One

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Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Batik

Water

Experimental 1

Experimental 2

Experimental 3

Links

Practical

Questions

Comments


Leonard Thompson - Silk Artist

"Once I saw how the colour flowed into the silk, I was hooked!"


Contents

My Latest Silk Paintings
Biography
Guide to the Galleries Contact Information
Flowers & Verse Book One Flowers & Verse Book Two
Flowers & Verse Book Three

I publish two ebooks for users of iron-fixed silk paints. Find out about them by clicking on the link below.

Ebooks for Users of Iron-fixed Silk Paints

Silk Painting is an exciting art form. Many of my new ideas can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

New Ideas and Developments using Silk Paints


My Latest Silk Paintings

Using a medium-weight habutai silk, Pébéo Setasilk iron-fixed silk paints, clear water solvent gutta and in some paintings batik wax as the resist, I have developed a technique that hides the resist lines.



Paintings marked with a red spot have been sold.


Silk Painting Scottish Thistle

"Scottish Thistle" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2016 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Ornithogalum

"Ornithogalum" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2014 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Sempervivum

"Sempervivum" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2014 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Sweet Peas

"Sweet Peas" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2014 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Cosmos

"Cosmos" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2014 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Broom

"Broom" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Campanula

"Campanula" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Allium Cristophii

"Allium Cristophii" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Magnolia Soulangeana

"Magnolia" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Flowering Quince

"Japonica" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Sea Holly

"Sea Holly" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2013 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Dipladenia

"Dipladenia" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2012 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Epiphyllum

"Epiphyllum" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2012 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Meconopsis

"Meconopsis" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2012 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Magnolia Grandiflora

"Magnolia Grandiflora" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2012 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Oriental Poppy

"Oriental Poppy" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Tulipa Groenland

"Tulipa Groenland" - silk painting mounted 50cm square 

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Penstemon

"Penstemons" - silk painting mounted 42cm square

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Morning Glory

"Morning Glory" - silk painting mounted 42cm square

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Pulmonaria

"Pulmonaria" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2010 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Clematis

"Clematis" - - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2010 Leonard Thompson 


Silk Painting Hellebore

"Hellebore" - silk painting mounted 42cm square 

©2010 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Iceland Poppies

"Iceland Poppies" - silk painting mounted 42cm square

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Silk Painting Hyacinth

"Hyacinth" - silk painting mounted 42cm square

©2011 Leonard Thompson


Paintings marked with a red spot have been sold.

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Biography

After 32 years in the teaching profession I took early retirement from my position as head teacher of Bunny CE Primary School near Nottingham in July 1997. I have always been interested in art and craft, and enjoyed teaching primary art, but the demands of running a small primary school left me little time to produce my own paintings.

When I first started painting on silk and I saw how the colour flowed into the fabric, the exciting possibilities of the medium inspired me. I tried out various styles and subjects finding that colourful flowers and birds best suited my approach to silk painting. Later I purchased a wax pot and added batik techniques to my some of my paintings.

Whether I use soluble clear gutta or wax as the resist I always strive to hide the outlines in the finished picture. This means that the sequence of drawing and painting is carefully planned - an approach that suits my personality.

My designs are mostly figurative, I like to explore themes and try to give my audience something to ponder.

Although most of my painting is detailed and controlled, I like to experiment. I make a mental note of how I produce the various effects so that I can use them later in my paintings. Recently I have discovered several exciting new ways of using stencils with iron-fixed paints on silk and I am continuously trying out new ideas.

I have exhibited my silk paintings at Patchings Art Centre, in the gallery at Waterstones Bookshop Nottingham, at Eglantine Vineyard, Boughton Pumping Station and in Southwell Minster. I am a member of the Guild of Silk Painters and have exhibited with them at their summer exhibitions. 

 

June 2000

My silk painting studio space in the Textile Marquee at Patchings Festival of Art and Craft.

June 2001

 

 

FIRST PRIZE "Queen of the Night" Gallery 6

The Guild of Silk Painters Northern Branch Summer Exhibition

September 2001

Eglantine Vineyard's "Arts and Crafts in the Vineyard" as part of the Rushcliffe Festival.

