Silkworm Magazine, Volume 18, Issue No. 2, June 2011

Meet two artists with real international flair, Jinan Jabagi and Dominique Bello. Planning your first silk painting workshop.  Addie Chernus gives advice and instruction on teaching a silk painting class.  Phil Lack explains, why become an MSP®.

Artist with International Flair
Jinan Jabagi

Pheasant and Pears Jinan Jabagi's "mosaic" silk paintings

Born in Jordan, raised in Lebanon, schooled in London, and currently living in Canada, Jinan is a woman with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse background. As an artist, she uses this diverse cultural heritage as an axis point, a bazaar of various flavors from which she draws the substance of her compositions. She is an all around artist currently enjoying life as a silk painter.

A quick review of some of her silk paintings reveals the influence and flavor of the Middle East and European elements. Look closely at a photo of her mosaic paintings and you soon begin to wonder…“Am I looking at a photograph of a painting of a mosaic? Or am I looking at a photograph of an actual mosaic, replete with sparkling, reflective tiles? “Yes, “she responds. “It is a silk painting.”

Yes, Jinan is well traveled and the influences of her travels are reflected in her work. In fact, pinning her down for an interview was a bit of a challenge.  This interview was supposed to happen earlier this year, in January, in fact. However, Jinan was caught in the floods in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.  Attempting to escape the freezing cold of a Canadian winter, she accompanied her son to Australia where he was preparing to attend medical school. “We had to be evacuated twice,” she recounted. “Habib, my son, saved me the first time. He swam with a friend to get a boat from the rowing club.” They escaped from the first building where they were staying to a building in an area that had not yet flooded.

However, the rain kept coming down and the water kept getting higher and higher. Finally, the rescue police arrived and informed them that they could not stay at this second location. They got back into the boat seeking drier ground. “The water was so high that the when we were in the boats, we had to duck our heads down because we were touching the tops of the trees.”  (To read more, See Vol. 18, Issue 2.)

The World in Silk

Dominique Bello

Jacket by Dominique Bello

Being a bit of a world traveler -- on her way to Africa for a month and then to France to visit family -- Dominique was difficult to catch up with. We did, however, manage to make contact with her long enough to get answers to a few of our more pressing questions.

Where were you born? How long have you lived in the U.S.?

I was born in France and have lived in the U.S. for over 30 years.

Do you practice some other forms of art?

I used to. For more than 20 years, I was a ceramicist creating murals for commercial projects and private clients as well as everyday objects. I was also into stained glass windows and mosaics tables and murals.

Did you study art? Do you have a degree in art? If so, what school and what degree did you achieve?

I studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Besançon in France where I specialized in ceramics.

How long have you been silk painting? When did you discover silk painting? How did you discover silk painting?

I was always aware of silk painting even as a teenager since it has always been very popular in France long before Diane Tuckman introduced it to the US. I tried it even when I was working in the other media. It seems like forever.

What types of things interest you to paint? What is your usual subject matter? Why?

I am very much into decorative art inspired by arabesques and geometry. But sometimes I jump to nature or green themes or whimsical ideas.  There is no limitation to what I might decide to paint.

Do you ever feel stuck?

Never. I have so many ideas and projects I would like to develop and only enough time to bring a small number of them to fruition.

Do you paint wall art, as well as fashions?

A lot of my fashion pieces are actually bought as wall art. But I paint as well banners in a variety of shapes for wall display. When I started painting I used to do a lot of framed works but nowadays I much prefer to leave the silk free to move and shimmer.  (To read more about this fascinating artist, see Silkworm Vol. 18, Issue 2.)

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