Stories featuring the beautiful fashions of Lynn Meek, the idyllic images of Renee Angela Filice while Ron Gutman investigates resist.

Sunflowers in Provence by
Renee Angela Filice

A Pleasant Silk Holiday
Renee Angela Filice

A cool glass of vintage wine, perfectly aged, a plump grape full of juice fresh on your tongue, and a back porch with the perfect view of a sunflower field reminding you there is no place you need to rush off to anytime soon. That is what I was looking at and longing for when I dialed Renée Angela Filice’s number on my iPhone. After exploring her website, I had a list of questions on the iPad beside me and my laptop prepared to type up everything she said. I had studied her gallery and felt my heartbeat slow. The whimsical and colorful images filling my screen transported me to the coast of California, the wine sitting on the back porch having that perfect Sangria sweetness. I tapped the green button and heard the mechanical ring.

The sweetest woman answered. Her voice reminded me of her paintings – light and bright. Immediately I could tell where her inspiration for her style came from – her nature. She uses her art as a release valve, a way to get away from her world for a bit – something I as an artist myself could relate to – and her paintings reflect this “mini-vacation.” But, I am getting ahead of myself.

To get things started, we began talking about SPIN and her involvement with the people she has met through the organization. “I really want to emphasize that I have met a wonderful group of women. We have a great group of 12 women who keep in close contact through email. When it started out we would just ask each other questions about problems we were having or things we were trying and then everybody would respond with what they do. We have
gotten together in the SPIN festival gap years to paint together and talk. It has expanded my life by knowing these people. It has been really great. We learn so much from each other.”

I asked Renée how she got into silk painting. She herself is a self-taught artist though talent apparently runs in the family. (To read more, go to Vol. 20, Issue No. 1.)

Peony by Lynn Meek

Romancing the Silk
Lynn Meek

Composing the opening statement for this article from my kitchen chair I discovered I was gazing at our Soul of Silk February calendar illustration. Salmon colored blossoms against blue gray cactus pads. An unusual color duo. Suddenly the painter’s name, Lynn Meek, jumped out at me! The woman in fact I had just interviewed. Hmm, serendipitous I think.

Lynn, a Canadian by birth, lives with hubby Jim, 90 miles east of Atlanta, Georgia by a lake and forest she describes as idyllic. With children out of the nest, about 5 years ago the Meeks built their dream studio which they share; Jim is a pastel artist.

When first we spoke, she described the following: “A military deployment ball, an embassy reception in Oman, a cruise along the Amalfi Coast, a Sting concert and a special anniversary celebration at the Plaza in New York…just a few of the magical places my silks have traveled! I’m living vicariously through my silks’ adventures. They travel more than I do!”  (To read more, go to Vol. 20, Issue No. 1.)

Ron Gutman Talks Resists

I have been using Resistad now for several months and find that I no longer reach for my familiar solvent or water based guttas. Although I do believe that all resists have their own unique properties, each serving an intended use or application, the Resistad has become my favorite. In this article I will endeavor to explain the benefits and virtues of this (what I consider revolutionary) extraordinary textile resist.

I have sometimes (jokingly) been called an art/craft supply ‘junkie’ by many of my former students! The Internet has opened the doors wide open to a plethora of information, coming from all corners of the globe. I love researching whatever medium, topic or idea I may venture into and go on cyber treasure hunts looking for articles, photos, materials/supplies and the like. There is much fun and excitement to be had with discovery and I really enjoy new ‘toys’…especially the art supply kind! I guess it’s just that kid in me and yes, when I grow up…I want to be young!

When I decided once again to take a brush to silk after exploring many other mediums, I found myself surfing the web nightly (sometimes even into the wee hours of the morning…yawn!) to find out all I could on this most fascinating Art of Silk Painting. In my nightly excursions I happened to spot a blurb/blog post concerning an interesting item called Resistad…wow!, a new (to me) art supply.  (To read more, go to Vol. 20, Issue No. 1.)