While on a Greek Island holiday I discovered French dyes and learned the art of silk painting, which was available at the hotel as a recreation.
I am a fine artist,with the energy to share my craft with others, that love silk painting. Iam passionate about life drawing, with live models.
I live in Johannesburg South Africa.
In 1982,with a surge of creative energy doors were opened to a whole new form of expression on returning to South from a holiday on the Greek Islands.
I brought back striking silk paintingswhich Ihad done there, and was invited to exhibit at the Johannesburg Everard Read Gallery .
I do believe that I am the first silk painting artist and silk art teacher to exhibit in South Africa. I was astonished that something I loved so much could be so successful, and I embraced this unusual medium with new found boldness.
I teach the various techniques of applying the dyes to the silk and receive commisions for silk paintings, and oil on canvass. My techniques of silk painting have enriched many people over the years.
Contact: gailjosselsohn@gmail.com Mobile +27 82 888 4200:
To purchase ,silk painting kits ,silk scarfs ,and to attend silk painting workshops
South Africa Painting Vacation
While silk painting has always been popular in Europe ,I found that there has been very limited infomation on the silk painting techniques.
I began experimenting on a trial and error basis, by mixing ICI procion dyes with sea-weed (agar-agar)which thickens the silk dye and prevents the capillary flow( running ) of the silk paint(dye) on the silk
.Manutex or agar-agar is now used for this purpose.
I have painted many Ethnic themes on beautifully rolled edge silk scarves.
I have always been inspired Gustav Klimpt great art.
"Mbuntu" (Humanity),based on Gustav is my favourite painting ......... "African mother and child (,SEE LATER IN BLOG)
"The above silk painting is called "Beauty of Africa".
I exhibited silk painted lengths in London in 1969.These silk paintings were bought by well known English and Italian fabric houses.
I began experimenting on a trial and error basis, by mixing ICI procion dyes with sea-weed (agar-agar)which thickens the silk dye and prevents the capillary flow( running ) of the silk paint(dye) on the silk
.Manutex or agar-agar is now used for this purpose.
I have painted many Ethnic themes on beautifully rolled edge silk scarves.
I have always been inspired Gustav Klimpt great art.
"Mbuntu" (Humanity),based on Gustav is my favourite painting ......... "African mother and child (,SEE LATER IN BLOG)
"The above silk painting is called "Beauty of Africa".
I exhibited silk painted lengths in London in 1969.These silk paintings were bought by well known English and Italian fabric houses.
My SILK Painting
I paint on silk with Dupont liquid dyes that have already been prepared for the use on silk.They present the least hazard to health,of all the dyes and they produce amazing transluscent glowing colours on the shiny silk.If used undiluted,the dyes can result in a brilliance of colour ,quite unlike that produced by any other media.
These silk paints (dyes)can be diluted with water to produce any tone and are intermixable,
the dyes spread or bleed on the silk fabric.This can be contained by using a binder(manutex or) gutta.
Gutta can be applied from a nozzled tube like a pen and acts as a resist line or border which will stop the dye colour from running uncotrolled on the fabric when applied,The clear gutta will wash out afterwards leaving the silk clear in the areas where the gutta had been applied.
I paint on silk with Dupont liquid dyes that have already been prepared for the use on silk.They present the least hazard to health,of all the dyes and they produce amazing transluscent glowing colours on the shiny silk.If used undiluted,the dyes can result in a brilliance of colour ,quite unlike that produced by any other media.
These silk paints (dyes)can be diluted with water to produce any tone and are intermixable,
the dyes spread or bleed on the silk fabric.This can be contained by using a binder(manutex or) gutta.
Gutta can be applied from a nozzled tube like a pen and acts as a resist line or border which will stop the dye colour from running uncotrolled on the fabric when applied,The clear gutta will wash out afterwards leaving the silk clear in the areas where the gutta had been applied.