Sherit Levin
[1990, Illustration]
Based in Massachusetts
I create wearable art made from devoré velvet. My designs are printed on solid white fabric with a paste that removes some of the velvet pile, leaving its sheer silk chiffon backing, thus creating a burnout texture. I hand paint these patterns with brushes using dyes in a watercolor style.
I am drawn to create handmade organic forms that are inspired by and rooted in nature. The patterns are evolving or accidental and frozen in time. The varying colors illuminated in the iridescent material create moods; their combinations tell a story
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
I hand-paint directly on to my fabrics. The look and feel of something handmade is very important to me. Making something tactile and mixing new colors is satisfying.
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
The patterns for my hand-painted textiles are inspired by nature. During freshman year in 2D class we had a project to make a drawing of an evolving form. Kind of like and Escher print where a fish is drawn over and over, changing a little in shape each time so it becomes a bird. I remember spending time in the Nature Lab and being drawn to the patterns on sea shells, in leaves and in many of the other specimens.
Now I have Pinterest and macro photographs of nature.
Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?
I will be giving a presentation on the process of my velvet scarves to the Rhode Island Sewing Network in the spring.
