Silks and Art by Jill

Gee

2011-11-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

G, a new G. Explored salt with the puzzle pieces. Part of the new silk alphabet book.

Display form

2011-08-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

I just found this display form and decided to see how well it photographs. This silk is a 12" x 60" sunset silk.

Winnie the Pooh

2011-08-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

Not for sale. This is a 35" x 35" silk for my new grandson's wall. I was going to paint a mural, but decided a silk hanging would be more appropriate. I have quotes on this, the border says,

"Winnie-the-Pooh, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff. He's Winnie-the-Pooh, Winnie-the-Pooh, Willy, nilly, silly, old bear." Up in the sky it says, "...there is something you must always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you.

'H'

2011-08-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

Another of the ABC series, 12" x 12".

'F'

2011-08-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

12"x 12" silk ABC series

Gee

2011-08-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

This is part of my 12"x 12" ABC series. I may frame these. They are just for fun.

Abstract chain

2011-08-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

Play is the exultation of the possible--Life as in art the beautiful moves in curves--Did you know that most of my silk borders have quips and quotes written on them! That makes them even more fun. 12"x 60"

Ladybugs II

2011-08-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

I donated the other ladybug silk, so here is another one. 12" x 60" with gold resist, just a fun scarf. I am thinking of making a silk pillow with this design.

Pastel flowers

2011-08-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is a 12" x 60" silk scarf inspired by a jacket I have. I had to work hard to mute my colors which I am sure you will notice if you compare these colors to my other silks. This is a very wearable silk. $100.00

Peacock Silk

2011-02-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

This silk was painted a few years ago and I just found the photo, so wanted to save it to the blog. It was painted on a brocade silk which already had a design in it, so it appears to be very complicated. 12x60" Sold (Oh, gee, I just found this again on my old blogs.) Guess I'll leave it.

12"x12" B

2011-02-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

I found a bunch of handkerchief sized silks and decided to do an alphabet with them. They are a good way to experiment with different colors. Of course, I added some zentangle action too.

Purple Zentangle Silk

2011-02-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

This was a big project. I have silver resist and water based gutta in here. I am throwing away the water based resist. I really had to work to get the resist out after steaming. This is a Zentangle with calligraphy, 35x35". $100 I have more photos if you'd like to see it better. Mr. Bear is the model for the top photo.

Seascape

2011-02-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

Once again the ocean called to me. This is a very bold scarf. 12 x 60.

Hugs and Hearts

2011-02-21T07:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, I made this silk close to Valentine's Day. I have been afraid to work with reds and pinks because they 'run'. But this one worked. How do you like my new silk model! He is a little too big, but still fun to play with. 12 x 60"

Another sea dragon

2010-12-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

My favorite sea creatures are sea dragons. This 35" x 35" scarf has more on it than shown. It is very bright with gold resist lines. Looking at this silk just makes me feel contented.

More Zentangles

2010-12-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

Play time with more Zentangles. I'll try to get a full photo of this scarf. These are close ups of the 12" x 60" silk.

Dragons

2010-12-09T18:34:00.000-08:00

I just love dragons, friendly ones, of course. This 12" x 60" silk has been treated with salt, so you will see interesting 'pulls' in the dye. I saw this design in an old decorated alphabet.

Jack's flowers

2010-12-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

My brother, Jack, walks near Occidental, CA with his hiking group every week. Then he gifts us with some of his awesome photos. I was inspired to group these together into a 12" x 60" silk scarf. This is traditional silk painting, I do not treat the silk first, so it is not like painting on canvas. Keeping it simple is important.

Close up of Zentangle silk

2010-12-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

Here is an up close look of the Zentangle. I am using a gold resist also.

Zentangle Scarf

2010-12-09T18:02:00.000-08:00

The latest rage in the calligraphy/art world is a design called Zentangles which is just doodling with an artistic eye. Usually they are done on a 3" x 3" square with a tiny pen. But it works for a silk design too.

Alphabet for Life

2010-04-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

Another new silk. This one is 35"x35" and is a patchwork with alphabetical words. I used gold resist and enjoyed working with a limited palette. This silk may be the one I display at the Odyssey 2010 calligraphy conference in Boston. I used lettering that is monoline and irregular. P.S. Lettering on silk is a real challenge because your hand is squeezing the resist tube and is also up in the air. There is no way to rest your hand on the stretched silk--the resist must not touch anything underneath it or it will smear. Additionally, the silk must remain flat because if slanted, the resist will run.

