Hey! I'm a silk painter and, beginning my art life as a watercolorist I've always compared silk painting to watercolors! I even use cold wax the same way I'd use resists. I've not used the no flow, yet only Magic Sizing because I strongly dislike gutta. Anyway, like you, I am a lazy artist and somewhat impatient, lol! Thanks for the video! Happy painting! God Bless 😃
Thanks so much and nice to “meet” you! Yep, silk painting is most similar to watercolor, but I’ve found some differences in layering and luminosity that I cannot achieve in watercolor.
Sometimes I do wet the area, which will make the silk behave a little closer to how watercolor paper reacts. If I want to blend colors and layer in a certain area, yes, I wet with my brush first, but I never spritz the entire surface. Many times, though, I do not wet. Leaving it dry allows you to express brush stroke detail!
I have only made 2 scarves using dyes, so I am quite new to this. You explanations are great & easy to understand. I noticed that your dyes seem much thicker than mine, do you add something to them to get a spreadable consistency? My dyes are like water and I think they would run all over the place. TIA
did you find it difficult to wash out the no-flow after heat setting the dye? i've washed my silk 3 times and cant seem to get it back to the original softness.
Thanks for your question. I’ve not had any issues like you describe, but I wonder, are you steam setting your dyes? Most of the antifusant steams out for me, then any residual feel is washed out with my finishing Synthropol wash I always do. What’s your heat set process and what detergent are you using after?
@@CarrieWrightSilk I’m new to silk painting, so I’ve only tried ironing and heat setting in the dryer and then doing a wash/soak. I just got some synthrapol so I’m hoping it’ll work better. Perhaps I should try steaming. I was initially worried that steaming would affect the paint (I’m using dye na flow). Thanks for your response (:
Thank you for this! I was wondering what dye you are using and if you have ever used Jacquard green label (which can set with Dye-set so no steaming) and the no Flow? I was hoping this could also work like a resist! Obviously I need to experiment :-)
I started out years ago on green label dyes, but after using the dye-set was very disappointed in how my colors faded a bit in the process. I had read back then that red label and steaming give the most vibrant colors, so I took the plunge and haven’t looked back! I did use antifusant with green label. It will work!
A trip to the local hardware store will yield all its parts! It’s like an erector set, using lengths of 1/4” threaded rod secured at the corners with fly nuts. Corners are simple metal corner angle construction braces. Here it is all attached in a creative way to my wooden tabletop easel I use for oil painting. Usually, though, I have the metal frame elevated using basic metal shelf brackets attached at the corners with, you guessed it, more fly bolts and nuts. Basically, I have no space, so this allows me to make frames in multiple sizes by simply threading together two 12” rods using double sided coupling nuts, and it all constructs/deconstructs quite quickly for storage! Super cheap too!
@@CarrieWrightSilk Hi Carrie. Can you tell us how the silk is attached to the frame? What are those clips? Is there an elastic cord or rubber band used to connect them? thank you! Your work is amazing!! You are such an inspiration!
@@theresabreznau5661 Hi Theresa. The clips I use are very simple rubber coated clips I found at my local Dollar Store- 6 for $1! I purchased a big box of them later since they were working so well. I've used all types of methods, but this is my favorite as it never requires piercing the silk. I cut lengths of yarn or string which thread through the center coil of the clip then tie around the frame. Part of my silk stretching process is simplified because I'm just untying and retying the strings to whatever length I need to get good even tension all the way around. One tip I'll share about this method, though, is that the clips do tend to prohibit dye from flowing freely directly where the clip touches the silk. I just make sure to gently move the clips from one position to another slightly different one without untying as I typically do make more than one pass of color on my backgrounds/edges. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!
@@CarrieWrightSilk Thanks so much Carrie! I will get some right away. So happy to hear that they are strong enough. Other clips I've tried can't stay tight on the silk. You are a genius! I love what you are doing. I've also tried the masking tape method but the clips will make that so much easier. All my best.
I covered the entire surface this time. If I use antifusant just for lettering, I’ll use it only where the type will be painted. I find it very helpful in many ways!
You can indeed! It will work on any weave of silk. On something as light as organza, just be prepared for it to be a rather messy application process. The product is the consistency I would describe as “gloopy,” so you’ll want to try to skim it across the surface of the silk. Let me know how it works out if you go for it!
Hey! I'm a silk painter and, beginning my art life as a watercolorist I've always compared silk painting to watercolors! I even use cold wax the same way I'd use resists. I've not used the no flow, yet only Magic Sizing because I strongly dislike gutta.
Anyway, like you, I am a lazy artist and somewhat impatient, lol! Thanks for the video!
Happy painting!
God Bless 😃
Thanks so much and nice to “meet” you! Yep, silk painting is most similar to watercolor, but I’ve found some differences in layering and luminosity that I cannot achieve in watercolor.
Love your work ❤ could you share which kind of clips you have used to clip the silk to the frame ?
Thank you! This is a common question- the clips are simple rubber coated chip clips available online and at any big box retailer!
you are the best of the best I just subscribed to your channel, and new to the world of silk painting. you really made my day. the lord bless you
Thanks very much! Hope you find some help in the little videos I made last year.
