produc ve, spring cleaning your art space can help keep your crea ve and mental health in balance. Some even believe that certain dei es and house spirits like cleaning as an offering, so light a candle and dedicate the cleaning to them. 10 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

Getting started: Make a list of goals you want to accomplish in your cleaning endevour: get rid of clu er, organize paint brushes, dispose of toxins, archive art, etc. Take inventory of everything in your studio. Iden fy four areas: keep, sell, donate, dispose. Once you have taken stock of what s in your studio, you might feel overwhelmed. This is where your list of goals comes in handy. By focusing on one or two items, you can tackle an area at a me. Comple ng one or two items can be enough to feel produc ve and energized. A li le effort goes a long way. Clean out drawers, cabinets, shelves: Get everything out in front of you. Remove anything from your work table. Empty drawers, cabinets and shelves. Make an area for things you keep. Organize bookshelves and donate any books that no longer interest you. Collect materials to donate to a local school or community center. Recycle old magazines, sketches and images from finished pain ngs. Organize your art: Frame new work. Change out what you have on display for something fresh. Keep a list of works by year, collec on or theme. Deal with unfinished or outdated artwork that is taking up valuable space. Organize reference photos in a file by subject ma er or theme. Sort work by keep, sell, donate or reuse. Clean everything: Clean windows and mirrors. Dispose pieces of random paper. Give the sink a scrub. Dust and disinfect all surfaces. Sweep, vacuum or mop the floor. Wipe down the walls or apply a fresh coat of paint.

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES Sort brushes, palette knives, paints: Go through all your brushes and pale e knives to determine which ones to keep, which need a deep clean and what you need to ditch. Throw away any pens or markers that have dried up. Organize paints by color. Dispose of expired products. Organize everything into containers keeping your mediums together. Include one for random items. Make sure everything is properly labeled. Update your digital presence: Update your website. Create new Etsy lis ngs. Add photos of new work to your digital archive. Delete duplicate and unwanted photos from your computer. Evaluate your business plan. Freshen up your space: Improve your ven la on system. Add a comfortable chair and plants. Install new audio speakers. Upgrade your ligh ng. Replace or repair any equipment or machines. 12 Spring 2021 SILKWORM

Clean with green: You spend a lot of me in your studio around poten ally harmful substances and are suscep ble to the dangers of chemicals. While some of this cannot be avoided, below are some ps to help keep your studio space toxin free and help reduce the environmental impact of your art prac ces. Properly ven late your studio. Use air-purifying houseplants such as palm tress and ferns. When you buy new dyes or other supplies, mark the item with the purchase date and use the older inventory first. Keep a recycling bin for old sketches, paper, cardboard, glass and plas c. Save packaging materials like bubble wrap to reuse for your own shipping. Opt to use biodegradable packaging when shipping your artwork. Upcycle jars/containers and give them a purpose in your studio. Opt for recycled, organic and nontoxic supplies. Use environment-friendly products to clean your workspace such as lemon juice and vinegar in water. When you re not in your studio, turn off your electronics and lights. Switch out light bulbs with energy efficient op ons. Subs tute toxic substances with safer alterna ves. Enclose all harmful substances. Rinse paint-filled brushes in solvent or water in a separate container before rinsing in the sink.

14 Spring 2022 SILKWORM Silk Quilt, New York Metro Chapter, 2014

SILK QUILTS OF THE SPIN CHAPTERS For the 2014 SPIN Fes val, the chapters were invited to create a quilt that represented their li le corner of the world. Thirteen chapters par cipated and the quilts were displayed in the Hogan building, the ceremonial space of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. New York Metro Chapter The quilt project for the 2014 fes val was the New York Metro s first project as a newly formed chapter, and all thirteen members par cipated. Many ideas were thrown around: Should the quilt be one cohesive image? How about apples since NYC is The Big Apple? Should we use a variety of layered fabrics to symbolize NYC diversity? The idea of an ombre was se led. The quilt project excited, frightened and upli ed the members but also strengthened this group of great painters. Member, Eduardo Wilder, recommended the use of zibeline silk, which is a sturdy fabric that is easy to sew. Members each painted a 6 x56 piece of silk using an assigned color. Eduardo did a masterful job in assembling the quilt. Each panel is an homage to New York and includes skylines, trees, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, fields, fireworks, the Statue of Liberty, manhole covers, brownstones, and apples. nysilkpainters.org SILKWORM Spring 2022 15

