Workshop Title: Abstract Flow: Color Mixing Meets Silk Design

Instructor: Laura Fox Wallis

www.rootedexpressions.com

Rootedexpressions@gmail.com

Workshop Description: Discover the joy of combining intentional color mixing with bold abstract design in this immersive silk painting workshop. Over two full days (6 hours each), you’ll build the skills to create one-of-a-kind hand-painted silk scarves that blend harmony, movement, and personal expression.We’ll begin with the foundations of color theory, creating your own double color wheel and exploring value, intensity, and color harmonies.

You’ll gain the confidence to mix both vibrant and subtle hues, understanding how each choice can impact depth, balance, and mood.Next, you’ll learn how to use a viewfinder to isolate and crop shapes from magazine images, transforming them into non-representational abstract compositions.

This process will help you see design possibilities everywhere and translate them into dynamic scarf layouts.To bring your design to life, I’ll demonstrate nine different texture techniques for silk, from delicate surface effects to bold, energetic patterns. You’ll then choose your type of silk, silk dye, and resist method, applying the techniques and colors that inspire you most.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with:

• A custom double color wheel and color swatches you’ve created

• Your abstract composition templates for future designs

• The knowledge and techniques to create more scarves on your own

 This workshop is perfect for all levels—whether you’re a first-time silk painter or an experienced artist looking to expand your skills in color and design.

Materials Provided: 

• Handout with templates, glossary, and viewfinder designs

• Transparency Film 

• Extra Well Palettes 

• Masking Tape 

• Water Cups

• Paper Towels 

• Blow Dryer 

• Jacquard Silk Dyes 

Materials Fee: $15 - Every Participant 

Optional $35 - For those who may have an issue bringing a lot of materials due to travel, I will create a set of materials needed to “rent” for a fee of $35.

Please Bring:

• 30x30” silk scarf OR 8 11x11” silk scarves

• Artist choice on silk type, I will be using Habotai 8mm

• Resist for templates and painting 

• Artist choice on resist, Ex. Resistad, Pebeo, marker, etc. 

• Materials to stretch chosen silk 

• Artist choice, Ex.PVC pipe frame, wood frame, freezer paper, etc. 

• Don’t forget the hooks or pins to attach! 

• Scissors

• 12” Ruler 

• Assorted small to medium brushes 

• Palette - 10 Well Paint Palettes are perfect for this! 

• Eye dropper(s)

• Pencil

• Small containers with lids to store mixed colors 

• Black Ultra Fine Point Sharpie

• 2-3 Magazines 

• The best are home design, fashion design, and National Geographic. The gossip magazines like People, are not great for this exercise. We will not be cutting them up, just looking for inspiration photos.  

• If you can’t source any, I will have some on hand 

• Paper and writing utensils for note taking  

Instructor Bio: Laura Fox-Wallis, fiber artist and art educator based in Austin, TX, embarked on her journey into silk painting in 2004, discovering a profound connection with the fluid movement and vibrant colors of the dye. Using medium-weight Habotai silk, steam-fixed silk dyes, combining both free-flow and stop-flow techniques, Laura skillfully layers color to craft captivating forms and textures, even embracing missteps as intriguing design elements that surpass the original concept.

Laura's talent and artistry have garnered recognition in numerous local, national, and international exhibitions, solidifying her status as a renowned silk painter. In 2020, she received the prestigious Master Silk Painter (MSP) award from Silk Painters International (SPIN), an organization of silk artists, educators, and practitioners. This esteemed title is a testament to Laura's exceptional skills, creativity, and expertise in working with silk and dyes, design, and color. It is a lifelong honor, bestowed upon outstanding silk artists.