Artist Bev Barclay applies gold acrylic paint to burgundy silk.

The artist uses the same technique for her custom pillows as for her scarves. Although she has a fully equipped home studio, Barclay prefers to apply the water-based paints to fabric while standing at her kitchen counter. “The two-tiered counter supports the stretcher, the light’s good in the kitchen, and I like to be out in the open rather than shut away from everything,” she comments.

Once the designs are painted, Barclay takes the fabric to a workroom to be made into pillows. All pillows are down-filled, and construction details can include French seams and hand-tied knots. The most popular pillow is a 20-inch square, but custom sizing is possible depending on a client’s needs. Completed pillows are available at Compliments, and Earth and Images. Bespoke designs and colors also are available. The customization is an important bonus to boutique owner Scott Hunter. “We can suggest that Bev make a pillow to match a design in a headboard or a chandelier,” he explains. “Plus, her work is exquisite, and the workmanship of the pillows is unmatched by anything I’ve seen elsewhere.”

For her next project, Barclay wants to paint designs on burlap for Western-themed pillows, and she’s tinkering with designs suitable for Asian-inspired decor. The artist also is experimenting with hand-painting custom lampshades. She continues to paint scarves and work with redesign clients. “I’m having a lot of fun right now,” the artist notes. “It’s a nice little turn in the long road of my career.”