Filling up the Silk Rack

2010-04-21T18:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend I spent some time filling up the silk display stand with 21 of my silks. Then I took the silks to my Cream City Calligrapher's Clinic and sold a few. I was so pleased that the stand fit into the car fully loaded and did not tip when the car had to turn or hit bumps. What do ya think?

Silk Display Rack

2010-04-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

Ah, how do I display silks that are 12" X 60" and large silks, 35" X 35? Problem solved. I had a tool maker design this acrylic, 24" diameter, display stand. The stand holds about 36 silks, and it is easy to take the silks out to look at them, to try them on, and then to return them to the stand. I think it looks like a giant snowflake. It also fits into my Rendezvous assembled.

A New Dragonfly Silk

2010-02-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

I love the dragonfly detail for silk painting. This silk gave me trouble on the borders because the gutta was too thin, but it looks great now. What is art if not for the serendipity challenges!

This silk is a wall hanging measuring 35"x35". Fly, dragon, fly!

A Close Up

2010-02-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

Nice job, Jill, if I do say so myself. Do you know how much fun it is to create silk paintings!

Birthday Silk

2010-02-20T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here is another Birthday Silk. There are a lot of details to look at. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Scarf

2010-02-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

This is a close up of my lastest 60" x 12" silk scarf. It says Happy Birthday. I made two, look on the next page. This silk is made with gutta, not water-based resist, and the white lines are more crisp. It still had to be dry cleaned to remove the gutta. It's part of the process I don't care for.

Dragons in My Rock Garden

2009-12-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Another source of my art is outside art. These fun dragons are based on the design from a dragon paper punch. Then the design was cut out of plywood with a saw and then I painted them with acrylics. A marine spray was added to waterproof them and now they find a home in one of my many rock gardens. P.S. The rocks gardens feature rocks/minerals from my former home in the Black Hills. They include petrified wood, rose quartz, mica quartz, feldspar, blue quartz, granite and WI limestone.

Paper Sculpture

2009-12-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

I took a class two summers ago in Chicago with Dave Wood who is from Australia and a master of paper sculpture art pieces. This piece is now framed in a 3-D box, but that is too hard to photograph. As you may be able to see (sea), my favorite theme of the ocean lends itself once again to my art. This is a sea dragon with a verse says, "Awakening in a moment of peace, I give thanks to the source of all peace. As I set forth into the day, the sea sings with a new voice and I listen with new ears and give thanks." Anon. copyright by Jill's Quills 2008

Using My AB Sea Shellphabet

2009-12-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

This painting features an alphabet I invented using sea shells, coral, and drift wood to represent each letter. I then made copies of the shellphabet, and cut out the letters I needed with an x-acto knife, added shading and then applied them to my paste paper painting. I then made this into a birthday cards. Super fun!

Some more examples of my work.

2009-12-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

It is time for me to share more of my work. This is a display board I made for art shows, wedding events, etc. It shows some of my calligraphy on paste paper backgrounds. My work is very primary and bright, just like me. Many of these originals have been reproduced on calendars which I make for gifts each year.

Vertical ABC Long Silk

2009-09-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

When I started the ABC Patchwork silks, I actually was planning to do a 12"x 60" silk scarf which could be hung vertically in a small space, or worn as a scarf. Therefore, this silk evolved into that style. This one features greens, blues and warm browns; colors from nature. This turned into a very pretty piece of art.

Patchwork ABC's

2009-09-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

What fun I have had making three silks of this flavor. My goal was to use wacky calligraphy, to make each square speak for itself, and still have a coordinated, fluid piece of art. I also used a limited palette, thus making it cohesive, yet interesting. I also used gold resist which makes the letters stand out all the more. A recipient of one of these Patchwork silks says the gold is especially delightful at night when a small light is nearby. Of course, it looks beautiful in the day light as only a colorful silk can do. This silk is 35"X35" and is for sale.

Close up of the parrot orchid

2009-09-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

This close-up shows some of the detailing that is possible with silk painting. I can mix colors, paint with dry brush, and add bold color or soft details. I am very pleased with this silk painting. I chose this subject from an e-mail photo. The flower is rare and from Thailand. It is 35" X 35" and is for sale. I know you would just love to add this to your wall.

