Resist, Techniques

How Do You Sign Your Name on a Silk Painting?

Recently I was asked by one of my students on The Online Silk Painting Class how I sign my name on silk. The following was my answer. I would love to hear from other silk painters with your tips on signing your name on silk.

My answer was:

Sometimes I sign my name in the first stages of the painting on light color silk if I am  using a  solvent based gutta.

When I use a resist called Resistad I might use that also to sign my name as you can get a nice thin line. Resistad must be set to make it water resistant first.

I have tried pens but usually they do not show up much. If signing on a light background sometimes a fabric pen does the trick.

Even fabric pens can spread some on silk. However if the silk is pre-treated in some way say with No-Flow or Magic Sizing  then you can write on silk and get a pretty clean line.

Lately I am using Jacquard Water Based metallic resist.  I put this on after the painting is complete.Jacquard Permanent Metallic Resist I use a syringe to fill the resist container. Always test your line and resist on a scrap piece of silk first.

I found it helpful to use a syringe when filling an applicator bottle.  I just saw this syringe from Walgreens online and cannot wait to try it. I like the idea that it comes with a clean brush, and an adapter for pouring the resist into it.

Please share your signature tips.

Replies to This Discussion

Ron GutmanPermalink Reply by Ron Gutman 21 hours ago
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If I remember to do so (sigh), I sign lastly (after painting) with a contrasting colored resist (Resistad). If I forget to sign it, then with a ball point pen or iron set resist after steaming. I have seen an artist who cleverly works her signature into the border lines on her scarves…love that!

Francine Dufour JonesPermalink Reply by Francine Dufour Jones 19 hours ago
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Thanks Ron. Great answer and tip! You must have a lot of Resistad made up in different colors. I noticed your line work is exquisite along with your art of course!

Ron GutmanPermalink Reply by Ron Gutman 19 hours ago
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Thanks Francine…I usually only mix up enough Resistad for the project I am working on. If there is any left over, I just leave it in the squeeze bottle and cap it…seems to keep quite well for some time. Also, I may take another left over color and add it to another for a new color. I think the line work comes from many years of illustrating and working with a Rapidograph pen…love the challenge of making beautiful lines.

Dawn CooksleyPermalink Reply by Dawn Cooksley 19 hours ago
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I normally put a little stop flow let it dry then sign with a fine liner brush with just a little dye on it…I tried the pens you can add dye to but found it makes for a thicker signature…sometimes use black gutta and sign with it if I dont use the stop flow…occasionally I just sign with the Pebeo metallic guttas and iron…nearly always the last thing I do…wishing I would learn to do it in the process of making the scarf or painting …haha

someday I will try and get some of the resistad…smile..

Francine Dufour JonesPermalink Reply by Francine Dufour Jones 14 hours ago
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Dawn thank you so much for your reply. Get tips especially with using stop flow. I am sure other silk painters will appreciate this.

Techniques

Shaving Cream Technique….Are You Kidding!!!

I found this jewel on SPIN facebook page. I cannot wait to try it . How about you?

Silk Jacket with panels of various techniques. Shaving cream technique, Parfait and several others. Reversible.
By Marcia of Silk Threads.

 

Madalena
Pereira Shaving cream technique??????????? What is that Marcia??

Marcia Ferris

I love your questions. They make me think. I sometimes take a couple of cups of cheap men’s shaving cream and add some Dupont (liquid) dye to it and use it to dye. I have a long/wide piece of a swimming pool solar cover that is textured (any textured thing will do) . I lay it on a table. Mix some dye with the shaving cream and spread it on the textured piece on the table. Several colors if you like. Don’t put it on too thick, just enough to barely cover it. Carefully lay the silk on top and maybe pat it a little until the color and design show. Let sit for at least 5 minutes or until you like the design. Get someone to take one end of the silk and you take the other and carefully lift it up and hand it to dry. (I fasten mine to the edge of the table) It dries quickly and then I steam for a while. On this piece the back and sleeves are the shaving cream technique, the front is the Parfait technique. Entirely different. will explain another time.

 

Rashmi Agarwal intelligent

Marcia Ferris Oh yes, forgot to add. The wonderful smell of the shaving cream does not entirely wash out.

 
Silk Painting Techniques

How Do You Dilute Dyes and Paints?

I am going to post a good question here that I recently received at Online Silk Painting Class.

 Question was: I have Dupont Silk Dyes, but am not sure how to dilute them. They didn’t come with any instructions. Your lesson says you use “your home made dilutant of 3 parts alcohol and 1 part water”.

Is this mixed with an equal ratio of dye? Or does it vary according to how concentrated you want the color?

I also have Dye-Na-Flow paint. Are there any guidelines for these?

Any information would be appreciated.
I am so glad I found your class online. Your instructions are very well written and I am enjoying your class very much. I hope you will consider doing an advanced class sometime in the future.

My answer was: That is great you have both steam set (Dupont) and heat set Dye-Na-Flow paints. Dupont dyes are highly concentrated. Some professional silk painters just dilute 50% water and 50% dye. They usually need some diluting the exception is black. You can dilute with water to the desired tint. I always drop about 1 teaspoon of my home made dilutant into about a third a cup of dye. Dupont also makes a dilutant see this link and has suggested amounts. https://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/185303-AA.shtml

It seems to make solid large areas less streaky. I have some but do not really care for it that much. I think I enjoy the unpredictability of just adding water and a little home made dilutant. That is just my taste you may have a different taste. Dye-Na-Flow does not need to be diluted unless you want a lighter tint. That is the only reason to dilute. Again it is a matter of your preference. Regarding advance class in the future…I may do mini courses for certain techniques IE “Plein Air” painting with silks, different experiments in pre-treating silk, and so on. I hope that helps.

Have fun. Francine