| Painting on silk usually requires some sort of resist, | | | | heated in a pot and dripped or painted onto silk to form |
| because otherwise the dyes will spread uncontrollably | | | | a resist. In this way, several colours can be built up on |
| on the silk. Once a dye has been put on the silk it can | | | | the silk, with wax covering each layer. The main |
| not be easily or effectively removed so resists can | | | | limitation of wax resist is the it is difficult to block out |
| play a major role in your painting. | | | | fine details this way. |
| The most popular resists are wax and gutta. Where | | | | Gutta Resist |
| these are placed onto the silk, that area will not be | | | | Gutta is a rubber-based liquid which is available in a |
| penetrated by dye. You can then paint other areas, | | | | variety of colours as well as clear. You draw it onto |
| knowing that the dye will only go where you want it to. | | | | your silk as an outline which can then be painted in |
| However, silk can be very unpredictable which is both | | | | using iron or steam-fix dyes. If you are thinking of using |
| a blessing and a curse! With the best will in the world, | | | | gutta, a tip: be sure to buy the sort in a small plastic |
| things can (and often do) go, shall we say, | | | | bottle with a lid, NOT the type that comes in a tube. |
| unexpectedly, so you must not get too upset about it | | | | The tube stuff is an absolute nightmare to use!!! The |
| and try to see every accident as an opportunity. You | | | | bottle type can be very frustrating also, but with some |
| will quickly learn your own tricks to hide any 'mistakes' | | | | practise you should be OK. You can trace a design |
| and most paintings are not beyond redemption if the | | | | onto your silk then go over it with gutta. It needs about |
| dye leaks out of the resist. This is why popular | | | | half an hour to dry before you can paint. The main |
| subjects are flowers, landscapes etc, which can easily | | | | drawback with gutta is that it leaves that 'stained-glass' |
| have an 'extra' tree/leaf/petal added if the dye leaks! | | | | effect outline that many people associate with silk |
| Wax resist is also known as batik and is used | | | | painting. If you like this effect, fine, if you don't, you'll |
| throughout the world in fabric design. Batik wax is | | | | have to find your own style! |