SPIN - Silk Painters International

Impressionistic Flowers Wax Layering Technique M/T

Intermediate/Advanced with Leslie Rogers Todder

This class explores a loose, painterly approach to applying dyes on silk. Students use brushy soy wax applications to retain progressive layers of color working from light to dark. The transparent quality of dyes will be used to create value and depth in rendering impressionistic and abstracted flowers. The process involves repeat steps in applying layers of color and soy wax in a gradual increase of textures and values. Wax will be ironed out from the artwork with layers of plain newsprint while the silk is still suspended and stretched on the frame. The small amount of residual wax on the silk leaves a sizing type coating that allows for additional direct application of deep dye without bleeding for detail and refinement. This is an opportunity for students to let go of control and allow for a spontaneous and unexpected result in their finished silk painting. Students may bring floral reference as inspiration for color values and composition. Students will work on a frame to allow for stretched silk from apprioximately 24"x30" for completed artwork to be displayed in a standard 22"x28" frame. This size specification may be modified depending on available studio space.

Leslie Rogers Todder has used the medium of silk painting for most of her career as a successful commercial textile print designer in New York City. Her designs have been featured in apparel from couture lines of Oscar de la Renta and Fendi to mass market womenswear of Chicos, Liz Claiborne, Terri Jon, Maggie London, Adrianna Papell and Victoria's Secret. Leslie uses silk painting and batik as a fine art medium incorporating her skills and techniques developed over her career to create wall hangings, paintings as well as handpainted, wearable art.

Leslie has experience teaching at the Alpharetta Arts Center, Alpharetta, GA, Sawnee Arts Association, Cumming, GA, Johns Creek Arts Association, John's Creek, GA, Sexton Hall, Cumming, GA, Creative Center at University Settlement, NYC, NY, Central Queens YWHA, Queens, NY, The Craft Students League, NYC, NY and the 1998 SPIN Festival.

Workshop Title	Impressionistic Flowers Wax Layering Technique -M/T- Int/Adv
Workshop Dates	10/03-04/2024
Workshop Description	Two day workshop using wax layering techniques
Materials provided	For classroom use, electric skillets to heat soy wax, irons, several tjanting tools to apply wax lines, assortment of naturall bristle brushes to apply soy wax, soy wax, primary and secondary colors of Jacquard Red Label dye, mixing cups,, sodium alginate, Frixion pens (heat erasable pens) to lightly and loosely sketch design on silk, plain newsprint for ironing wax out of silk.
Cost of materials provided	$30
What students are required to bring to workshop	frame with clips, pins, tape or mechanisms to attach silk to frame, frame sized to stretch silk size appx 24"x30" silk to fit frame- silk type is optional but at least 10mm suggested silk is satin, twill, crepe-de-chine or charmeuse references for color and composition inspiration paper towels disposable gloves water container at least quart size like cottage cheese or yogurt container watercolor and/or silk painting brushes, sizes 12-16 rounds two pints of 70% or 90% rubbing alcohol, travel iron or dedicated wax iron