Silk Carving from the Hawaiian Symbols Series - Ho'okipa

Ho'okipa is a silk carving© and belongs to the series of Hawaiian Symbols. Each of these symbols picks one special characteristic of the Hawaiian Islands. This one, Ho'okipa, is one of them.

"Ho'okipa"

48" x 17"

silk, stitched

Who would not know about this famous beach where the world's most famous surfers have ridden the waves - huge waves! What could be a better representation for the Hawaiian islands than the beautiful ocean and its never ending surf and waves?

Here are some details of this silk carving:

Ho'okipa incorporates a technique called "silk carving©", which is a development by myself and was born out of the trapunto techniques of quilting but uses multiple layers. The intent of this technique was to create a symbiosis between carving and fiber art. The surface of the fiber was transformed completely into a relief.

The upper layer of this piece was made from one single piece of silk - nothing has been sewn on top to add depth. Additionally opaque paints were used in a manner to give the visual impression of the foam and spray that always comes along with the waves when they break.

Here are some more details:

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You can find the original silk carving in my Etsy shop here

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Silk Carving from the Hawaiian Symbols Series - Pele

Pele is a silk carving© and belongs to the series of Hawaiian Symbols. Each of these symbols picks one special characteristic of the Hawaiian Islands. This one Pele is one of them.

"Pele"

48" x 17"

silk, stitched

What could be a better representation for the fire goddess Pele than the lava she creates and what the Hawaiian islands are made of?

Here are some details of this silk carving:

Pele incorporates a technique called "silk carving©", which is a development by myself and was born out of the trapunto techniques but uses multiple layers. The intent of this technique was to create a symbiosis between carving and fiber art.
The surface of the fiber was transformed completely into a relief. The upper layer of this piece was made from one single piece of silk - nothing was sewn on top to add depth. Additionally paints and pigments were used in a manner to give the visual impression of flowing lava in all its glowing colours and the viewer is supposed to feel the heat. But it is "only" a piece of soft sculptured silk.

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You can find the original silk carving in my Etsy shop here

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Silk Paintings - Ayutthaya

This silk painting belongs to a series called "Magic Landscapes" and was part of a solo exhibition in the BoxHeart Gallery in Pittsburgh.

The painting is a triptych, painted on 3 panels and was inspired by the ancient city of Ayutthaya in Thailand.

"Ayutthaya"

40" x 39"

silk, stitched

Ayutthaya is one of those special places which emanate an aura of magic and fascination ancient sites have in common. Ayutthaya (1350 - 1767) was once the golden capital of the ancient kingdom of Siam (Thailand) - a magical city with about one million inhabitants around 1700. It was destroyed by the Burmese and finally abandoned. Bangkok became the new capital.

Today nothing is left but ruins. Only hundreds of Buddha statues, partially intact or restored, prangs (reliquary towers) and monasteries, which form the Ayutthaya historical park, create a place of great magic and belong to the UNESCO World Heritage.

Here are some additional details:

The silk is mounted on stretcher bars and gallery wrapped (stapled on the back - sides are painted). The panels are ready to be hung.

As the painting's reverse sides are protected by 2 other layer of fabric, one a very thin polyester batting and another fabric as backing stability is guaranteed. These silk paintings do not request different handling than oils or other artwork: dry environment and no direct sunlight. I have silk paintings on my walls since many years which look fresh and new as if just created. You can contact my gallery in Pittsburgh for reference.

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The original silk painting can be found in my Etsy store here

and

Fine Art Prints in various sizes on heavy cotton canvas in my second Etsy store here.

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