Don't you just love them? They are like little fluttering ray of sunshine on a gloomy winter day.
I was asked to paint a Tit Birds scarf and here's how it turned out!
I added some red berries to spice up the color set for this scarves. I like all blue scarfs, but a dash of yellow and a bit of red makes it pop (I hope!)
This silk scarf was painted... well, on a whim, really! I just wanted so badly to make it and the design finally became crystal clear in my mind, so I took a week of my normal chores and painted it!
Here we go with some more pictures. Those were taken at my studio, so inside. Can you tell how silk shimmers and how it can change its tones and shades? This is so amazing to see this transformation: depend on the light type, you have a bit different scarf every time!
And here we have some pictures from the painting process. As I said, this one took me A WEEK!Why? Well, can you see all the scales on both dragons? Yay, it was almost like meditation with a brush!
Painting the Dancing Dragon silk scarf
The Dancing Dragon - painting outlines for the design on silk scarf
One of my biggest and boldest creations: the Firebird feathers creating pattern of wings I call Firebird's. Let me show you in a few steps how it was painted!
Painting the Firebird Wings scarf - colorless outline
In March I have designed and then painted the Firebird Wings.
Painting the Firebird Wings scarf - the centre piece
You can see all the colors used, the scarf was to big for me to keep paints on the table.
Silk scarf Firebird Wings without the outlines. You can find this one on ETSY.
Painting the outline - red and burgundy contours
Recently, I decided to add outlines to the design, to make the feathers pop!
If you are interested in how was it painted, take a look at some of my WIP photos!
Painting process and the Stained Glass technique
First - the design!
As stained glass windows are always build of smaller panels to make them more durable, I decide to divide my scarf in two squares and one rectangle (in the middle).
I decided to paint hummingbirds with pink hibiscus flowers on square panels. I had to make the colibri quite because I wanted them to stand out as accents among flowers.
The panel in the middle with hibiscus flowers I decided to paint life - size, to add variations to the design.
Blue background and purple - turquoise hummingbird.
Pink Hibiscus flowers and black outline.
Adding black outline after washing out the gutta.
Painting process taking a bit! All the lines have to be painted.
I adore all things in shades of purple, lila and violet... it is a shame that this particular color won't go well with my complexion.
If I could I would wear only purple ;) but hey, what can you do? (I am an Real Autumn gilr, have you heard about 4 Season Color Analysis? That's really helpful when trying to find right color set for your clothes)
Still, I love painting purple scarfs and as lilacs are my fav flowers, there have been A LOT of Lilac scarves at my workshop lately!
Purple scarfs
I call this one "Synthetic Lilac" as this one has less details drawn with white contour but lots of play with shades and splashes of water.
This one is called "Bouquet of Lilacs", flowers are tied with white ribbon. It's a neck scarf (128 x 28 cm) and painted in very dark purple - eggplant color set.
And finally the Wisteria scarf, if you are overwhelmed with Lilac (can you have enough of those? I doubt it!) Painted on Habotai Medium natural silk, which drapes gorgeously and is not transparent.
Wisteria silk scarf hand painted and then... drawn! On ETSY here!
Bright green with purple and white makes the Wisteria scarf!
The painting process of Lilac scarf
As I really like the pics of WIP (Work In Progress) here are some photos! Took with phone camera, so the colors are a bit off, moreover it was photographed at night... so beware!
Early this year I had learned about the Pink Pussyhat Project in US.
It is a amazing how people can get together to make change and fight for their rights. As I fully support the movement I decide to paint a scarf commemorating Women March on Washington.
Recently I was contacted by a wonderful silk artist and silk painting teacher Petrouchka Moise. She asked me for a permission to use the Pink Pussyhat Girls scarf as a pattern for her class. I was over the moon!
Here's a link for the amazing MooiLabsevent that was organized by Petrouchka.
And here are some photos from the silk painting class! WOW!
I was trying to get a watercolor style and feel to the painting, as
watercolors was the medium of choice of the era. Still, I know none of
the Bennet sister painted :P
The design
I have painted them in cameo style, profiles decorated with flowers (Lizzy) and leafs (Darcy).
She is bright and lively, hence greens and colors of spring.
He is calm and quiet, therefore blues and dark greens.
In the middle of the scarf there is a title 'Pride and Prejudice' painted with fancy letters and multi-colored background.
Painting
I must say it took some time! I really enjoyed this work, but I have stayed up too late and I was to tired the next day... still, it was worth it! Thankfully, we have coffee.
It was a two day process, but on the second day I only did the 'outlines' - contours to the characters. If you like to see my process, check out this entry on painting the Peacock scarf.
“A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of”
―
Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice - the amazing story
I have fallen in love (like so many before me) with the gorgeous characters and dialogues in this amazing book of Jane Austen. This is - for me - one of the best titles I have even read and... watched.
First - the book
I read it in Polish several times, before I was ready to try the original version. The language is quite difficult for a foreigner, but it is sooo worthwhile, just to sit with the google translator on your phone and go thru the book in English! And the story... oh this is obvious, isn't it? Great love, fantastic female characters! I think I am much like Charlotte Lucas, but fortunately, I've found mysefl a great hubby, :D
Next - the BBC miniseries
I did not start with the book, to tell you the truth. I started with the BBC series with Collin Firth starring as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth. It is very close to the original (with all the dialogues) and it is simply a great piece of TV drama.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries
Hey, I think you can easily find it on Youtube! :)
Then - the movie
Nooo... I mean, it's not to bad... but compared to the BBC production... I mean, just nooo... Ok, to tell you the truth, the 2005 movie with Keira Knightley is much more dynamic and dramatic than the BBC series, and in this sense it is more modern... but it lacks of a certain calmness, patience and brightness of the BBC series and the book. For me, it is to much changed, maybe not the story, but the general feel to it.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (nooo!) in 2005 Pride and Prejudice the movie
Next - fun mentions
In the pop-culture there are so many! My favorite is from the Big Bang Theory season 7 episode 4 The Raiders Minimalization, when Sheldon tries to destroy Pride and Prejudice for Amy. Short but sweet :)
Recently, I have heard almost a quote from the Pride and Prejudice in the second series of the Poldark history romance drama (the one "He is a gentleman and I am a gentleman's daughter).
Highly recommended, too!
Finally - Pride and Prejudice... and Zombies
Yes, it did happen.
First as a book - wouldn't recommend it. Then - as a PRETTY GOOD movie! Wow, I mean, wow! You might think this will be a total BS but it really works! Thanks to great acting, the Darcy's first proposal scene is just a masterpiece.
But you have to be OK with zombies, because there will be a lot!
Here's the trailer for you. Gross but in the end very satisfying movie! :D
Ok, and why I am writing about Pride and Prejudice? Just to give you the taste of inspirations for my new scarf. It is half done, with gutta outline ready... and hopefully I will paint it in a few days.
So, yay for the Pride and Prejudice ... and silk scarfs ;)
