Silk Paintings by Robi Craig

Robi's Art

Occasionally one encounters an artist with a freshness of vision, one who takes sheer joy in the natural world. Robi Craig is such an artist. With the sea and its tropical surroundings as inspiration, she creates bright, bold paintings using French dyes on silk fabric. In Robi’s vibrant world we find leaping dolphins, exotic flowers, seashells, tropical fish, seahorses and a wealth of Persian-like design motifs elaborately woven into a celebration of the natural.

The Process

The silk painting process encompasses the practice of the ancient art form called “Serti” which is hand painting on pure silk fabric. Similar to Batik, this fine art technique was used in ancient cultures to create the silk screens, paintings and ceremonial kimonos you see in museums today.

Robi begins with a pure white piece of the finest silk and stretches it as a painter does a canvas. Next, she applies outlines of the objects in her designs using “gutta serti”, a wax-like fluid that is applied with a special needle-tipped bottle. The gutta penetrates the silk, dries and creates a barrier. The outlined areas are then painted to create the work of art.

Rather than using paint, Robi incorporates vibrant dyes imported from France. She hand paints onto the silk using a variety of brushes and techniques. The painting process is very similar to watercolor painting with the blends and flows creating beautiful mixtures of color. Once the dyes have dried, the silk is rolled and steamed at a high temperature to “set” the special dyes. The steaming creates the vibrant colors evidenced in the final product.

             Sample Gallery...over 50 images available

      Regal Beauty

     Sunrise Blooms

       Native Diver

           Andy's Cove


Address

123 Avenida San Pablo
San Clemente, CA, 92672, US