Monday, April 7, 2014

Painting Silk Scarves Without Using a Resist Agent

     The two silk scarves pictured today are among several I made at "art camp". These two have been especially usable and fun to wear; they each coordinate with many outfits and brighten neutral-toned tops. Changing the corner that shows or tying the scarf in different ways features various colors according to whatever section of the scarf best complements an outfit.


     I did not use any resist agent to control the flow of dye in these two pieces. In other words, the dye was brushed straight onto the unpainted silk scarf and allowed to diffuse and spread naturally. Each stroke blends with other dye colors that have been brushed near them, often creating unplanned effects and varied edges (some jagged-looking, some smoother). These effects are delightful to watch and are both fun and challenging to work with in silk painting design. The rest of the post describes the painting process--including the use of salt and alcohol for special effects--for interested readers.

     The multi-colored scarf with yellows, oranges, and reds predominating evolved from my original plan to a somewhat different design. After blending each of the dye colors I wanted to use (in small cups), I began to brush the gorgeous colors in strips from the edge of the scarf toward the center. As you can see in the photo below, I did not bring the colors all the way to the center at first. To deepen the colors, I painted over some areas again once they were dry--sometimes with the same color, sometimes blending in another color. Then, as the final version of the strips of color dried, classmates began to comment on the design, calling it "like fire" or "fireworks". So, I went with that, rather than with the autumn theme in my mind (don't ask--it would be boring to try to explain). I completed the center with a burst of "fire", taking advantage of an interesting property of yellow dye. As our teacher, Donna Kassab, had shown us, yellow dye (who knows why) tends to "push" other colors back a bit in the silk. The yellow and yellow-orange blend in the center performed their magic and created an interesting jagged edge in the process. A bit of salt created some variation in the center (see next paragraph for more on using salt). Fun stuff!


     The green and blue scarf went even more quickly. I brushed the entire scarf with slightly varied green tones as a background. Once that was dry, I began in the center with ultramarine blue and brushed a large spiral shape (leaving a fair amount of open space). Then, I brushed shades of turquoise next to the blue, again leaving some space for the background green to show. Finally, for the "special effects"  of spots and mottling you see, I sprinkled the wet surface with table salt and some chunky sea salt here and there for variety. Lightly spraying alcohol from a couple of different angles completed the piece. Both the salt and alcohol continue to work until the silk is completely dry, either drawing the dye in (salt) or repelling it (alcohol drops). So again, the process took on a life of its own, partly unexpected, although--since I had some experience with the materials by that time--partly as I had hoped and expected.

Question of the day: Do you prefer creative processes over which you (at least mostly) exert some control, or do you enjoy using media which to some degree, drive the creation in unexpected directions?     

7 comments:

  1. I love the scarfs very much. I love the scarf at top very much. That is my very favit colors at the top. I hope you and your husband have a very nice easter. Yall are just like family to me. I hope you don't mind that. I think of yall like my very special family. I hope yall have a very nice holy week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for your kind comments and your support, Anon. I hope you and your family also have a wonderful holy week and Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mary - both are gorgeous scarves. The multi- colored one makes me think of a beautiful flower. The Green and blue one is so peaceful. Thanks for sharing. The answer to your question - I think I like the creative process that is not so controlled. Lots more fun I think! Hope you have a delightful day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great to hear from you, Debbie. I appreciate your responses to each scarf. You are very creative, and I'm not surprised to hear that you prefer a "not so controlled" process. Thanks for stopping in.

    ReplyDelete
  5. When are you going to have a openhouse. And show your beautiful scarfs some them remind me of colored beautitful flowers. I hope you have a openhouse very soon. Because i like coming to your openhouse. Your house is so very nice.. I can't wait to you have a openhouse again. I will be looking forward to your openhouse. When have a openhouse again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful Beautiful one of a kind silk scarves! I don't know which I like better - both are lovely! Thanks for sharing re the tools and processes you used! You certainly make it sound like fun! What a lovely location for an "art camp" get-a-way!! Do you think you will be going back? A perfect location for setting free the creative juices!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rosemary, it is super to hear from you! Given the way my acrylic painting and now silk painting and all needed equipment are filling my studio and half my closet, I'd better not go back to the folk school :>). They give such excellent instruction that I seem to want to keep on doing what I've learned to do there. I very much appreciate your encouragement and hope all is well with you and your art.

    ReplyDelete