Cynthia Harrison: Silk Painting & Fiber
Hand Painted Silk for the Home - innovative original works for the interior by Cynthia Harrison are featured at Sun’s Traces Gallery in Barboursville Va.
An accomplished Virginia artist who has exhibited in venues across the US and in the UK, Harrison’s studio is located in Lake Monticello in Palmyra. Harrison’s work is featured on 2010 years Easter Seals.
"My art has always reflected a fascination with color, light, and organic form. Although I have worked in varied media over the years, I've been painting on silk since 1989. The combination of control (through the use of a resist), and chance (using the inherent properties of the silk to effect the movement of the dyes), yields a satisfying balance for me. The clear colors that can be achieved with dyes and the luminous/translucent qualities of the silk contribute to an expressive final image. I also often use stitch and embellishment to add substance and texture to my work.
Since I am a serious gardener as well as an artist, my designs usually incorporate 
“portraits” of flowers, seeds or leaves. I am honored that one of my lily paintings was selected to be a 2010 Easter Seal. Recently, I have begun to explore and develop the technique of needle-weaving, and I’ve named the resulting line of jewelry "Simple Treasures". This new work combines silk, cotton and other fibers with unique focal beads to make interesting pieces that are beautiful and have a supple “drape” around the neck.
Throughout a 40 year career as a teacher and art therapist, I’ve supported people of all abilities in learning to use art as a tool to communicate, explore personal issues and to enhance self-esteem and self-confidence. My art can be found in both private and public collections, and has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in the US and the UK. More information is available at my website www.clharrison-silk.com. "