Together with Zsófia Marx, we created the masterclass “The Art of Silk Painting and Hat Making.”
Zsófia is renowned for her stunning felted hats, and Ellen for her silk paintings. They have combined their expertise in this masterclass “The Art of Silk Painting and Hat Making.”
In this masterclass you will discover how hand-painted silk can be transformed with wool into refined and expressive hats, where color, texture, and form enhance one another.
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At the bottom of this page you can admire the hats that our students made during the first edition of the masterclass “The art of silk painting and hat making”.
For five months they made beautiful hand-painted silk and magnificent hats of silk felted with wool. All unique items! We are incredibly proud of their achievements.
Live Sessions Experimental Silk Painting – beginner & advanced with Ellen Bakker
You will learn surprising techniques to bring silk to life: we work with layers of transparent paint, let the paint flow naturally or stop it from spreading by drying the silk. We work with different tools, such as brushes, stencils, and stamps. In the advanced module, we focus specifically on painting silk that is suitable for use in (nuno) felting hats.
During the live sessions, it feels like we are all together in one classroom. All sessions are recorded, so you can rewatch them at your own pace.
Felting with Zsófia Marx
Zsófia Marx, known for her amazing 3D felting techniques, teaches you how to create refined and elegant felted hats. She guides you through the process of integrating painted silk with felt, preserving the delicate beauty of the silk while ensuring the felt is strong enough for fantastic sculptural hats.
See examples below.
Guidance & Community
During the masterclass there are live coaching sessions where you can ask all your questions. Students also share their results in our private Facebook group. This way, you not only learn from us, but also from each other.
What do you need for silk painting?
For silk painting you need a frame to stretch the silk on. A simple frame can be made from four wooden slats, screws, and bolts, or you can use a basic wooden picture frame.
The main materials you will need are: 4 colors of special silk paint, silk fabric, brushes, and some other tools.
Well in advance you will receive a list (and a video) of the materials you need and where to buy them, as well as a video on how to stretch your silk. You will also get access to a video showing a simple method for steaming your painted silk at home.
We use Pongee/Habotai 5 silk. This type of silk gives beautiful results for silk painting and dries very quickly. And because it is so thin, it is perfect for nuno-felting (felting wool together with silk).
Participation
No previous experience is required to join.
Due to the international character, the online workshops are taught in English.
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The creative process of Ellen Bakker’s painted silk combined with Zsófia Marx’s felted hats in images
On YouTube you can watch a video you can watch a video showing how Zsófia and I have brought together our techniques and passions for wool, silk, and hat making.
Student Work
These beautiful hats were made by students.
This is what students wrote about this Masterclass:
I’ve learned so much about silk painting and hat making in the course. The many techniques and skills will be useful in any wet-felting, silk painting, or nuno felting I do in the future. The combination of written material, videos, and live sessions was very effective. The written material, posted as downloadable PDFs, included photos and drawings to make it clear and complete.
The course included a variety of hats. Their presentation was sequenced and paced well. There was time to make more than one of each hat design to really cement our learning.
Ellen and Zsófia are very knowledgeable and generous teachers. They are helpful, always approachable and responsive.
The fact that I love painting silk and making hats is a reflection of the quality of the course and Zsofia and Ellen’s teaching. Their passion is inspirational.
Anne Armstrong
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Ellen and Zsofia are exceptional instructors from whom I am learning extensively. With expertise in their field, they share remarkable insights into the art of combining wool and silk to create exquisite patterns and hats. Their patience and expert counsel enable me to produce outstanding hats.
Diane Gunderson Lundberg
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The exposure to the mastery of Ellen and Zsofia's teachings, techniques, and guidance was another addition to my toolbox in the mastering of working and creating with felt, painting of silk and the incorporation of the two. Thank you.
Lisa Forbes
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I have thoroughly enjoyed this course. Ellen and Zsofia are both skilled tutors and so generous with their knowledge and expertise that my learning of both coloring silk and making hats has grown massively. The structure of the course ensured that we mastered each technique individually and then brought them together to ensure a successful hat. I love what I have made so far and will continue to make more. Thank you to you both.
Louise Curnin
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Allthough I prefer to take classes face to face, I decided to do this online masterclass with Ellen and Zsófia. The benefit for me was that I could watch the recordings at my own time and pace. And of course it is nice to meet people from all around the world.
I loved painting the silk and learn how to steam the silk at home, without the use of expensive equipment.
And then felt a beautiful hat with fine merino wool, to keep a warm head in the chilly winters in the Netherlands.
Ellen and Zsófia are very dedicated to their students, making sure everyone is doing okay. There was also room to make your own variation of the giving hat template. For instance, with the template of the hat Katrina, I can make a lot of variations.
I would recommend this masterclass to everyone who is interested in painting silk and felting the silk into a beautiful hat.
Minka de Weerd
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I love wool, I love silk and felting. And I love hats! The Silkpainting and Hatmaking class with Ellen Bakker and Zsofia Marx was the best opportunity to combine all these passions. Ellen and Zsofia are professional teachers who are always ready to listen and help. This excellent class took me a step further in my hat-making skills. And painting the silk brought out a whole new creativity in me. The class was a good investment and is highly recommended. Thank you Ellen and Zsofia.
Monika Scheunemann
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I’m loving this class. It has been fun, challenging and ignited a whole new level of passion in me. I've learned so much more than I had hoped for about silk painting and hat making. The two of you (Ellen and Zsofia) make a powerful partnership. Your willingness to share your knowledge and skills is very uncommon and special. If you are a beginner or experienced at making hats or painting silk there is a lot to be learned from this course.
Nancy Erckenbrack
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I have learned a lot from Zsófia about shaping the hats using the different ways of fulling.
Ellen’s zoom class on painting silk was very informative, and working along as she explained
the different techniques were like being in the same room. Adding hand painted silk
into the felt has made the hats unique and special, you are adding your own signature and style to the hats.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the online learning experience, of being able to work
in my own environment and also connecting to other students in the Facebook group.
Rhonda Rettke
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I decided to invest in this course for two reasons. Firstly, I have always wanted to try silk painting; and secondly, I have for a long time admired Zsófia’s wonderful hats and wanted to do one of her hat courses. So, the chance to get both together seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I have not been disappointed! It has been an exciting journey with excellent instruction and content.
I would recommend this course unreservedly.
Shelley Steele
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My favorite thing about Ellen and Zsófia’s masterclass is the expert and amiable presentation of their material. The videos are beautifully presented, the information clear and concise, and skill level superb. I didn’t want it to end! Thank you……you are an excellent team!
Sheryl Macleod
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