Artist Introduction- Claire

Say hello to one of our newest Etsy Team Members! Claire Bentley.

How did I start Silk painting... well, I have been surrounded by arts, crafts and in particular Embroidery all my childhood as my Mum is a very talented Embroiderer, which she teaches too. She used Silk painting as part of her work, so I had seen her do it, then embroider over the top. I had a go at Embroidery, but it wasn't for me and went in a completely different route, becoming a Jewellery Designer as my career, where I have stayed for the last 20 years.

I wanted to try something different and had done some internet research on silk painting, finding the most amazing painting. I have a passion of colour, so as a Christmas present a couple of years ago, my mum gave me a Silk painting kit.

I created a few paintings which hang on my walls at home, but I thought I would like to see if I could create some others with the views of selling them.

Inspiration comes from everywhere, my head is full of it and usually have too many ideas and can't get them down on paper quick enough. Nature is a big one, painting flowers and a few animals, but my 2 latest projects I am working on are a patterned VW camper van and Peter & Paul Catherdal in St Petersburg - just at the drawing stage, but very excited about getting the design onto silk!

I am a novice Silk painter and learn as I go, but I love it, especially when its colour time and the paint spreads into the silk!


Her Shop

Sarah Wisemen- Featured Artist

Introducing one of our newest members of the silk artist team on Etsy, Sarah Wisemen and her story how she got into silk painting.

I first tried silk painting about 15 years ago. I was staying with a friend whose mum is an art teacher, and she ran a silk painting workshop for us in her kitchen. I painted a gecko on a tree, surrounded by flowers, leaves, berries and ferns, and I loved the painting so much that I still have it on the wall of my living room today.

From that moment I was hooked. I went home and bought all the gear, and I’ve been painting on silk ever since. I usually paint wildlife and plants, and my paintings are inspired by the wildlife I have encountered in the UK, and on my travels in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

I also paint in watercolour, and I’ve done watercolour illustrations for three children’s books, on trees, invertebrates and birds.

I live in Scotland, and I’ve worked for a variety of nature conservation organisations. When my last contract finished at the end of 2013, I decided to focus on painting and trying to sell my art. I’ve just opened my Etsy shop.

Website – www.sarahwisemanart.co.uk

Etsy- www.etsy.com/shop/SarahWisemanArt
Facebook-  www.facebook.com/sarahwisemanart

Lost Gutta- A Tutorial by Leanne Holt

I stumbled upon a technique that has some useful applications. I am calling it Lost Gutta. I'm sure it's not new, just new to me.

This involves placing your gutta line over an existing background color. You use the gutta line the same way you would use batik wax - to create shape or an edge.



Adding the next layer of color gives you the chance to create an edge. Wherever the new color touches your gutta line, you will have an edge.
 

If you do not place any color next to the gutta line, like the pink flower in previous picture with the arrow, the line will be lost when the gutta is removed.



This gives you the opportunity to create edges where you want them, without having a solid gutta line around your entire design.




The finished scarf


 

Happy Creating!

Leanne Holt
Flingamo Scarves

Joanne Raines- Featured Artist

 Today I have the pleasure of sharing one of our artist's stories with you. Meet Joanne Raines with beautiful story on how she found silk painting.

How did I discover Silk Painting?

Well it was the summer of 1998, my husband and I were on vacation in Thailand. We'd spent 3 busy days in Bangkok visiting as many sights as possible and were now on the island of Phuket.

The minute we landed on the island I felt really queasy and it wouldn't go away, then it clicked, "I must be pregnant" I got one of the waiters to bring me some raw ginger to help with the symptoms.

After a few days and my repeated requests for ginger the waiter said if I needed any more to go through into the back kitchens myself and ask one of the chefs.

The first time I went through the staff doors it opened onto an enclosed courtyard, and that's when I spotted a young woman with her silk painting in progress.

I got the ginger then returned to ask the woman if I could watch her for a while, I don't think she understood me but she didn't send me on my way. She was painting a beautiful landscape scene with birds and butterfly's and I knew right then I would have to try it for myself.

When we returned to the UK I did as much research as I could before ordering the necessary supplies to give it a go. I'd always been into arts and crafts but never trained in any. I'm a beauty therapist by trade. The very first piece I did was on a spare bit of silk about the size of a handkerchief and was a pink water lily, I made a decent enough job of it for a first attempt and that was it, hooked!.

P.S Yes I was pregnant and had my daughter in February 99, she's a much better artist than I'll ever be.

Thanks Joanne for sharing that beautiful story with us.

Her SHOP

Her FACEBOOK

Teaching Art- By Lynne Tagliaferro

This past week I had my annual student art exhibit at the school where I teach art. While watching the students and their families walk through the halls admiring the achievements of my students I was reminded how important the arts are to a child’s education.

The arts enhance creativity, an important skill in a rapidly changing world.

