Tag Archives: Dye

SUPPLIES POST

silksupplies

You have many options for supplies depending on your purpose.
Things to consider are:
silk dyes or silk paints
setting silk by iron, steam, chemical
resist such as gutta, water based resist, solvent based and how to remove or leave in

I recommend you read books or save yourself a lot of trial and error by taking the Online Silk Painting Course.

Here is a free sample class on materials: CLICK HERE

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

Stop Flow Method by Karen Sistek

I thought I would share this email from Karen Sistek regarding a technique she uses in silk painting. I had asked her how she uses “Magic Sizing”. This is her reply. Thank you Karen for allowing me to reprint this and share this with the other silk painters on Silk Painting Gallery Network

“I am very happy to answer any questions.
THe sizing is more of a ‘sizing’ ( I am thinking that it is similar to what the textile mfg. put into their fabrics at the mill). and works differently than the spray starch. I Originally started experimenting with spray starch and hair spray. I prefer the sizing.It leaves no film or thickness to the silk. It does work as a ‘stop flow’ as it fills the fibers of the silk….I dilute the dyes mostly with the sizing. ( rarely water) or alcohol, or VODKA. Yes, the Vodka works wonderfully and no smelly odors. With some colors, the Vodka actually is more reactive than the alcohol. I paint upright ( bad neck and back) and that was most helpful in creating this technique, as too much dye, and I have a whole new design!.. I use very little dye. I use an eye dropper ( fabulous dye bottle come with the dropper on the lid. They are from Susan Louise Moyer www.moyerdesigns.com ). and keep my dyes in water color trays, so that I can ‘sneak’ up on the dyes, with just the edges of my oval mop ( Robert Simmons oval mop. ) keep the dyes on the edge of the brush…and ‘scrub’ the dyes into the silk, rather than applying more dye and letting it flow. Each stroke will leave a line, so it has to be moved and scrubbed immediately.
I have students come from literally all over to learn my technique… and have been asked many times to video the process… just have not had time to pursue.
If you go to my website and check out  ”The Allemen Project Gallery”. I think that you might be able to see some of the process. I hope to have lots of new ‘stuff’ on my website soon! Right now, my husband is super busy making my frames for me….( he does EVERYTHING, .. manages our business and takes care of the house to allow me to paint paint paint!)
I hope that you experiment soon.. and I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Happy Painting!
Karen Sistek ”
Karen’s website is :

Tags: KarenMagicSistekSizingflowstopvodka

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