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.
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
Permalink Reply by Ron Gutman 21 hours ago- Delete
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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!
Permalink Reply by Francine Dufour Jones 19 hours ago- Delete
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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!
- Permalink 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.
Permalink Reply by Dawn Cooksley 19 hours ago- Delete
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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..
- Permalink 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.