The arts develop critical intellectual skills. The arts foster higher level of thinking. Children learn to observe, interpret, analyze and see different perspectives. Levels of thinking that carry over to other subjects as well as life situations.

The arts teach language skills. Through learning about and creating art children are developing new concepts, building vocabulary and learn a new language.

The arts teach math. The arts require measurement, number manipulation and proportional thinking, all of which enhance math learning.

The arts teach teamwork. Through the arts children learn how to work together and together they can achieve anything.

The arts provide a developing passion to learn, grow and improve.

The arts teach understanding and acceptance. Through history of art and multicultural art students learn to understand and accept the differences in cultures and people.

The arts help children say what can not be said. The arts are an expression of feelings.

Lynne Tagliaferro

How to use Deviant Art- By Luiza Malinowska

Deviant Art – Personal Gallery, Portfolio and... oh a blog too!

We all know that selling on Etsy requires a tremendous amount of self promoting. Yes, we all have our FaceBook pages, out Pinterest Boards and Tweeters (how to use that thing, anybody?).... should we get a blog too? And maybe a gallery … and so the list of useful social media sites goes on and on.

How would you feel about a social media page that can connect to your FB, Pinterest, Tweeter (again, how to use it?) that gives you unlimited space for your online gallery (drawings, sketches, photos, all in neat categories), gives you a blog space (called Journal) and A LOT of support from fellow members (we are calling ourselves 'Deviants'). Deviant Art will give you this and many, many more!
Joining is free. Find how to join and navigate here: welcome.deviantart.com/

In this article I would like to share some tips on promoting yourself on Deviant. It is quite a lot of work but as you will see the personal page format is much more friendly than FB and... yes, it will stay there exactly as you like it (nothing gets to old, nothing is going to disappear!)

Having your Etsy shop you will probably want to use the same name for your Deviant Account. You will get a neat personal homepage 'YourName.deviantart.com' You can share as much info as you like, think of your homepage as your Portfolio – your visitors may find your works divided into categories (folders), know your personal favorite works, find out about you in DeviantID and find out about your day (Journal, but if you like you may use this window for a commission info)
I encourage you to fill as much info as you can – it will make your account alive and let your visitors to know you to see you as a person, not just a salesman. You may like to place link to your shop here and there ;)

Now off to your gallery. Again, please see the welcome.deviantart.com/) on how to post images. It is pretty intuitive. Just remember to find a right category for your piece of art. If you paint silk scarfs or similar, you will probably wanna use Artisan Crafts / Textiles / Clothing
Fill your gallery with items, adding links to your shop into the comment section.

Newly added picture will attract some attention (in my experience up to 4 views) because it lands on Front page for a fraction of a second. Some ppl will give you hearts (as on Etsy) some ppl will comment on your picture. Then your picture will be visible on theirs homepages underneath the name Favorites (yes, there is a Favorites space on your homepage, so add hearts, spread the love!)
Ideally, your picture will be promoting itself... but we all know this is just a dream. Here's where the work really begins!

On Etsy there are Teams, on DeviantArt there are Groups (find the list here: groups.deviantart.com/ or, if you like, check out the Groups I'm in, there are a lot of Artisan Crafts Groups for us! You will find them at the bottom of my homepage: minkulul.deviantart.com/ ) When you select a Group, you will need to join in before posting pictures. There is Join button in every Group. Just hit it and refresh the page – often you will be accepted instantly.

Then you will find new button called 'Contribute Art' Hit it and add your picture TO THE RIGHT category!! This is vital! If you choose 'digital art' or 'fantasy' or 'bakery' for your silk scarf picture instead of 'Artisan Crafts' or variation of that name, your pic won't get into the Group folder.
The picture might be instantly accepted, but almost all Groups are moderated and you will need to wait a few days for the response (you will find it in your Feedback). Then your picture goes to every Group member feedback. Yay, so you see, if they choose to view it, you will get a lot of traffic to your pic and hopefully, to your shop!!

There are a ton of ways to be noticed on DeviantArt, but Groups seems to be working best! Please remember that on DeviantArt kindness goes a long way! If you give hearts and comment on others peoples works, you will get a feedback in return. DeviantArt seems to be an older, more artsy brother of FB and I am sure, that you will love it!

New Member Introduction: Caitlin

I'm pleased to introduce you to one of our team's newest members, Caitlin. 

"Well, I first got into silk painting and dyeing during my BVA degree in Textiles at the ANU in Canberra. I fell in love with the colours and textures that could be produced with this technique. I wouldn't say I am a traditional silk painter, I have more of a contemporary take on the technique. I had a lot of success with a collection of silk scarves I produced for my degree so decided to start a business from this producing similar products. My current scarves use silk dyeing and silk painting with manutex. I don't focus on specific designs when I am painting or dyeing. I like to see where the dyes take themselves. That's the best part not knowing the final outcome until the very end I think!"

Her SHOP