Karen Selk
Smoke Bush, 2022
Botanicals printed on Bombyx silk fabric, silk threads 25" x 19"
All flora holds the perfect mixture of science, magic and beauty. With minerals, tannins and alchemy I endeavor to coax the spirit of plants onto silk cloth, releasing their own pigments, no dyes are used. Botanicals are laid on treated cloth, rolled tightly around a dowel, bound with a cord and steamed to release the plants juices, creating a light fast print. The printed silk cloth is fused onto silk fusion creating a backing. Handstitching embellishes the work
Karen Selk
Tulip and Tobacco Vine, 2024
Botanicals printed on eri silk fabric, circula cocoons, silk threads 51" x 17"
All flora holds the perfect mixture of science, magic and beauty. With minerals, tannins and alchemy I endeavor to coax the spirit of plants onto silk cloth, releasing their own pigments, no dyes are used. Botanicals are laid on treated cloth, rolled tightly around a dowel, bound with a cord and steamed to release the plants juices, creating a light fast print. The printed silk cloth is fused onto silk fusion creating a backing. Handstitching embellishes the work and flattened Circula silk cocoons from Indonesia form the gold edging.
Karen Selk
Grapevine, 2024
Botanical images printed on eri silk fabric, circula silk cocoons, silk threads 51" x 17"
All flora holds the perfect mixture of science, magic and beauty. With minerals, tannins and alchemy I endeavor to coax the spirit of plants onto silk cloth, releasing their own pigments, no dyes are used. Botanicals are laid on treated cloth, rolled tightly around a dowel, bound with a cord and steamed to release the plants juices, creating a light fast print. The printed silk cloth is fused onto silk fusion creating a backing. Handstitching embellishes the work and flattened Circula silk cocoons from Indonesia form the gold edging.
