Sealing Spirals and Other Shapes with Painted Edge- The Wild Spiral M/T

Instructor: Margaret Agner

margaretagner@gmail.com

Painting silk with pigments to avoid the need to steam, to make scarves and wall hangings finished unconventionally by outlining with fabric paint.  Painting can be done on the usual stretchers, or pinned into a PIN surface over plastic to dry, which can cause a rich unpredictable texture in the underpainting to guide the next steps in the design. I provide the 26” foam tiles needed by the SPIRAL SCARF design. Suspended is always superior, but pin-table can be so convenient. Outline pre-dyed lengths from home, or color the silk with pigments (no steaming in this workshop) while focusing on the final shape with its outlined cuts.  Embellish with stamping or drawing, keeping DRAPE of the final scarf in mind.  Final heat setting is done after the paint not just dries but hardens (cures). Cutting is done with roller blade and mat, finished with hand scissor cutting.  

Objectives: to design and paint silk pieces that are non-traditionally shaped: escaping the tyranny of the rectangle by drawing or painting a narrow, thickened paint outline around the wall hanging or scarf design that seals the edge like a hem.  Escaping, too, the need to frame wall pieces.  One hem at the top allows the silk to hang free like true textile. Staying flexible and open to surprise.  

This workshop will emphasize the traditional long scarf, spending all the time you want on the design, using tube resist if desired, perhaps even the shibori option before outlining.  

Materials Provided: silk, fabric paint, fabric medium, stretchers and foam board, newsprint for sketching, plastic for creating texture.

Materials Fee:$25

Please Bring: materials for designing, scissors, brushes, sketch paper, stretchers and pin boards if possible, straight pins, pallet, optional embellishments like stamps and inktense pencils, masking tape and a black sharpie. You may also bring predyed silk to outline.

Instructor’s Bio: Athens artist Margaret Agner received her BFA in Painting at LSU

 In 1974. She then learned fabric dyeing and surface design through books, seminars and workshops. She now teaches silk, and drawing workshops occasionally. Margaret produces silk banners, wearables and art quilts in addition to paintings and pastels in her home studio.

Margaret is a member of Piedmont Craftsmen Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC, Athens Art Association, Fibercraft Guild, Athens Plein Aire Painters, American Craft Council, Southeast Fiber Art Alliance, and Silk Painter’s International. 

Margaret has designed liturgical cloths and paraments for churches and clergy. She was the featured artist at Piedmont Craftsmen Inc. in April 2007, July 2013, and May 2019, painting butterflies and moths entitled “Lepidoptera” in Silk. Her most recent one-woman exhibits were at the GA State Botanical Garden 2023 coinciding with Insectival, and local venues Aurum , Studios, Just Pho and Athens Library 2025.