Naps & Nites Studio

Lorie S Dorpinghaus - Artist Statement I am a self-taught silk painter, wearable fiber artist, and owner of Naps & Nites Studio who uses the process of Shibori, a centuries old Japanese technique of binding, folding, twisting or stitching fabric before dyeing to create unusual patterns in the fabric according to the way it was bound and dyed. I started my business, Naps & Nites Studio in the fall of 2000 while I had a one year old and a three year old, named for the only time I could work uninterrupted, during their naps and at night. Currently, 23 years later, I still work many nights and I am the one who needs the naps! I attend a few select art fairs every year and my work can be found in many fine gift stores and fine craft galleries across the United States. I have also created exclusive designs for catalogs over the years. I am using my interpretation of the infinite styles of Shibori on silk to create my line of unique, elegant wearable art in the form of accessories, clothing and scarves. I work with silk as I am attracted to the luminous quality of silk as well as the numerous different textures that are available. Color also inspires me and I tend to work both monochromatically as well as using multiple color combinations or color ways. Being completely self-taught in this medium has allowed me the freedom to experiment without constraints. I have been blessed by God to have been given this talent to create beautiful wearable art that is inspired by the beauty that surrounds us here on earth as well as the women who wear my work. I have an intense need to create elegant art wear and it constantly amazes me what patterns emerge from the dyeing process! I am currently exploring the process of discharging colored silk fabrics using Shibori, where I am binding the fabric in any number of ways, placing the fabric in a color removing solution to remove some of the color, rinsing the fabric and then over dyeing the still bound piece of fabric. The discharge process results in a reverse dyeing pattern with completely unpredictable patterning. The unique pattern is not completely revealed until the fabric opened and unbound and dry. I love to finally be able to see the results of the Shibori process and liken it to opening gifts on Christmas morning! I am constantly amazed by the entire process and continue to seek innovative ways to use my dyed fabrics in my accessories and clothing designs. I am also exploring ways to repurpose silk byproducts from my production in a zero waste, eco friendly way by using free motion stitching to make a new fabric which I then use for coats or other accessories. In addition I am also experimenting with using some different natural fibers such as cotton knit jersey and working with that to create a new but similar line of items I already create in silk.