“LUMINOSITY ...

SILK & CRYSTALS"

By

Silk Artist, Sheila Underwood
&
Jewelry Artist, Patricia Watkins

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Artist Reception:

Saturday, August 7th
1 - 4 p.m.

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Sheila Underwood gets excited as she applies dyes onto her silk material that flows into beautiful and exciting shapes. Just as silk moves in a breeze, the dyes travel outward from their origin conveying movement and emotion. This first application feels spontaneous, but much planning has already occured. The silk had to be stretched and fastened onto a wooden frame. Then a resist, called gutta is applied to keep some spaces seperated from others. When the dying is done the results are large juicy shapes that have an impressionistic style. Most pieces are then framed under mats and glass.

In addition, Sheila paints watercolors concentrating on ocean and floral scenes in both media. She likes to take an ordinary subject and make it dramatic. As Sheila says, "I love drama. I love the pure joy of painting! I don't want my paintings to whisper. I want them to shout! From the first minute the dyes start to flow onto the silk, my heart sings. I paint large and free. From huge flowers to our beautiful coastline, these things speak to me."

Luminosity shimmers from the multicolored crystals, gemstones, agates and metals that Patricia Watkins has fashioned into Classic, yet creative beaded jewelry designs for customers. Austrian Crystals and Pre-WWII glass beads from then Czechoslovakia are featured items amoung other stones such as Opal, Garnet, Amethyst, Opalite, and Pearls. Patricia has collected many of her beads from travels in the United States and Europe. The "old beads" are actually "never used" old beads. Patricia says, "though they are sixty five years old, I am the first to use them in a jewelry design. Whether using new or old beads, my designs are characterized by beautiful color, attention to detail, and a variety of designs within the Classic Style."

Patricia designed five plus years for Zarah Company out of Topanga Canyon. Their colorful, ever popular, line of animal and floral jewelry is enamel on sterling silver. The owners and the experience were great. Then, as creative people do, she started to move in a different direction falling in love with beads. She has been playing with beaded designs ever since.