Deborah McKellar’s Original Artworks

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ARTWORK CREATION PROCESS - A VIDEO

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WHAT IS A SILKSCREEN AND SILKSCREEN PRINTING?

A Silkscreen is essentially a stencil - a way to transfer images.
For more information on how silkscreens are made, visit this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_printing

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MIXED MEDIA ART

Mixed Media Art is defined as artworks created using a combination of different materials or media.
Below is a (non-exhaustive) list of the various surface techniques, materials and media that Deborah has employed in her artworks.

HAND-PAINTING (ACRYLIC OR OIL PAINTS)
Deborah often uses a paintbrush to apply precise colour and detail on top of the layers of Silkscreen print - this gives the subject more depth and makes the artwork come alive!

STITCH
Using an embroidery/sewing machine, stitches are “drawn” onto the canvas.
Sometimes loose threads are left hanging on the canvas - this does not mean that the artwork is unfinished!
The loose threads sway in the breeze, giving Deborah’s artworks a sense of movement - as if the artworks are alive!

FABRIC/WALLPAPER APPLIQUE
Fabric or wallpaper is cut and sewn onto the canvas using a sewing machine.
Deborah’s favourite fabrics are Indonesian Batik and Chinese Silk Brocade.

BEADING
Tiny glass or plastic beads are hand sewn onto the canvas, bead by bead.
These beads can often be found in Deborah’s Peranakan artworks, especially on the Peranakan Slippers!

LEAF
A traditional material, leaf is gold (or other metals like silver) that has been hammered into an extremely thin, delicate and fragile sheet.
Comes in little squares that have to be applied to the canvas square by square.

FOIL
A more modern way of applying metallic effects. Comes in a roll or sheets, and available in a wide range of colours.
Using a silkscreen, glue is applied to the canvas. The sheet of foil is laid on top of the glue and heat-set using an iron or heat press.
After the canvas has cooled, the foil sheet is peeled off, revealing the silkscreened design.

FLOCK
Made from natural or synthetic materials, flock are short fibres that can be purchased as loose fibres or on a sheet.
Flock will create a velvety, fuzzy, raised texture on the canvas. The process of applying flock to the canvas is quite similar to applying foil (silkscreen with glue). In the past, flock was commonly used on wallpapers.

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ORIGINAL ARTWORK VS CANVAS/PAPER PRINT

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

After Deborah creates an Original Artwork, she may sometimes choose to create canvas prints or paper prints of the original artwork.
A canvas or paper print is a REPRODUCTION of the original artwork; it is essentially a PHOTOGRAPH of the original artwork.

Digital canvas prints and paper prints are sold through the studio, our online shop and our retailers.