ARTIST STATEMENT

I lived and traveled in many places in this world, camera in hand and that includes Egypt, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Venezuela, Argentina, Belize, El Salvador, Mexico, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea.

Born in Egypt, I escaped to France then came to America. Wherever I lived and traveled I was constantly exposed to the arts, in all forms. This is probably the reason I am schizophrenic about my art. I am a photographer and some of my photographs are printed on silk. I am also a silk artist, silk is my canvas of choice and I am a textile artist as well. Whatever I do is informed by the other mediums I am involved in.

Due to my longtime involvement with silk, as explained below, it was a simple leap, using the new technology available to print my most brilliant photographs on silk. The combination is very exciting.

“In my travels I found a plethora of exotic plants, settings, environments that disorient and yet breathe the everyday.
Striving to push the limitations of photography, I query: How to reconcile a still image with my striving for drama? How to pursue a fleeting image, a mood, a look? And what about the unusual, the odd, the quirky?
My subjects lurk and wait everywhere and they can be anything; things breathing and living; people, inanimate objects. Florals, water plants, trees and rocks figure very prominently in my work because they reflect my long held passion for nature, for textures for colors.
People: a special angle, a tilt of the head, an unusual pose. Each may spell my call to action.
Shapes and abstractions may at first blush appear more static. But they live in light and shadows, in volume and textures.
My approach is usually eclectic, I often try to catch the instant and bemoan a lost opportunity.
I enjoy experimenting with composition. I try to manipulate motifs; I re-shoot repeatedly, reworking images with shifts and growth, with changes in mood and light.
As I am confronted by several images of interest, this has led me to pursue many series in multiples and in depth.

With photography I seek to connect and to share, to prod and to explore. I invite the viewer to take a second look and share a stretch of the road”.

SILK ART

“Every time I apply brush to silk my heart skips a beat! Silk painting offers a palette of endless possibilities”.

In 1978, I founded a company to import silk painting products from France, thus helping to launch and popularize the art form in America.

My involvement in the art world, silk painting in particular, is long standing. I founded SPIN (Silk Painters International), a non-profit organization, in order to promote this art form and was the executive director until my retirement last year. In this capacity I organized several international conferences and curated art exhibitions.

I am heavily involved in teaching the art of silk painting. Please note that I teach in English as well as French.
Since then I have taught and demonstrated silk painting extensively in a variety of venues: trade shows, conventions, in my studio, hands-on demonstrations, colleges and children’s programs.

With Jan Janas, I co-authored three books on the art of silk painting: The Complete Book of Silk Painting, Creative Silk Painting, and The Best of Silk Painting, published by North Light. We now have a contract do write a fourth book.

Inspiration lurks in everyday shapes and abstractions so my approach remains eclectic. Visual illusion springs from experimentation with composition and the manipulation of motifs through the layering of diverse silk fabrics. I am currently working on producing large silk panels.
The hallmark of my silk work spells ‘Textures and Color’. To see this art form is to appreciate it. For visuals please view my website www.iteachsilkart.com