Silk Painter

Wokingham, Berkshire, England Tel: 0118 977 2159 Fax: 0118 971 4416 e-mail: lindamarygraves@hotmail.com I specialise in producing a range of hand-painted abstract and realistic images on pure silk using silk paints and dyes. I work on commissions and on ranges of scarves and hand crafted cards for galleries, retail outlets and craft fairs. I have given demonstrations of my work at craft fairs and offer tuition to individuals or small groups. I have been closely involved in setting up the Berkshire branch of the Guild of Silk Painters. My work has been sold to clients in the UK, Ireland, America, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Each piece I create is signed and will never be identically reproduced. My imagination is fed by my surroundings and by nature. Cityscapes are a recurring theme in my work. I draw inspiration from my frequent visits to Europe and North America and particularly Ireland where I grew up. I also find inspiration in classical and ancient art. When I begin a painting I can never predict exactly how it will turn out. As the colour spreads across the silk fibres the painting evolves - this for me is part of the magic of silk painting. I constantly experiment and explore new themes and techniques and am always intrigued by what might happen. The characteristics of the silk I choose for a painting affects the final outcome as each type of silk has its own look and feel. For paintings or wall hangings I usually prefer to use Twill silk, I find that its diagonal weave gives depth and body to the work. I often use an aquarelle base for my paintings as this allows me to achieve better control of the dyes. Photography too provides me with inspiration, as a qualified photographer I sometimes use carefully selected photographic images; often of close-up detail of plants or rock formations which I then expand upon. I use these images together with drawings and watercolour sketches to create paintings which exploit the beauty and lustre of the silk. Visit my gallery below: Sacred Steps, 76cm x 58cm, painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resists Cave Art, 65cm x 52cm, painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resists Lighting Up, 84cm x 58cm, painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resists New York, 93cm x 62cm, painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resists New Year's Day, Portmarnock, 58cm x 48cm painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resists Westward, painted on twill silk using silk dyes and resist

Gallery Click a thumbnail below to see an enlargement To The Guild of Silkpainters October 2001