Featured Artist : Shawn McIntyre |

Like most artists, I have always loved making things with my hands and my imagination. I love color and especially the vivid color captured in silk. I have worked with other mediums and have studied a variety of arts both in school and on my own. Art is a constant source of exploration and joy. I have been working with silk for several years and like the endless possibility it offers.

I use the French Serti technique and often dye and steam twice for greater complexity and interest. Because of health concerns, I avoid working with anything remotely toxic and have enjoyed the flexibility of the Jacquard water based resist as it can also be easily colored with dye and used in this fashion. Recently I have used the Sennelier aqua gutta (specifically silver) which can be thinned with water for a varied effect on silk. It is fun to try new things with each product and see what happens. I primarily work with a brush but have begun stamping with items I have on hand or creating stamps of my own making. I use the Jacquard Silk Green Label dyes because of their affordability and frankly their superb quality. I find them straightforward to work with, to mix together and to steam.

I have used the silk charmeuse and crepe de chine but have been quite content using the silk habotai for the majority of my pieces. I have produced many scarves for friends, and recently ordered some ties from Dharma for a nice change of pace. I have a silk tank top that's waiting for me and will probably reach its recipient this coming holiday season. I am moving more toward framed pieces and plan on ordering a bolt of habotai silk with my next order. I appreciate this community of wonderful silk artists and appreciate Dharma's support of its customers and their creative endeavors. A variety of my work can also be viewed at photobucket.com under the photobucket user: luminous velocity.

Email - happycard@hotmail.com