Tessa Spanton SWA Artist, tutor, writer



TESSA SPANTON SWA ARTIST, WRITER AND TUTOR

Welcome to my blog.
This is where I write about some of the things that inspire my work,
news of exhibitions and works in progress

Wednesday 31 January 2018

Watercolour Textiles Paint a Silk Scarf



Above, silk scarf hand painted using wet in wet techniques and embellished with gold.

I will be tutoring this day workshop at The Watts Gallery Artists Village at Compton near Guildford Surrey. The workshop coincides with an exhibition of Helen Allingham watercolours and includes a short talk and tour of the exhibition.

Watercolour Textiles paint a silk scarf
Watts Gallery
Friday 9 February10.30am - 4.30pm
£75 including materials
Learn the art of silk painting. Paint onto damp silk and watch the colours flow and blend. Explore the different effects which can be achieved as the silk dries by adding salt or some cut out shapes onto the silk.
The silk can be embellished with metallic gutta ( see image above) or embroidery. Leave the workshop wearing your new silk scarf!
No drawing skills or previous experience of silk painting required.
Book here




Wednesday 24 January 2018

Journey with a Handmade Book part 2


The book has now been with me approx 3000 miles, to Madeira and back.
It is small and light to carry with just a pencil and rubber and protected by a cellophane sleeve. It came with me to the beach, the cliffs, the mountains and the gardens. I used cobalt blue watercolour and a blue ink pen. I mostly drew in the book with pencil on location then painted them later back at the room. I built up the blue washes first and added the pen last as the ink is not waterproof.

I am finding it a good way of getting into daily painting. They don't take long and the process generates new ideas. 

al images (c) Tessa Spanton




 From the balcony overlooking the subtropical gardens of Vila Porto Mare


Reids Palace Hotel, Madeira

                                     
 above Sao Vicente on the North coast of Madeira, where dramatic waves roll in over rocks and black sand.




above  views from Ponta de São Lourenço




some flowers from the beautiful sutropical gardens at Vila Porto Mare

More to come in part 3.