Local Artist Profile :
Mandy Southan
Textile artist - and this month’s cover-artist - tells us about her current research project into Japanese silk painting techniques, her new book and why she loves Hastings.
by Jenny Southan
What is your background?
I did my degree at Ravensbourne College of Art many years ago. I came upon silk painting in my third year and was fascinated by it, but there was no information on it then, so I had to teach myself. Now I‘m president of the Guild of Silk Painters.
Why silk painting?
I think it is because of the colours. You can get amazingly vibrant colours and it combines my love of textiles with my love of painting.
What inspires you?
Natural form and pattern - plants, flowers, the sea… I love the Mediterranean and the strong colours and light you get in that part of the world.
What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on a combination of Japanese resist techniques known as shibori and rozome. Shibori is a sophisticated method of tie-dyeing which includes clamping, pleating and stitching to compress the cloth in a number of different ways before dyeing it. It's basically a resist technique. The compression of the cloth prevents the dye from penetrating so you get wonderful patterns. Rozome is another resist technique, which again is highly developed in Japan. It is a method by which hot wax and dyes are applied to the silk in successive layers. It employs controlled brush dyeing called bokashi which creates very luminous effects through tonal blending and gradated colour.
And you’re also working on your fifth book?
Yes it's a Beginners Guide to Shibori which will be published summer 2008. It will be a comprehensive guide to a number of different methods. It's involving a lot of research work. I recently went to Kyoto which was the most incredible experience for me because it is the heart of the kimono making industry and where the tradition of silk painting originates. |
