Together with Zsófia Marx we started the 2nd edition of the masterclass “The Art Of Silk Painting And Hat Making” on November 20th.
Registration for this 2nd masterclass is now closed.
If you want to be kept informed about a future masterclass, please send an email.
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.
Modules "Experimental Silk Painting" basic and advanced
We start the Masterclass with the module “Experimental silk painting” basic and “Experimental silk painting” advanced.
During the first module, you will learn the surprising silk painting techniques.
You will learn the effect of working with different transparent layers, letting it flow, but also stopping the paint. You will learn how to work with brushes, stencils, stamps, and other tools. But above all, you will learn to intuitively fill the white silk with color and shape.
In the follow-up module, we will focus on silk painting for nuno felting and specifically on silk painting for hats.
These are live modules. We work together as if we were in the same classroom. The sessions are recorded so that you can watch them again later at your leisure.
What do you need for silk painting?
For silk painting, you need a frame to stretch the silk. A simple frame can be made from 4 slats, screws, and nuts or you can buy a simple wooden picture frame. The main materials you need are 4 colours of special silk paint, silk fabric, brushes, pins, sponges, ....
You will receive a list (and a video) of the materials you need and where to buy them well in advance. And also a video on how to stretch the silk. You will have access to a video about a simple method to steam your painted silk at home. We use Ponge/Habotai 5 silk. This type of silk gives a beautiful result for silk painting and dries very quickly. And because it is very thin, it is very suitable for nuno-felting (a combination from silk felted with wool).
Making hats with Zsófia
Zsófia Marx, renowned for her enchanting 3-D felting techniques, will teach you how to craft sophisticated and elegant felted hats. She’ll guide you in incorporating the handpainted silk into your felt, preserving its delicate beauty while ensuring the felt is firm enough for stunning sculptural hats.
See examples below.
Coaching and accessibility
We are both available for questions and there are various live coaching Zoom meetings, where you can ask us your questions.
You have 5 months of access to all teaching materials and unlimited access to our private Facebook group.
Through the private Facebook group, participants show their successful and less successful results, from which others can learn.
Participation
You do not need any experience to participate.
Due to the international character, the online workshops are given in English.
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The creative process of Ellen Bakker's painted silk in combination with Zsofia Marx's felt hats in pictures
On YouTube you can watch a video of how Zsófia and I have brought together our techniques and passions for wool, silk and hats.
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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