‘Barga’ painted silk georgette Indian shirt dress Carole Waller
Chestnut brown, bright blue, greys, orange, cerise pink, red and soft pinks and egg yolk yellow, are some of the many colours in this handpainted translucent silk georgette Indian shirt dress. The painting is inspired by the narrow streets, sunlight and shadows in an Italian hilltop town. There are mad colour surprises here in the earthy Tuscan colour palette of the Medieval town – the odd bright battered Fiat 500, a huge yellow bin or a fire hydrant in a dark alleyway – and just a vivid patch of bright blue sky between the rooftops.
The shirt dress in this see through, floaty silk georgette is called the Indian shirt because of the stand up Nehru style collar. It has buttons down the front.
Inspiration:
This clothing collection is directly inspired by an hilltop town called Barga near the Italian walled city of Lucca.
Colour is everywhere and constantly changing as the sun moves around and briefly illuminates surfaces before it drops away to other surfaces , and there are some fantastic sunsets. The texture of stone, terracotta and paint against a backdrop of blue sky and endless astonishing mountain vistas is a heady mix!
The Duomo crowns the hill, and the town. I made many drawings and prints of the building with its simple arches inside and out during the summer of 2024. Amber coloured alabaster windows convey a soft warm light inside the space and the pale white marble arches on the outside create sharp and soft shadows as the sun moves.
Barga is full of light and shadow with tall buildings with narrow alleys conveying darkness and light both soft and stark. I spent a month there as artist in residence at Quattro Archi Studios and Gallery. and look forward to having an exhibition of paintings and clothing in the stunning gallery there in 2025. I shall also be teaching at Quattro Archi, of which details in the ‘Workshops’ section on this site. The gallery is built in a disused cantina underneath the printmaking studios, which in turn are two minutes walk from the fantastic 11th century Romanesque Cathedral of San Christoforo. The Duomo became my main inspiration for its simultaneous simplicity and complexity and this is reflected in the density of layering prints from drawings of surfaces and walls.
Handwash or dry clean‘
Barga’ painted silk georgette Indian shirt dress Carole Waller
Measurements:
Backlength : 103cm / 41”
Bust : 116cm / 46”
Shoulder to shoulder : 49cm/19.5”
Sleeve : 53cm / 21”
Carole Waller art to wear:
Each painted garment and scarf by Carole Waller is unique wearable art – art to wear. My technique is to handpaint each piece at the studio – which is just outside Bath. My fabrics are unprimed ‘canvases’ and the paintings evolve as I work, and consequently no two pieces are the same.
I also make bespoke commissions and would be delighted to work with you to create the style you prefer, in the colours and cloth of your choice. Despite the fact that I cannot colour match, I can promise you a unique artwork. Visitors are welcome anytime, by appointment.
Waller&Wood.
Waller and Wood is our gallery name from the time we had a retail gallery in Bath between 2015 and 2020. My studio and small showroom is now at our home 4 miles east of Bath on the A4, with good parking and coffee.
Main Photo: Egle Vasi
The code for this specific piece is AW24/15