Hey did you apply water to the silk applied with no flow before you painted with dye
Sometimes I do wet the area, which will make the silk behave a little closer to how watercolor paper reacts. If I want to blend colors and layer in a certain area, yes, I wet with my brush first, but I never spritz the entire surface. Many times, though, I do not wet. Leaving it dry allows you to express brush stroke detail!
I have only made 2 scarves using dyes, so I am quite new to this. You explanations are great & easy to understand. I noticed that your dyes seem much thicker than mine, do you add something to them to get a spreadable consistency? My dyes are like water and I think they would run all over the place. TIA
My dyes are like water too, but in this video they appear thick because there is a product called antifusant on the surface of the silk!
did you find it difficult to wash out the no-flow after heat setting the dye? i've washed my silk 3 times and cant seem to get it back to the original softness.
Thanks for your question. I’ve not had any issues like you describe, but I wonder, are you steam setting your dyes? Most of the antifusant steams out for me, then any residual feel is washed out with my finishing Synthropol wash I always do. What’s your heat set process and what detergent are you using after?
@@CarrieWrightSilk I’m new to silk painting, so I’ve only tried ironing and heat setting in the dryer and then doing a wash/soak. I just got some synthrapol so I’m hoping it’ll work better. Perhaps I should try steaming. I was initially worried that steaming would affect the paint (I’m using dye na flow). Thanks for your response (:
I’ve never messed with silk paints, only dyes! I don’t think steaming will help you much. Hopefully the synthropol does the trick for you!
@@alessiadowhaniuk3413 I use dye na flow a lot and only use the iron to set it. First I soak my silk in a mostly vinnegar solution with water.
Hi do you add some water to no flow if you spread on a large piece of silk?
I’ve never done that, but I believe you can thin it a bit without losing its properties. I’ve never used it on anything larger than a 11”x60” scarf.
Please teach how and howmuch antifusant is to be applied.
I’ll try to make a video about that soon!
Thank you.
I am wondering can this antifusant be put on after the color has dried?
I’ve successfully spread it onto a light background color, but it will cause unsteamed darker colors to bleed!
But I’d use it on a small patch if you’re just trying to size the fabric to make a signature or something like that.
Thank you for this! I was wondering what dye you are using and if you have ever used Jacquard green label (which can set with Dye-set so no steaming) and the no Flow? I was hoping this could also work like a resist! Obviously I need to experiment :-)
I started out years ago on green label dyes, but after using the dye-set was very disappointed in how my colors faded a bit in the process. I had read back then that red label and steaming give the most vibrant colors, so I took the plunge and haven’t looked back! I did use antifusant with green label. It will work!
Can you tell me about the frame you have your silk clipped into?
A trip to the local hardware store will yield all its parts! It’s like an erector set, using lengths of 1/4” threaded rod secured at the corners with fly nuts. Corners are simple metal corner angle construction braces. Here it is all attached in a creative way to my wooden tabletop easel I use for oil painting. Usually, though, I have the metal frame elevated using basic metal shelf brackets attached at the corners with, you guessed it, more fly bolts and nuts. Basically, I have no space, so this allows me to make frames in multiple sizes by simply threading together two 12” rods using double sided coupling nuts, and it all constructs/deconstructs quite quickly for storage! Super cheap too!
@@CarrieWrightSilk Thank you, Carrie!
@@CarrieWrightSilk Hi Carrie. Can you tell us how the silk is attached to the frame? What are those clips? Is there an elastic cord or rubber band used to connect them? thank you! Your work is amazing!! You are such an inspiration!
@@theresabreznau5661 Hi Theresa. The clips I use are very simple rubber coated clips I found at my local Dollar Store- 6 for $1! I purchased a big box of them later since they were working so well. I've used all types of methods, but this is my favorite as it never requires piercing the silk. I cut lengths of yarn or string which thread through the center coil of the clip then tie around the frame. Part of my silk stretching process is simplified because I'm just untying and retying the strings to whatever length I need to get good even tension all the way around. One tip I'll share about this method, though, is that the clips do tend to prohibit dye from flowing freely directly where the clip touches the silk. I just make sure to gently move the clips from one position to another slightly different one without untying as I typically do make more than one pass of color on my backgrounds/edges. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!
@@CarrieWrightSilk Thanks so much Carrie! I will get some right away. So happy to hear that they are strong enough. Other clips I've tried can't stay tight on the silk. You are a genius! I love what you are doing. I've also tried the masking tape method but the clips will make that so much easier. All my best.
So you used antifusent to cover all the silk or just on a spot you wanna paint???
I covered the entire surface this time. If I use antifusant just for lettering, I’ll use it only where the type will be painted. I find it very helpful in many ways!
@@CarrieWrightSilk thanks a lot dear for your reply 😍
Can I use this on organza silk?
You can indeed! It will work on any weave of silk. On something as light as organza, just be prepared for it to be a rather messy application process. The product is the consistency I would describe as “gloopy,” so you’ll want to try to skim it across the surface of the silk. Let me know how it works out if you go for it!
@@CarrieWrightSilk glad to see your response...sure I’ll try and let you know