Christa McCann-Silver

I'm a British, full time professional artist, specialising in minimal abstract, watercolour. I live a Minimalist lifestyle, embrace the Japanese aesthetics of Shibui and Wabi-Sabi, and my art reflect these experiences. I’m interested in the making, the handmade, creating art at a slow pace in my home studio. This is a pure joy and an integral part of my daily meditation ritual and a celebration of

my minimalist journey. Working on the finest handmade Italian, French and Japanese papers in artist watercolours, platinum, graphite and handmade naturally occurring genuine mineral pigments. Watercolour, itself, is simply the soul of my work and my passion. Works that appreciate the absence of unnecessary features, instils a quietness and aims to reveal the innate character and essence of watercolour. The central principle being to allow the watercolour to express itself. Thereby, celebrating the wealth of magical and serendipitous effects created by the intricate interaction of pigments and water on paper, to showcase the fluid gem watercolour. I live in the beautiful coastal and rural region of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, United Kingdom with my husband and children. My surroundings provide me with endless inspiration and rich resources. You can find my artwork at:-
★ETSY- www.etsy.com/shop/ChristaMcCannSilver

★www.instagram.com/christa.mccann_silver/

PRINT ON DEMAND SITES
★Society6
www.society6.com/christamccannsilver


WATERCOLOUR
Watercolours created through experimental approaches with regards to materials and painting techniques. They push the boundaries of watercolour painting with its time honoured 'rules', and ask the viewer to see the medium in a new and contemporary light. Watercolours, that re-evaluate traditions and conventions, but at the same time keep the characteristics and the essence of this beautiful fluid gem. INK
My Ink drawings are worked in a similar approach to my Watercolours. They also push the boundaries of tradition, in the areas of subject, inking style, materials and techniques.
★ MARKMAKING - Creating with line and stippling (dots) are my two favourite ink texturing techniques. As layers build so does the intensity of tone. Creating with Pen & Ink is typically very time consuming, however, for me it has a relaxing quality.
★ TEXTILES - Weaves and stitch are a major influence and are seen in the form of line and mark-making (dots and dashes being my favourite). The limited vocabulary of mark-making colour and economy of shape all create simplicity 'Shibui'. ARTWORK TAKEN INTO PRINT
A selection of my Fine Art works are taken into print for products, whilst there are also those created / altered specifically for Surface Pattern Design. Products include, art prints (framed/unframed), wall hangings/tapestries, metal prints, canvas prints, textiles…
★My Print on Demand sites are listed below. You can find my artwork at:-
★ETSY- www.etsy.com/shop/ChristaMcCannSilver

