The Process... the end is a result of many altering processes. Prior to painting, silk must be washed removing silk gum, then stretched like canvas for an oil painting. Applying Dyes and a resist I begin to layer. The fabric’s ability to absorb, the order in which dyes are layered, all contribute to the hues and tones of the final painting. The painting is taken off the stretcher, the wax is removed by ironing with paper to absorb the wax, then it is carefully rolled in an absorbent paper. After sealing the roll of paper and silk, it is placed in a special steamer and is steamed for 3-5 hours, fixing the dyes. Steaming generates a chemical reaction when the heat and moisture bonds the dyes to silk. After steaming, the silk must be washed, ironed, and dry cleaned. Silk is resilient and durable enough to withstand all the processes retaining its natural beauty.
Dyes
Using natural hair bristle brushes I paint with Dupont French Dyes, acid dyes specifically made for protein fibers like silk. Dyes are translucent and are absorbed by the entire weave of the fabric (so if you look at the backside of the silk it is the same as the front). Dyes should not be confused with paints, which contain binders and extenders changing the texture and drape of the silk.
Why do I paint on silk?
Wax as a Resist
The beauty of a silk painting starts as dye touches silk. It spreads like grape juice on a table cloth. To control the spread of dyes, I use bees wax for my resist. I remove the wax by ironing between two sheets of paper, then I steam fix to make permanent. The residual wax is completely removed in the final process of dry cleaning.
Permanence
My paintings are steamed for 3-5 hours to "fix” the dyes. This generates a chemical reaction from heat and moisture bonding dyes to silk. Once fixed, the dyes are permanent and can be washed, dry-cleaned, and are light resistant.
Silk
For my paintings, I use a heavy 19mm charmeuse silk. Charmeuse is a durable weave and the weight (mm or mumme, a japanese unit of measurement) of the silk absorbs more dye, adding to the richness of the painting.
Care of Silk
Silk is a luxurious fabric, beautifully delicate yet practical and durable. Using proper care, silk can be enjoyed for lifetimes. As with all artwork, do not hang in direct sunlight