Silkers Painters Guild of Oklahoma The Oklahoma chapter worked together to create an Oklahoma themed quilt. Each member painted a square and the group decided which pieces made it into the quilt. The squares were s tched together and a backing was made. The final piece was intended to be displayed as a hanging. The quilt reflects the mood and heat of Oklahoma and has been featured on travel blogs and sites. A er Fes val, the quilt was disassembled and each square was returned to the ar st. Sunflower Silkers, Kansas Being the Sunflower Silkers, it was a no-brainer that the Kansas chapter s theme would be sunflowers. Which is also the Kansas state flower. Chapter member, Diane Lawrence, MSP, donated the silk squares. Each member was given a square and painted a sunflower in their own style. The silk trim was painted and donated by Barbara Ballen ne. A er Fes val, the Sunflower Silkers Kansas Chapter were unsure what to do with their quilt. The decision was made to raffle the quilt for $10.00 per cket. One lucky winner got the quilt and the Chapter raised $700 for their treasury. 16 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

New Mexico Silk Painters Guild The group gathered in August, 2013, in Mildred s studio to paint the quilt for the 2014 SPIN conference. Judith Roderick quilted and embellished the silk painted panels. nmsilkpaintersguild.com Silk Artists of Central California Coast Suzanne Knight put a call out to the members to paint squares that represent San Diego. Several of us arranged the final pieces, looking at how the colors and themes worked together. Suzanne had a local quil ng service s tch it together. The quilt resides with current Chapter President, Karen Malin. The guild hangs the quilt at each gallery or museum show that we have as a group. sdsilkguild.org Silk Artists of Central California Coast Member Gay McNeal cut the silk pieces and provided a list of recommenda ons to paint. Gay joined the finished pieces together, interspersing them with strips of silk that she dyed black. Gay also dyed the backing. She sewed all the silk pieces together and, with the help of a friend with a longarm machine, completed the quil ng. This was the most ambi ous project ever created by the members. SILKWORM Spring 2022 17

ARROWMONT SCHOOL OF ARTS & CRAFTS GATLINBURG, TN Make Magic Happen! Learn many silk pain ng techniques from SPIN S professionals, meet new friends and enjoy the old ones! If you are new to Fes val, a Board Member will personally help you with becoming familiarized with the event and make you feel welcome. Have ques ons or need help? fes val@silkpainters.org VENDOR FAIR CHAPTER NIGHT SHOW & TELL GALLERY RECEPTION REGISTER ONLINE 2-day workshops Seminars 3-hour mini-classes silkpainters.org/fes val PJ COBBS Silk ar st of eclec c art from New York City CALL TO FASHION JUNE 28 JULY 28 Lovely crea ons are modeled during this Fes val favorite. CALL TO ART JUNE 18 JULY 18 Member Art Show displays in the Arrowmont Galleries. LODGING On-site, hotels nearby TRANSPORTATION Rocky Top, Uber, Ly AIRPORT Knoxville, TN 18 Spring 2022 SILKWORM

SILKWORM Silk Painters Interna onal PO Box 291447, Columbia, SC 29229 SILKWORM is the quarterly magazine of Silk Painters Interna onal (SPIN), an interna onal, nonprofit organiza on of silk ar sts, painters, prac oners, and educators. The Mission of SPIN is to support and encourage the professional development of silk ar sts and to promote worldwide recogni on of and apprecia on for silk art. SPIN provides its members opportuni es to network with kindred spirits and to grow through workshops, conferences, juried compe ons and gallery exhibi ons. Material contained in SILKWORM belongs exclusively to SILKWORM and/or the ar st. Do not reprint without wri en permission. HAVE AN IDEA FOR FUTURE ISSUES OF SILKWORM? Do you have a skill to share, a unique idea, or just want to know more about a subject? Do you want your art to be featured or know someone who deserves the spotlight? Email me and let s make it happen. autumnprosser@gmail.com silkpainters.org Arale Vallely La Cosse De Pois Hand-painted with French dye on 100% Habotai silk. Wrapped on gallery canvas. 24x24ʺ Available for purchase at artbyarale.com # 2022 Spring Silk Painters 2021 Interna onal. SILKWORM All rights reserved. ISSN 2162-8505