SPIN - Silk Painters International

Title: Don’t Toss That Silk: Turn Your Stash Into Art TH/F

Instructor: Muffy Clark Gill

www.muffyclarkgill.com

Description: Do you have a collection of beautifully dyed silk remnants you’ve been saving for just the right project? This hands-on workshop invites you to breathe new life into those pieces by transforming them into expressive, mixed media artwork.What you’ll create: Over the course of two days, you'll work on a 20" x 16" stretched canvas (or similarly sized cradled panel), incorporating your own silk remnants using a variety of techniques. You'll experiment with composition, layering, and color to create a unique, finished piece of wall art. Each participant’s work will reflect their personal vision—no two pieces will be alike.

Throughout the workshop, we’ll explore techniques for:

- Integrating silk textures into mixed media compositions

- Using layering and color to create visual impact- Developing depth and dimensionality on canvas

- Working with nontraditional shapes and materials

- Problem-solving during the creative process

We’ll work in a welcoming, collaborative space where experimentation is encouraged. This is a chance to explore ideas, take creative risks, and develop new approaches to materials you already love. Expect engaging conversations, supportive feedback, and plenty of hands-on time with your art.By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a completed piece of artwork that reflects your personal journey—and new techniques you can continue to explore in your studio.

Materials Provided:

Materials Fee:

Students should bring:

Please bring the following materials to class:
- Dyed silk remnants (any size, any color—we’ll work with what you have)- Scissors, Tracing paper, A few favorite photos or printed images for inspiration,Matte medium (any brand, 32 oz recommended), Glue stick Masking or blue painter’s tape, Charcoal stick or 6B pencil, Exacto knife with extra blades and cutting mat (optional), China bristle brushes (1" or 2" flat, and one round tip brush), Yogurt container or small jar for brush cleaning
- Your creativity and curiosity

Workshop Title	Don't Toss That Silk: Turn Your Stash Into Art
Workshop Dates	9/24-25, 2026
Workshop Description	Do you have a collection of beautifully dyed silk remnants you’ve been saving for just the right project? This hands-on workshop invites you to breathe new life into those pieces by transforming them into expressive, mixed media artwork.What you’ll create: Over the course of two days, you'll work on a 20" x 16" stretched canvas (or similarly sized cradled panel), incorporating your own silk remnants using a variety of techniques. You'll experiment with composition, layering, and color to create a unique, finished piece of wall art. Each participant’s work will reflect their personal vision—no two pieces will be alike. Throughout the workshop, we’ll explore techniques for:- Integrating silk textures into mixed media compositions- Using layering and color to create visual impact- Developing depth and dimensionality on canvas- Working with nontraditional shapes and materials- Problem-solving during the creative processWe’ll work in a welcoming, collaborative space where experimentation is encouraged. This is a chance to explore ideas, take creative risks, and develop new approaches to materials you already love. Expect engaging conversations, supportive feedback, and plenty of hands-on time with your art.By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a completed piece of artwork that reflects your personal journey—and new techniques you can continue to explore in your studio.
Materials Provided
Materials Fee
Students Should Bring	Dyed silk remnants (any size, any color—we’ll work with what you have)- Scissors, Tracing paper, A few favorite photos or printed images for inspiration,Matte medium (any brand, 32 oz recommended), Glue stick Masking or blue painter’s tape, Charcoal stick or 6B pencil, Exacto knife with extra blades and cutting mat (optional), China bristle brushes (1" or 2" flat, and one round tip brush), Yogurt container or small jar for brush cleaning

Instructor’s Bio:

Muffy Clark Gill is an award-winning visual artist and master silk painter specializing in the batik process for nearly five decades. Her passion for batik began during a high school trip to Uganda, where she was captivated by the technique’s expressive beauty. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Boston University and has studied under respected textile artists including Kiranada Sterling Benjamin, John Marshall, Bryan Whitehead, and Jane Dunnewold. Muffy’s work has been exhibited throughout Florida and nationally, and is held in the permanent collections of institutions such as Florida Gulf Coast University, the Florida Secretary of State, and the Marco Island Historical Museum. She currently serves on the board of Silk Painters International and is Vice President of Exhibitions for the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Women Artists. Muffy lives and works in Naples, Florida, where she shares her island-style home with her husband, a dog, and a cat.