artist statement:

We all know that feeling, that heart-stopping wonder that disrupts time as we gaze awe-struck at a spectacular sunset, the intricate geometry of a flower, or the wild energy of a galloping horse. Yet why do experiences of intense beauty often move us to tears? Because in these moments the joy of life collides with fear of its fragility. Love and loss, pleasure and pain, joy and grief co-exist. Beauty resides in the tension between these dualities. My art is my impossible quest to capture these elusive moments, or at least to interpret the feelings they evoke.   I invite my viewer to abandon fear and immerse yourself fully into the beauty of life on planet earth in all its wonderful complexity.

silk painting

Silk painting is a traditional art form that dates back to the second century CE in asia. The strength and beatuty of silk creates a lovely substrate for paints and dyes that has a lovely texture and yields rich and luminous colors. Silk is also translucent, so it has a beautiful effect when backlit.

In order to create these images I mix my own dyes using traditional pigments and apply them using a variety of techniques that I have developed and experimented with over time. In some cases resists or guttas are used to create lines or boundaries for the dyes. Some pieces require careful planning and multi stage processes in order to acheive the desired effect, while others are created by sponteneous inspiration. Silk painting is an unforgiving medium (no erasing!) and often yields unpredictable results, but that is part of the beauty of it!

How do I care for my silk painting?

The dyes I use are set with steam and permanently bonded into the fibers. However like any work of art, silk paintings need to be protected from water and direct sunlight in order to ensure their longeviety. If it needs to be cleaned it may be removed from the frame and dry-cleaned or gently washed with mild soap and cold water.

Silk Guide:

Silk comes in a variety of weights and finishes. Here is a description of the most common silks I use:

• charmeuse – very smooth lightweight silk wiht a shiny surface that reflects the light
• crepe de chine – lightweight silk with a matte finish and subtle pebble texture
• stonewashed crepe – medium weight silk with a semi-smooth velvety finish
• twill – diagonally woven silk that is very strong and has a semi-shiny surface