The handbag has a hand painted silk crepe de chine front, with a cotton back.

Painting on Silk is a 'direct' method as it is not easy to remove dye or gutta once it is applied. I decide what I am going to do and how I'm going to do it beforeI put any gutta or colour onto the silk. In this way I can work confidently and purposefully to complete my task before the dye dries. My silk painting method is to first stretch a piece of silk on a frame, so the workable [paintable] area is suspended in mid air - apply the gutta [outliner] of image - let it dry - paint, watching the dye spread on the silk, and manipulating the dye with a brush - let dry - fix, heat by ironing - wash the piece of silk - iron Ð and finally make the finished painted silk into an item of art.

I was working for myself as a designer dressmaker, specialising in silk wedding dresses, when I became enthralled with the beauty of silk. I am now a self taught 'Painter of Silk', painting scarves, ties, pictures, greetings cards, bookmarks, cushions, key rings, brooches, purses and handbags - visit my website to see more examples www.artonsilk.co.uk
I am a member of The Craft Guild of West Lancashire www.craftguildwestlancs.co.uk