Class_Descriptions

Class Descriptions

“But I’m Not Artistic . . .” New

This is a class for those who, for one reason or another, think they are not artistic.

If you think you are an Artist, don’t come. You are too intimidating.

But if you love beautiful things, and wish you could make some, come and see what happens.

We will look at some of the reasons people feel unartistic and try to lay them to rest. Then we will do some silk painting, an easy and colorful medium. No goals, no critiquing, just a chance to play around and try to discover your own way of enjoying “art”

Introduction to Silk Painting

The ABC’s of Silk Painting. Explore the simple, yet exquisite technique of painting on silk in this one-day, six-hour workshop. Learn the Serti method in which you first trace the outline of your chosen design with gutta resist. Choose a pattern from my collection, or design your own. Then touch the colors on with a brush and watch them flow, blending naturally on their own. Completing an original 22"x22" natural silk scarf or a series of smaller pieces will teach you the basic skills of design, color mixing, blending and texturing. This technique is simple enough for absolute beginners, yet is also an exciting way for more experienced painters to transfer their talents to fabric. All supplies will be provided.

Paint a Poem, Write a Rainbow: Words and Silk New

Words and pictures are two of the many ways we interpret our world. This class will give you the opportunity to create a silk painting based on writing that you cherish or admire. Amelia Bacon will guide the group in noticing connections between literature and art. Janet Lehwalder insures everyone is successful with the simple Serti silk painting technique Combining these two elements adds a new dimension to your painting or writing. A natural for book groups, journalists, and artists.
Click here for a few samples.

Circles of Silk: Creating Silk-Painted Mandala Art New

Mandalas are circular geometric designs found in cultures around the world. Paint your own on silk! Chris Brewer, Certified MARI trainer, explains the mandala, including universal symbols and colors, providing insights for creating meaningful design. Janet Lehwalder’s experience as a teaching artist insures everyone’s silk painting is successful with the simple, free-flowing Serti technique. The result is your own unique artwork to wear, display, or gift.

Advanced Silk Painting

For those who are comfortable with basic Serti (resist line) silk painting, Janet Lehwalder offers an advanced class. Learn new skills in shading, layering, and line building. Try alternative resists and fabrics. Bring a picture or design and learn to adapt it to this medium. “You’ll be amazed at the possibilities in silk painting”, says Janet. “Few people are aware of the wide range of work that is being done on silk.”

Working Small: Silk Painted Greeting Cards

In this one day workshop, we will do a series of small silk paintings and apply them to blank cards. Do your Christmas cards, paint a wonderful selection of year-round cards to send, or package a set of several to give as a gift. Both beginners and experienced painters welcome. Silk painting materials supplied. Stationery available for purchase in class. Also suitable for framing.

Kids and Family Classes

Bright, free flowing colors make silk painting a favorite art medium for young painters. Trace a design, mix some colors, paint them on, and you will have a beautiful silk painting to wear, display, or give as a special gift. Janet Lehwalder, a teaching artist for the Allied Arts Education Project, is an expert at guiding beginners. The most common comment is, ‘This was so much fun!’ Parents and grandparents are welcome to paint, too. Make this a family activity day. Designed for ages 6-12.

Quilting, Bead, and Stitchery Embellishment

The silk is beautiful. The colors are beautiful. You can’t fail to create a beautiful piece, even on your first try. This class includes both the silk painting basics and a special focus on really jazzing up your piece.

The Basics: In the Serti technique, your design is outlined with a resist. The dyes are painted on and flow together, blending naturally, until they reach the resist line. Patterns are available or you can design your own. All materials are supplied to finish a 22 x 22” scarf or pillow cover.

If you want to do more, this class’s special focus is on adding the texture of hand quilting, and embellishing your finished painting with stitchery and beading. Beginning skills and materials are provided. You can enhance the luster of your silk with even more sparkle and glow.

The open-ended format of this class makes it appropriate for both new and experienced painters.

Painting Without Lines

Sometimes you would like to paint something without resist lines as part of the design. There are several ways to do this using a variety of special products and techniques - No Flow, thickeners, line building, etc. Come and try them all. Expand your possibilities.

This class just right for those who would like to add free hand design, such as calligraphy or stamping, to their piece.

Chinese Brush Calligraphy

Guest instructor Kathy Pak will introduce the basics of Chinese Brush Calligraphy in this four hour workshop. Kathy is a master calligrapher, having painted since childhood, and is also a master teacher. Learn common strokes and characters, and also some other ancient symbols. In this class, we will work on paper. You will enjoy this class itself, and it complements the Silk and Calligraphy class offered subsequently.

Silk and Calligraphy

Kathy Pak, Master Chinese calligrapher, and Janet Lehwalder, silk painter, co-teach this class on adding Brush Calligraphy to silk. First we will paint a background, and then prepare the silk so that calligraphy characters and Chinese style birds and fish can be added. Beginners are welcome. Also a great follow up to the Zen painting and Bamboo classes offered earlier. Finished paintings are wonderful to wear, display, or give as a special gift.

Chinese Zen Painting

Taught by Master Chinese brush calligrapher Kathy Pak, this course introduces you to the usage of Chinese brush, Chinese ink, and straw paper to paint the oldest style of Chinese characters, Oracle Inscription. These ancient characters were found inscribed on bones, and used by seers to make predictions. Through these techniques and traditional Chinese music, Master Pak will encourage and teach you to use your Zen feelings to draw a pictographic painting.

Introduction to Chinese Painting - Bamboo

This course introduces the drawing of Bamboo with Chinese brush. Students will learn the techniques of using Chinese ink, painting colors, the basic strokes, and the handling of the Chinese brush on straw paper. Master Chinese calligrapher Kathy Pak will teach you to appreciate the special setting of bamboo leaves and stems.

Silk Painting for the Holidays: Gifts and Cards

Learn to paint on silk. It's simple.  The design is traced onto the silk with a resist using a pattern from my collection or yours. The dyes are then applied with a brush. They flow and blend naturally to create beautiful paintings, scarves, quilts, home decor, cards and more.

Choose your own project.

Scarves   Try a 22x22" scarf. Great for gifts. Or you can frame it, pillow it, or design a holiday banner.

Greeting Cards   Complete a series of small silk paintings and apply them to blank cards. Do your Christmas cards, paint a wonderful selection of year-round cards to send, or package a set of several to give as a gift.

For those registering 10 days ahead, a variety of items to paint may be ordered. Men’s ties, eyeglass cases, drawstring bags, jewelry, etc are examples of some of the choices.

Both beginners and experienced painters welcome. Silk painting materials supplied. Stationery available for purchase in class.