★www.instagram.com/christa.mccann_silver/

PRINT ON DEMAND SITES
★Society6
www.society6.com/christamccannsilver



SIGNATURE STYLE
★ Subject - Non-Objective, Minimalism and Shibui.
★ REPEATS - Geometric or stylised motifs/mark-making are arranged to form repeat patterns and tessellations. I use various types of mark making: dots and line being the most used. Many of these employ a square grid system as their basic structure, where motifs are placed and repeated. I do on occasions use other repeat systems such as the half-drop, but I always find myself returning to the square grid. For me, there is something pleasing and even reassuring about a repeat pattern. The majority of my repeats are constructed by hand using traditional methods.
★ SILHOUETTES
I frequently use silhouettes within my artwork (and shaped canvas) as a vehicle to display my repeat patterns/mark making and watercolour paint effects. A silhouette, usually presents me with two areas (fields): a positive and negative space, which is calling to be adorned with pattern. In order to make the silhouette pop, consideration to the art element of 'contrast' with regards to colour, tone, texture or pattern, is essential to the design. Silhouettes usually take the form of simple geometric shapes found in everyday objects and experiences.
★ CLOSE-FOCUS DETAIL – This approach is seen in my watercolour and ink ‘Zoom Series’. It’s all in the creating, then capturing the wealth of magical and serendipitous effects created by the intricate interaction of pigments and water on paper. The ‘Zoom Series’ aims to showcase the beautiful patterns and textures created by the fluid gem watercolour. This design approach is a major element that contributes to my signature style. INSPIRATION
★ MATERIALS & SUPPORT
For example :-
WATERCOLOUR itself, is the focus and the primary consideration is to display the characteristics and essence of the beautiful, fluid gem that is ‘Watercolour’. I explore pigment properties/characteristics, painting supports, paint effects and both traditional and non-traditional paint application techniques. It’s all in creating and then capturing the wealth of magical and serendipitous effects created by the intricate interaction of pigments and water on paper. This approach, frees me to explore watercolour, thereby enabling the styles Non-Objective, Minimalism and Shibui to showcase the art form ‘Watercolour’.
★ TEXTILES - Weaves and stitch are a major influence and are seen in the form of line and mark-making (dots and dashes being my favourite).
★ GEMSTONES - I have an ever-growing gemstone and gemstone jewellery collection! These beauties form an endless, rich source of inspiration for my watercolours. They provide a wealth of colour, shape and pattern, which are the keystone art elements in the artwork. A selection of my watercolours are created using authentic mineral pigments, e.g. Amethyst, Tourmaline, Garnet….
★ SHIBUI – The foundation element within my artwork takes influence from the Japanese ‘Zen’ aesthetics of ‘Shibui’. Shibui is a Japanese term for something that appears simple but is actually very complex in detail. The key components of Shibui design are:-
☆ Simplicity
☆ Modesty
☆ Silence
☆ Naturalness
☆ Everydayness
☆ Imperfection
Through my artwork I strive to exhibit the aesthetics of Shibui and when viewed I hope it conveys the qualities of Shibui.
★ SURFACE TEXTURE –
- Support - The painting/drawing supports surface texture is often a major art element consideration, therefore, I am always exploring various supports. For example with regards to watercolour I often use non-traditional supports such as found supports (packing card, tissue paper, garment patterns, pages from books...), wood, textile and ceramic allows me to expand my visual vocabulary and for one, offering interesting surface texture. For traditional watercolour supports, I favour Arches Aquarelle and Fabriano Artistico watercolour papers. These have a beautiful smooth (Hot Pressed; HP) surface texture. HP being my favourite paper surface texture to work with, as this suits the paint application techniques that I have developed. However, the HP surface also provides me with a blank canvas on which to explore surface texture techniques. I create my own surface textures using techniques such as scoring, sanding, punching, piercing and folding.
- Paint Techniques - Through various application techniques I am able to create a wealth of visual and actual textures. FACEBOOK
★Christa McCann-Silver (personal page)
www.facebook.com/Christa.McCannSilver.1

MY GROUPS
★Watercolour Abstract
www.facebook.com/groups/1235500623168162


★COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
◉ Christa McCann-Silver retains copyright of all artwork, images, designs and text content appearing on the page 'Christa McCann-Silver' and remains the exclusive ‘intellectual property’ of Christa McCann-Silver and are protected under International Copyright Laws and by the Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this property may be used without the prior written permission of Christa McCann-Silver. Contacting Christa through ‘private message’ from this page.
◉ If you wish to ‘share’ an image seen on this page, then please first seek permission and be sure to credit the artist 'Christa McCann-Silver'.
◉ Note that Copyright does not transfer with sale and imitation and infringement of design rights and infringement of the McCann-Silver trademark will not be tolerated.
◉ This copyright includes; copying, duplicating, printing, publishing (including websites), reproducing, storing in a retrieval system, manipulated in any form or transmitting by any means what so ever. Infringement may lead to appropriate legal action.
◉ Copyright for the future - Christa takes original artwork into print for products, e.g. art prints, wall hangings, canvas prints…etc. Christa holds the copyright indefinitely, as it does not get passed on with ownership of the original artwork. Christa will not take images from commissioned artwork/surface pattern designs into prints for products. THANK YOU ♡