Basic Silk-painting Techniques:

I began painting on silk some years ago, using spirit-based gutta resist and steam-fix dyes directly onto the white silk surface. This produced designs where each individual coloured element was defined by a line, produced because it was where the gutta had been drawn to separate the dyes.

Following are several different techniques you can use to achieve desired patterns or markings.

Blending - done by merging together two or more similar or dissimilar colours by brushing over where the two colours meet to make a smooth transition.

Salt - on a wet painted area you can either spinkle over varing sized salt or use salt water to achieve a mottled effect.

Wet on Dry - by painting wet dye next to an already dried area, they will meet and form a hard, wavy line. You can do this same technique by putting wet on top of dry areas.

Panting with water - you can use clean water as per the wet against dry technique, sprinkle it over an area, or use an eye dropper, etc.

Splattering - achieved by splattering several colours on top and next to each other in a large area so they can merge and create a colourful area.

Tie and Dye - this has become a favourite method for me. Paint large patches of colour, eg. stripes of light and dark colours. Let dry. Twist and knot into a tight ball then boil. You are then ready to experience the wonder of colours.

I use Sweetwood Silks steam-fix dyes and spirit based gutta for all my silk painting work.

Gutta outliner is a fine rubber latex resist that gives you control over the way in which the dyes move on the silk.

Directions:

1. The gutta is used to form an outline of your picture or design. You can make up your own design, draw free hand or use a picture.
2. Place the drawing underneath the silk close enough to see the design through the silk. Trace lightly with pencil.
3. Stretch the silk on a frame.
4. When using gutta, hold your applicator similary to the way you would hold a pencil and squeeze from the middle.
5. Before you begin painting you will need to run a line of gutta about 5mm in from the frame, to avoid dyes running everywhere.
6. After your design is completed you will need to let the gutta dry before applying the dyes. This will take only a few minutes.