Botanical Silk Painting for Couture Fashion with Charlotte Gaunt

Location: This course is delivered via Zoom & WhatsApp. Please click here for guides to using Zoom & WhatsApp

Duration: 6 Week Course (1 x 2.5 hour session per week for 6 consecutive weeks) 

Date: 20th May - 24th June (1:00pm-3:30pm - Wednesdays)

Over 6 sessions students will immerse themselves in the traditional art of silk painting applied through contemporary gestural mark making in this Couture course. Students will be guided through the creation of a fluid rococo inspired painted background to then create outlines of the floral blooms using traditional Chinese paintbrushes. Once this base is established each flower will be considered in detail for its colour and 3 dimensional qualities. Exploring different paint applications such as thin washes, wet into wet, dry brush and tonal layering to describe the different textures of the summer blooms. Students will be painting in their own gouache paints and will have the opportunity to learn how to mix these with a medium provided to ensure fluid painterly marks. To create further texture and interest we will then delve into the techniques of flocking and foiling to add surface relief and delicate details.

Included in this is an innovative method of creating your own specific flock colours based on the paintings summer hues. By the end of the 6 weeks students will have created a painted bouquet bursting with colour and texture. The classes will be fast paced and aimed at all levels, techniques will be taught in class and can be completed outside of sessions.

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This course is inspired by the stunning Dolce & Gabbana couture gown found in the V&A’s archive available to view at their vast storage site in East London. The background techniques show a new way to apply paint and the 3 dimensional quality achieved with flat paint is replicated in this botanical painting course. The silk painting leans on the historic tradition using traditional mediums through a contemporary application. The appliqué elements are translated through the 3 dimensional technique of flocking. This is an historic technique first seen in the 17th century to imitate cut velvet hangings. Many historic houses continue to have visible vast swathes of flocked wallpaper. It was at the time a by-product of the woollen industry. The technique taught in this course lends itself to smaller more expressive detail and is original to Hand & Lock. Students will also use the technique of foiling, adapted again for more immediate and detailed work, it originally began as a way to decorate costume, examples of which can be seen in the V&A, in particular men’s waistcoats of the 18th century to illuminate further the embroidered surfaces.

Charlotte is the creative director of textile and wallpaper company Rediscovered By, a small independent creative studio specialising in the hand made as well as the rediscovery of historical textile techniques. Trained at Goldsmiths University and the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia, Charlotte reinterprets historical textile methods for modern interiors. Her work blends history with contemporary design, drawing from nature to create intricate prints and macabre yet beautiful motifs. From foxglove-printed tablecloths to botanical wallpapers with flocked bumblebees, her designs capture nature’s beauty and fragility. Charlotte’s creations have been featured in Homes & Gardens, World of Interiors, Period Living, Tatler, Country Living, The Times and more. Her recent collaboration with Knots Rugs saw her original artworks interpreted into hand-knotted rugs in silk, wool and linen by traditional artisans in Nepal – a perfect example of her respect for heritage and craftsmanship. Charlotte has also worked closely with Gainsborough Weaving and Burghley House, drawing from historic archives to reimagine classic motifs through printed textiles, woven fabrics and embroidery.

Over the course of the 6 weeks of this course you will learn the following silk painting techniques

• Watercolour and thin washes – Applying diluted paint or dye to create soft, translucent layers that allow the natural sheen of the silk to shine through.
  
  

• Fine outlines – Using resist or controlled brushwork to create crisp, delicate lines that define shapes and add detail.
  
  

• Wet into wet – Working with wet paint on a damp silk surface so colours flow, merge, and create organic, unpredictable patterns.
  
  

• Dry brush – Applying paint with a brush that holds very little liquid to achieve textured, scratchy marks and subtle shading.
  
  

• Tonal layering – Building up depth and form by applying successive layers of colour, gradually shifting tone from light to dark.
  
  

• Colour, tone and hue – Exploring the relationships between different colours, their intensity, and how variations in tone or shade can create harmony, contrast, and visual impact.
  
  

• Gestural mark making – Using expressive, sweeping strokes to add movement, rhythm, and personal energy to the silk.
  
  

• Background creation – Developing rich or subtle backdrops that can frame a central motif, unify a design, or provide atmosphere.
  
  

• Flocking – Applying a fine layer of fibres to the silk surface to achieve a velvety texture and enhance visual contrast.
  
  

• Foiling – Adding metallic foils for reflective accents that catch the light and bring richness to the design.
  
  

• Painting and dyeing your own flock – Customising flock fibres with hand-painted or dyed colours before applying them, allowing for unique, personal finishes and expanded creative possibilities.

For this course you will need to provide the following: 

• Gouache paints – Please bring a selection of gouache paints to work with. Make sure your set includes magenta, as this colour is essential for mixing a full and versatile range of shades.
  
  

• Water and water pots – You will need at least one container for clean water and another for rinsing brushes. These will be used both for mixing paints and for dyeing processes.
  
  

• Tissue or paper towels – Useful for blotting brushes, lifting out excess colour, and keeping your workspace tidy.
  
  

• Palettes or large plates – A surface for mixing and diluting your colours. Large white plates can work well if you do not have a traditional artist’s palette.
  
  

• Iron and a heat-proof surface – An iron will be needed for setting certain techniques. Please ensure you also have a safe, heat-resistant surface to work on.
  
  

• Extra cotton fabric for protection – This will be used as a pressing cloth to protect your silk during ironing, preventing any damage from direct heat.
  
  

• Embroidery slate frame – A frame is essential for stretching your silk before painting. Either a 24-inch slate frame or a wooden frame will work for this purpose. If you would like help sourcing one, links can be provided upon request – simply drop us an email at school@handembroidery.com

• All of the other required materials for this course will be provided and shipped two weeks prior to the course start date