How do I create my works ?

Depends on the cases. Sometimes I first choose the type of silk and then the right subject for it, otherwise happen the reverse.

Some time ago, for example, I was hiking on the hills around Bologna, when I saw a beautiful bunch of violets. I immediately copied them in various sketches composing a 'still life'.

I have then composed the first preparatory watercolor drawing (below left) and immediately a second one(below right), larger then the first, whose composition was finally reaching the goal that I had in mind.

At this point I have to choose the right silk for the subject. I decide to try something new and I opt for a Crêpe Satin 12.5 that is a thick silk, glossy on one side and opaque on the other. This kind of silk is very difficult to use because the color lays down very slowly and there is the risk to load to much the foulard. Is important to do the work quickly but also to be very patient and very careful. Is impossible to correct errors.

During the work the silk must be well streched on the loom and the drawing proceeds from left to right and from top to bottom, protecting with a clean cloth the parts of the foulard thad most not be painted in that moment. Everithing that goes in contact with the silk (the loom, the table, my own hands..... etc.) most be perfectly clean. Painting a foulard can take up to 40 hours (4-5 days) of work and after that there are is the fixing (the method depends on the color used), the washing and the final ironing. An error in any part of the work can compromise the quality of the final result (photo on bottom of page).

The method is not very different if I start from the silk. Depending on the dimensions, the grain and the thickness of the silk I choose the subject, the technique, the color type and the general tone of the drawing. With silk the immagination has no limits. One can make an abstract drawing, for example using a light silk with the serti technique or a figurative subject using a thick silk with an oil paint technique.