I am an artist who paints rigidly, uptight, and is easily absorbed in minutiae, so exercises that help me loosen up are extremely critical to my art practice.

The video and pictures below detail one such exercise using India ink and brush to create flowing, spontaneous images. The first two images are my own, the next two are from another artist who graciously has allowed me to share her work exhibiting a similar style.

​This is a bold and daring way to paint with ink. It requires the artist to relinquish some control and embrace the process as a collaboration between the artist and the supplies at hand: water, ink, paper, brush all have a say in the final work. Water most especially. 

This is also a great activity to release the mind from anxiety amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. 

Comment down below if you try this style and let me know what you think! 

Just finished a diverse series of small originals depicting some of Arizona's bird species. 20 birds were rendered in watercolor, ink, colored pencil, or silk painting, some on thick and textured watercolor paper, others on specialty papers with colored or flecked backgrounds. Below are just a few: Berylline Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, and Scott's Oriole. Stay tuned for the next art challenge! 

First scarves are exciting, but they can also be frustrating. Resist may drip, or even explode, accidentally onto fabric. Your hands may cramp and tire from squeezing resist out of bottles. Dye sneaks past resist barriers, infiltrating areas you intended for a different color. It's here the materials just might trick you into giving up. 

But silk painting is also an engaging, rewarding process. In fact, it can even be meditative, particularly while touching dye to silk, watching the flow of color as it spreads across the fabric. And the best part? Pulling scarves out of the steamer and seeing the final, vivid product.

Here are four first scarves from participants in a 3-day workshop I recently taught at The Drawing Studio in Tucson. These works are diverse in style, from the delicate to the bold, and reveal just how rewarding all those frustrating hours can be. Congratulations team! 

Silk painting is an uncommon medium and I'm often asked how I began. As an undergrad, I took an adjunct crafts class in my senior year. I wanted to take pottery, actually, but since that class was full I took the next one that sounded interesting. After less than an hour of instruction (by someone who was not a silk painter), I was left to my own devices. This turned out to be a good thing. The process of experimenting with dye and resist captivated me. I spent every spare moment in the crafts room teaching myself how to silk paint. 

Eventually, I bought my own starter kit and continued tinkering around with silk painting well after graduation. What you see today is the result of hours of trial and error. To this day I'm learning new techniques.

​Silk painting, an endlessly fascinating medium. Each day is a new discovery, and this is what keeps me hooked. 

Two of my first scarves:

Looking for an artistic scarf to add to your wardrobe? You can buy a Raebird Creations original design or commission one. Commissioning a scarf allows you to participate in the creative process. You imagine the scarf and I'll bring it into existence!

Here are a few tips for commissioning a scarf:

1. Keep the description simple. 
Too many images or requirements may result in a cluttered-looking design.  

2. Think of a color scheme.
Suggest no more than three colors. Imagine these colors side by side and choose colors that fit your aesthetic. Try using colored pencils to juxtapose different colors and see what you like. 

3. Limit specificity.
You may want a certain species of animal, flowers, or certain colors, but steer away from over-describing what the end product should like. There should be enough wiggle room for the artist to be creatively inspired and enjoy making the scarf. Some of the best scarves arise with just the right mixture of structure and spontaneity!

4. Choose a size and silk type.
You can browse here. Habotai is a light silk, less expensive, and great if you live in a hot climate. Silk satin has sheen and lustre. If you're commissioning your first scarf, habotai or silk satin are great options.

If you want a rectangular scarf, consider 11 in. x 60 in.
If you want a square scarf, 21.5 in. x 21.5 in. (or a similar size), works great for neck-wearing or for headbands. 

5. Consider the price.
A commissioned scarf can range from $65-150, depending on silk size and design. A $65 dollar scarf, for example, would be on habotai silk, 8 in. x 54 in., simple design using the serti method (the end result can look like stained glass, very beautiful). Prices rise with some of the heavier, fancier silk types, larger sizes, and more complex designs/illustration.

​Ready to order? Click here. 

Above are three examples of commissioned scarves. The possibilities are endless!