May 2002

 

THIRD PRIZE "Starburst Lilies" Gallery 6

The Guild of Silk Painters South Birmingham Branch Summer Exhibition

June 2002

Exhibition and Demonstration of Silk Painting at Patchings Art and Craft Festival

July 2002

Exhibition of Silk Paintings at The Jinney Ring Craft Centre

October 2002

 

  

 

 

Nottinghamshire

Amateur Artist of the Year 2002  

Patchings Award 2002 - National Open Competition

April 2003

Exhibition of Silk Paintings at Boughton Pumping Station

June 2003

Exhibition and Demonstration of Silk Painting at Patchings Art and Craft Festival

October 2003
 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Christmas Wine" Gallery 4

Exhibition of Paintings by Local Artists at Upper Broughton

November 2003

 

  

 

 

Léonard Brushes Award "Tulips & Ginger Jar" Gallery 2

Patchings Award 2003 - National Open Competition

March 2004

One Man Exhibition of Silk Paintings in Southwell Minster

Twenty four Silk Paintings were exhibited in the South Quire of the Minster.

June 2004

Exhibition and Demonstration of Silk Painting at Patchings Art and Craft Festival

October 2004
 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Amaryllis Minerva"  

Exhibition of Paintings by Local Artists at Upper Broughton

June 2005
 
 

Selected for The Artist Magazine Exhibition    

"Daylilies"  

Exhibition and Demonstration of Silk Painting at Patchings Art and Craft Festival

October 2007

 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Poppies"  

Exhibition of Paintings by Local Artists at Upper Broughton

July 2008

My work is Showcased on the Guild of Silk Painters website.
October 2009
 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Dahlia"  

Exhibition of Paintings by Local Artists at Upper Broughton
November 2011
My work is featured in the 16th issue of MY Batik Magazine.
June 2012
 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Hellebore"  

Selected for the online Exhibition - Patchings Art and Craft Festival website.
June 2013
 

  

 

 

 

Highly Commended   "Meconopsis"  

Selected for the online Exhibition - Patchings Art and Craft Festival website.

 

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Guide to the Galleries

Gallery One "Mimicry" contains a set of silk paintings of exotic birds and flowers.

Gallery Two "Illusions" contains a set of silk paintings where I have juxtaposed real flowers and foliage with paintings and carvings of plants and portraits.

Gallery Three "Flowers, Feathers and Foliage" contains silk paintings of flowers, birds and leaves.

Gallery Four "Flowers in Macro" contains silk paintings of flowers in close-up.

Gallery Five "Flowers" contains silk paintings of specimen flowers.

Gallery Six "White Flowers" contains silk paintings using white as a colour.

Gallery Seven "Experimental" contains silk paintings that use some of my new ideas.

Gallery Eight "New Silk Paintings " contains further silk paintings.

Gallery Nine "Smaller Silk Paintings" contains more silk paintings.

Gallery Ten "My Latest Silk Paintings" contains silk paintings I have painted recently.

The Batik Gallery contains painted silk batiks of flowers and leaves.

The Watercolour Gallery contains watercolours of favourite places I have visited.

Experimental Techniques One shows the development of my silk painting technique using wet threads.

Experimental Techniques Two contains images of new silk paintings techniques I have developed.

Experimental Techniques Three contains images of new silk paintings techniques I have developed using stencils.

The Practical Notes explain the use of clear water-soluble gutta and The "Hidden" Gutta Line Technique, How to make a silk covered box, How to make Silk Covered Booklets, Some Aspects of Design, Help with Backgrounds and How to make a stand for small framed paintings or greetings cards.

My Visitors' Book encourages you to comment on my website and my work.

On the Question Page I answer the questions I am most frequently asked about silk painting.

The paintings marked with a red spot have been sold.

The size measurements shown include a surrounding mount approximately 6cm wide.

All the paintings are mounted and ready for framing.

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Contact Information

For enquiries about the prices of my paintings and for further details please contact me at my 

E-mail address

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Contents Page


Copyright ©2000 Leonard Thompson
Last revised: September 13, 2019