Featured Artist : Richard LewisThe Silk Worm

Since I was a teenager living in rural Florida, I have been interested in fabric decoration and design. I purchased my first book on fabric printing and dying, in 1975.  Since that time my collection of books has grown into a sizable library.  I have approximately 40 books on fabric decoration and painting.  Many of my books have been purchased from Dharma Trading Company. 

I am a fiber artist creating unique items of wearable art.  I have no formal art training, but have spent many hours reading, studying and trying the different techniques employed by the gifted artists who have so graciously shared their knowledge with others.  

I started silk painting as a hobby and as a means of stress release from my “day job” as a social worker for the state of Texas.  The “hobby” soon took on a life of its own and now that I have retired, it is an all consuming passion.  I am fortunate enough to have a wife who allows me to indulge my “habit” and allowed me to purchase a Vertical Electric Steamer, from Dharma Trading, in order to reduce the time factor in creating the wearable art.  I use both Procion MX and acid dye in my work. 

My first attempts at fabric decoration were less that stellar, but I have enjoyed dyeing all types of fabrics, especially silk (which I purchase from Dharma Trading), and have enjoyed every mistake along the way.  The mistakes have often led to some new and very interesting ideas. 

My specialty is hand dyed silk.   I currently am working with silk habotai scarves which I purchased from Dharma Trading. I follow no set rules for creating the designs. I follow the path of “What If” when I begin a design.  I allow each design to develop its own uniqueness.  I may use a single technique or a combination of techniques to create the wearable art.  Some of the techniques that I employ are: water color, screen printing, block printing, direct application, alcohol, salt, thickened dye, shibori, vat dyeing, French Serti and deconstructed screen printing.  

As no two people are alike, no two designs are alike.  I only create unique items of wearable art.  I may create several in a series, but no two items are identical.  I believe that unique items of wearable art are more complimentary than mass produced items.  Enjoy my designs.  Wear them in confidence, knowing that they are as unique as the wearer.