insideKENT Magazine Issue 72 - March 2018 | Page 38

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE:
ELITTA FELL
ARTIST ELITTA FELL WORKS ON A VARIETY OF MEDIA INCLUDING WEB
DESIGN AND SILK PAINTING. IT IS THIS ECLECTIC AND FASCINATING MIX THAT
MAKES HER SUCH AN INTERESTING DESIGNER; SOMEONE WHO CAN WORK WITH
ALL MANNER OF MATERIALS IN ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS. WE ASKED ELITTA
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HER WORK – AND ABOUT HERSELF. INTERVIEW BY LISAMARIE LAMB
If you had to define your art, how would
you describe what you do?
I paint on silk – mostly scarves and similar
wearable items, but also wall hangings and
pictures. Painting on silk is similar to
watercolour in many ways, but the interaction
of the silk and the dye makes it very interesting,
sometimes with unexpected results. I use silk
dyes and occasionally silk paints, both are
specially formulated for application on silk.
Sometimes I use a resist (of which there are
various types) controlling the flow of the dye
into the image I want; alternatively I may use
a free-flowing technique using the way the
dye spreads to create the image.
How did you become an artist?
Looking for a home occupation many years
ago in the USA, I applied to become a layout
artist for the Yellow Pages in New York. On
return to the UK, I joined Marvel Comics UK,
based at that time in Sevenoaks, and eventually
became a freelance letterer, writing the text in
speech balloons for Marvel, DC and 2000AD
etc. This led me to becoming a freelance
graphic designer for local and national
companies. As I was, by then, completely
computer-oriented, I wanted a more hands-
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on craft for my free time so tried a few different
ones such as pebble mosaics, rag rug-making
and batik before I finally fell in love with silk
painting with its wonderful colours and
different techniques – a whole new world
opened up to me!
What is the most interesting commission
you’ve ever received?
In different parts of my design career I’ve had
quite a few interesting commissions:
to take part in the creation of the longest comic
strip in the world (at the time…); to letter graphic
novels of two of Shakespeare’s plays; to map
and draw the area of Puerto del Carmen and
Playa Blanca on Lanzarote (possibly the first
detailed and reasonably to scale map for those
areas) for a travel company; and to paint on
two huge organza strips to be used at the Guild
of Silk Painters Festival Fashion Show, Silk Art
’17, at the World of Wedgwood for the
introductory piece – Dance of the Hours.
You are fascinated by nature; how does that
inspire your work?
Nature is so flexible and yet so precise, it allows
the imagination to run riot with shape, form
and colour but can also require adherence to
rules. It’s all around us to enjoy in all its
diversity — there is never enough time to do
all that one wants!
You also give silk painting workshops –
what is involved and can beginners join in?
I have just opened my new studio in
Westerham. I teach to beginners or improver
level at present. I have set one day a month
for the workshops, but am able to
accommodate on other days if necessary.
Where can we see your work currently?
At the Eden Valley Artists exhibition, TopFoto
Gallery in Edenbridge from 24th March to 13th
April 2018; at the Denbies Wine Estate
Handmade Craft Fair on 13th May 2018; and
Art in June from 10th-24th June 2018 at the
Red House, Hever, as well as at various art
exhibitions and craft fairs later in the year.
www.mouseline.co.uk