Got Silk?

"Silk Effects 3" 22"x30" water media on watercolor paper. Available.

Silk Effects

Two new pieces, "Silk Effects 1" and "Silk Effects 2." Both are water media on watercolor paper, 22"x30". (Available)

New Technique Using Silk Dyes

I painted with the Woodlands Art League group this morning. The model was wonderful, although sadly I did not get a great painting of her. I always use live painting sessions as a way to learn and experiment. The eye sees things with a live model that the camera cannot show.

Today I drew with a pencil on watercolor paper, then painted using dyes made for coloring silk. The colors are acrylic based, but these dyes have different properties than either acrylic paints or watercolors.

Two things I enjoy about the dyes is the extreme amount of diffusion that occurs on a dampened surface, and the effects of blotting up the colors at various stages of the drying process. In this, they are particularly different... as can be seen by this close-up section of today's painting.

The sense of depth, of weathering, and of palimpsest that this method gives is almost intoxicating. I expect to do further experiments in painting the figure using these silk dyes.