Mixed Medium Pieces

For me, sculpture, drawing, oil, silk, watercolor and acrylic are “pure” mediums. Each medium takes years of practice to become adept at.

So what about mixed media pieces here at ol Niris Studio? Well, sometimes I just have to pile, shove, glue, stack and jam stuff together. The piece either calls for it or I just have fun doing it. Mixed media is vipity!

Silk Painting

Silk painting is, by far, the most difficult medium I work in. I started painting on silk shortly after leaving my career in fashion. I’m a fashion and fabric junkie. Painting on fabric is fascinating and challenging. I use the Gutta Serti Method. Gutta is a rubber based resist and is used with dyes and paints. When the brush touches the silk it feels like painting on a baby’s skin. It is a very soft and addictive medium. The dye rapidly travels over the silk until it hits the gutta and stops abruptly. It is exciting to watch every time.

I met my remarkable mentor, Mara Parent, almost two decades ago. I owe my career to Mara who believed in me from day one. We are friends to this day.

Niris