Tracy Harris Gallery
Sunset Lorikeet
Silk is a protein fiber. The products used to paint on silk must be formulated for use on silk or on protein fibers. These can be either paints or dyes.
Silk paints, as the name suggests, spread as well as bind to the surface of the silk fibers. Paints are convenient because the colors can be set by ironing. The paints slightly affect the feel (hand) of the silk. Because of this change in ‘hand’, paints are more often used to produce paintings than wearable art.
Dyes are liquids the consistency of water. They are usually applied to the silks with a brush using methods similar to watercolor painting. Artists are attracted to painting with dyes because of the vibrancy of the colors and the fact that the dyes do not change the hand of the silk. The colors must be set by steaming the silk when the work is finished
After Steam setting and washing... I get to see the finished artwork is wet.
Lorikeet are fun to feed at the Wild Animal Park, in San Diego
I like using dyes, the feel and the vibrancy of the color is exciting when working with silk....but you have one shot...you can not cover up the silk once it is dyed.
Click on Sunset Lorikeet to go to Dharma Trading Company Featured Artist
Sunset Lorikeet, Original Silk Painting, Tracy Harris, San Diego 35 x 45