The Design Process:

I am a digital artist who works mainly with mathematical and generative art. My unique designs are created iteratively over a period of several days, using Mandelbulb 3D fractal software, Flame Painter, and Photoshop. I believe that the mathematical foundation on which the designs are created lends them an unusual beauty, which works very well with silk to create lovely and unusual effects.

I experiment with formulas, transforms, brushes, and lighting until I get the effect I’m looking for. Mandelbulb 3D fractal images must be rendered at close to the resolution required by scarves – approx. 7400×7400 pixels, which can take several days sometimes. Certain formula combinations are so processor-intensive they have to be rendered at half size and “rezzed-up” using special software and settings that are specific to the type of image to avoid loss of detail.

Some of my designs are created using an animated brush (“Flame Painter software”). I paint on a digital canvas, and virtual brush “bristles” are set in motion as I paint with a pen tablet according to my hand movements. It is a very sensitive and responsive medium.

Once the designs are rendered, I determine whether they need additional touches, like adding a border, tiling the design for greater width, or any other treatment to make them work better as a scarf.

The Printing Process:

The scarves are printed by a remarkable company near Hangzhou, China which I selected for the high quality of their work and materials. They collaborate extensively with me throughout the production process. I select a fabric based on the importance of color intensity, draping or translucency to each design. The printer then designs a printing layout for greatest efficiency and minimal waste. A large-format industrial ink-jet printer made for textiles is used to print the scarves with environmentally-friendly ink. Silk rolls are 140cm wide (~55″), so I can fit two 25″ wide scarves on at once, or one wide and one narrow.

Once printed, the scarves are transferred to an “ageing” machine where the silk is slightly heated for color-fastness. The scarves are cut on a large cutting machine and hemmed automatically. Any further finishing touches, like fringe, or double-sided scarves are done by a person on an industrial sewing machine. Each scarf is folded and wrapped in a clear plastic sleeve and shipped to me so I can select the most successful designs for sale. The entire process takes about 4 weeks.

 

All items are highest quality silk. Dry clean only.  Pricing upon request.  

Check Etsy for new designs and sizes not shown here.  http://scarvesbyellen.etsy.com

Please contact me or check Etsy before ordering: my inventory changes rapidly. Any design on Etsy whose title begins with Made to Order is not currently in stock and will take 4-6 weeks.

Payment in full required to order.