Artist Statement :: Influences & Exhibitions :: Juried shows

Artist Statement

From childhood to womanhood, I have painted. Since I traded in my Jamaican wood roses and orchids for the flowers and landscapes of my North American home, I have painted. In the early beginnings, I painted with watercolors and pastels across paper until I found my way to the exquisite challenges of painting on silk.

Recently, returning to my childhood teachings, I've created handpainted silk landscape collages combined with silk ribbon embroidery to further extend my reach into the medium. I work from photographs or sketches I've made of real, or imaginary scenes. I chose my fabrics from those I've painted, and sometimes use commercial materials. Found objects play a part, too, as well as components from discarded computers.

The fluid surface of the silk dares me to play with its shifting textures. The fibers hold and release the tropical colors of my childhood in their own quixotic alchemy. From the sheer transparency of silk chiffon to the deeply-plied silk charmeuse, each fabric takes the precious French dyes from my brush like a willful child.

Once you've touched your brush to the silk, you are committed. Whether it is a wall hanging or scarf, a cape or a one-of-a-kind dress, there is no changing your mind, no backtracking. Brush, dye, silk . . . the path is unforgiving. But this immediacy allows me to flow with the moment, be completely present. An error becomes another choice, a different commitment, another path to walk. An initial vision, which at first seems to be mine, becomes its own master. Join me on my journey of discovery!

A note about artwear: This clothing is no longer 'out on the edge' and is now accepted by mainstream fashion. As I create garments, I do so with an eye to their wearability and longevity. Classic shapes never go out of fashion, are always elegant, and are expressions of individuality and personal taste. Commissions for custom ensembles and scarves are welcomed.

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Influences and Exhibitions

• Certificates of Achievement from the Royal Drawing Society, London, England
• Senior Cambridge University honors certificate in Art
• Alameda Bank, Alameda, CA gallery exhibition
• 595 Market Street, San Francisco, gallery exhibition
• Award winner, SE Wyoming fine art show, four years
• Wyoming Arts Council shows: My Back Yard and All Dressed Up
• Phippen Museum, Western Threards 2003
• Northern Colorado Weavers Fiberarts show
• Featured artist, The Best of Silk Painting by Diane Tuckman and Jan Janas.
• Surface Design Association representative for the state of Wyoming
• Member, Silk Painters Guilds, USA and United Kingdom
• Former member, Colorado Chapter, Professional Association of Custom Clothiers, juried in art wear and French heirloom sewing
• Member at large, Embroiderers Guild of America, juried into Fiber Forum, 2004
• Member, Embroiderers Guild of UK
• Member, Art Asociation of Jackson, WY
• Member, Textile Center of Minnesota
• Member, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden, CO
• Member, Front Range Contemporary Quilters
• Member, Handweavers Guild of Boulder
• Member, Gilpin County, CO Art Association
  
   

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Juried shows:

• Cross Currents, an exhibition of contemporary art, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• Eleventh Annual Exhibit of Fine Art by Women, Woman's Work, Woodstock, Illinois, honorable mention
• Art West Open, Jackson, Wyoming 
• Platte Valley, WY Arts Council Art Show 
• First place, hand painted custom silk ensemble, 1999 International Fashion Show, Fiesta en Santa Fe
• Participant Artwear 1999, 2002, 2006 Fort Collins, Colorado
• Silk Painters International fine silk art show, National Academy of Science, Washington, DC, Summer 2000
• Silk Painters International juried fashion show 2000, 2002, 2004
• Silk Painters International fine silk art show, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, Summer 2002, Santa Fe, Summer 2004
• Lines into Shapes, Art Center of Estes Park, CO 2003, 2005, 2006
• Textile Center of Minnesota wearable art runway show, 2005
• Northern Colorado Artist Assoc. national juried show, 2002, 2004 (Janie O. Smith Memorial Award), 2005
• Gilpin County, CO Arts Association 2005, 2006 season show (first place fiber, 2006)
• Atlanta, GA Orchid Society show 2004 (silk banner)
• UK Silk Painters Guild 2005 (silk banner)
• Governor's Art Show, Cheyenne, WY 2005
• Steamboat Springs, various shows
• National Capital Orchid Society 2005; First place, textiles.

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