Orchids that look like birds

2009-09-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

A Fishy Hoop

2009-03-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Now you can see the hoop. I use these hoops when I teach 'A Taste of Silk Painting' to beginners and they come from the Dharma catalog ready to go. I use a chemical to set the dye because they do not lend themselves to steaming very well. I've thought about doing a whole alphabet with them. Some day!

Fish from my video

2009-03-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is an 11" hoop that I painted while my friend filmed the process. It is finished now. I used the video on my silk powerpoint that I made for a college class. Now I have to learn how to put the video or the powerpoint on this blog.

In the Process

2009-03-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of the previous silk. I took the photo as I was just finishing the painting. I used the lines of the silk's design to write my words which was a natural concept. With the gold writing I chose to color this with purples and dark blues.

Gold Writing

2009-03-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest silk. It is not steamed yet, but I have high hopes for the final product. The resist is an iron-in colored product by Dupont, a water-based gutta. I put an extra small tip on the tube, which makes it stream in a smaller line, good for writing. The only tough part about using the colored gutta is that you cannot tell if it has penetrated the silk completely, thus occasionally leaks occur. That's the serendipity of silk painting. Yes, the silk has a brocade design. 11" x 60"

More Sea Views

2009-01-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

This silk has writing worked into the ocean water, and lots of colorful coral, seaweed, etc. The lion fish looks better than it does here because I outlined it with an iron-on copper and gold gutta, so some of the details stand out more. Silks can be reworked, you can reapply resists, and over dye. I generally feel that I have put in enough hours with a one time attempt.

Fascination with Ocean Critters

2009-01-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

In my living room for about seven years, I have hung a trio of ocean silks. They each feature sea dragons or sea horses. At about the same time I met my first 'real' sea dragons; and have had a fascination with Weedy and Leafy Sea Dragons every since. Since then I have acquired several sea dragon videos, and seen the real critters in Chicago and Philadelphia. Several of my calendars and Christmas cards have featured these critters, too.

Sunset on Silk

2009-01-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

This silk is just for fun. I just kept adding colors, and kept washing them over the wet silk. It only took about fifteen minutes to paint. So much fun to watch the dyes interact with each other. 35"x35".

Steaming

2009-01-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Once I decided to work for a year on silk paintings, I decided the only sure way to success was to invest in a steamer. This is a commercial chimney which is about seven feet tall, so tall I need to keep it in the garage.

When four or five silks are painted, they are wrapped in newsprint and steamed for about 90 minutes. That is not the end of the process, though.

This piece is my '70's silk.

It is 35"x35" and looks nice of my studio wall.

A Years Worth of Silk Painting

2009-01-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

I dedicated 2008 for designing, and painting silks. Usually my 'spare' time is used to work on calligraphy, but 2008 was my 'Silk Year'. Every weekend I was in the studio experimenting with new techniques, with different silks, and with different resists. The results were usually quite nice. This is the beginning of the dragonfly piece you first saw! 35"x35"

Why Paint Silks?

2009-01-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

Painting silks is an awesome process. It is a true art.

(Some of you who saw my other blogspot will recognize some of my words. I have had to start over because of an e-mail address change, so I am sorry that this seems a little disjointed.) This was actually one of my last silks painted. This silk has a design woven into it, so trying to paint the peacock feathers into the already present design was a challenge. 12"x60"

Writing on Silk?

2009-01-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Writing on silk is not an easy proposal. The resist has to 'feel' like ink, but not spread like ink. Some precision is lost whenever writing on fabric, but the results are quite stunning. This piece was done twice because the 'red' (which I used to make the browns) in the first piece ran into my lettering. The size is about 35" x 35" and this is meant to hang on the wall as a piece of art.

Beginning over!

2008-12-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

In the year 2008 I decided to devote my art to silk painting. I had dabbled in this art here and there, and was slowly gathering the supplies I wanted, but I decided to get serious about it and really experiment and learn. I will be showing many of my silk pieces; some are in new homes, some are still with me. Let me know if any interest you.

Silks by Jill

2008-12-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

We start with white silk from China. The silk is washed and then stretched on stretcher bars. Now we draw an image with a water-based resist or a gutta (which has to be removed by dry cleaning). Once the image is drawn and dry, we paint. The dye flows silkily to the edges of the resist. Shading and many other techniques can be added. I often work calligraphy/lettering into the design. This painting is intended to hang as a piece of art, 35" x 35".