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A well planned drawing is transferred onto a piece of pre-washed silk and then the silk is stretched onto a frame. This is the substrate.
The resist is now applied. The resist is clear or can be dyed any colour, but black is usually the colour of choice.
The pencil lines are traced over using the water based resist. When the resist is dry it acts like a dam to contain and control the water based dyes.
A well planned drawing is transferred onto a piece of pre-washed silk and then the silk is stretched onto a frame. This is the substrate.
The resist is now applied. The resist is clear or can be dyed any colour, but black is usually the colour of choice.
The pencil lines are traced over using the water based resist. When the resist is dry it acts like a dam to contain and control the water based dyes.
The primary colours of dye are used to make up a palette of cool and warm colours. The cool palette contains Lemon Yellow, Magenta and Turquoise dye. The warm palette contains Golden Yellow, Scarlet Red and Cobalt Blue dye.
The six colours are mixed to produce any desired colour. The dyes are transparent allowing the layers of mixed colours to show after the silk is steamed.
The dye can be manipulated with water or Isopropyl alcohol while using a hair dryer to stop the flow of dye when the desired effect is achieved.
There are numerous techniques used while painting, which produce amazing results that can not be achieved with any other medium.
The six colours are mixed to produce any desired colour. The dyes are transparent allowing the layers of mixed colours to show after the silk is steamed.
The dye can be manipulated with water or Isopropyl alcohol while using a hair dryer to stop the flow of dye when the desired effect is achieved.
There are numerous techniques used while painting, which produce amazing results that can not be achieved with any other medium.
When the painting is complete the silk is removed from the frame and rests for 24 hours.
It is then wrapped and steamed for several hours to fix the colour depending on the steaming method used. The silk is unwrapped, laid flat to rest again for another 24 hours.
Now it is ready to be washed where the resist is now removed. The silk is wrapped in a towel to absorb any extra water. It is then pressed with an iron then applied to a gallery canvas and prepared for framing.
By: Marilyn Stubbs Cooney
It is then wrapped and steamed for several hours to fix the colour depending on the steaming method used. The silk is unwrapped, laid flat to rest again for another 24 hours.
Now it is ready to be washed where the resist is now removed. The silk is wrapped in a towel to absorb any extra water. It is then pressed with an iron then applied to a gallery canvas and prepared for framing.
By: Marilyn Stubbs Cooney
