Silk Painting Workshop: Create Your Own East Asian-Inspired Artwork

Discover the timeless elegance of silk painting in this two-session Silk Painting Workshop at 7s Art, where tradition, creativity, and mindfulness come together in a beautifully intimate setting.

Originating in ancient China, silk painting is one of the oldest art forms in the world—predating even the invention of paper. With its luminous surface and fluid absorbency, silk becomes the perfect medium for capturing graceful lines, subtle gradients, and dreamlike imagery. For centuries, silk painting has flourished across East and Southeast Asia, inspiring new generations of artists with its blend of technique and expression.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be guided by silk painter and educator , whose work has been exhibited in New York and Paris. Rachel will lead you through traditional methods while encouraging personal expression and creative exploration.

Over the course of two sessions, you’ll:

• Learn the resist technique, which uses bold outlines to contain the flow of dye on silk
• Explore color theory and blending, developing an intuitive sense of harmony and contrast
• Use floral templates inspired by East Asian garden motifs—including koi fish, lotus, plum blossom, bamboo, peony, and apricot
• Create your own 8.25" silk hoop artwork to take home as a decorative piece or meaningful gift

Instructor: Rachel Neikirk (Instagram: @rachel.neikirk.art)

Schedule: 

Session 1, May 9 (FRI), 2025, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Session 2, May 23 (FRI), 2025, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

*Please note: the sessions are sequential and interconnected—Session 1 will focus on design and resist outlining, while Session 2 will complete the painting process with color blending and final touches.

Capacity: 6 participants

Location: 36 East Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10002 (next to D C Meat Market 德昌肉食公司)

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop invites you to slow down, immerse yourself in a peaceful creative space, and bring home a finished work of silk art. Let your brush follow the rhythm of the silk—flowing gently, speaking softly, and leaving behind beauty that endures.

Info: Intro to history & characteristics of silk; Practice getting comfortable creating resist outlines—may test on paper; Create resist outline using Jacquard Lumiere paint on stretched silk hoop; Students may create a freehand design or copy a template; Instructor will provide flower photos and templates for references; Resist will dry overnight

Info: Learn basics of color theory; Practice getting comfortable blending colors—may test on instructor example; Fill in blank spaces like a “coloring book” on stretched silk hoop; Paint will dry within 30 minutes—during which students may ask questions, see examples of applications of

silk painting in instructor work and East Asian traditions; Students take home finished hoop

Also check out other Arts events in New York, Workshops in New York, Fine Arts events in New York.