Inktense on Silk Part 1

This lavender field was painted on damp silk using Inktense blocks, It is approx  4in square

The manufacturers say these can be used on silk and when dry are permanent. Silk paints are usually fixed by ironing. I ironed this. 

Below is my sample to test the colours to see if they are colour fast when washed. 

I will also test the colours to see how light fast they are but that takes time.

The sample on the left was cut in half and the right hand side washed. The right hand photo shows before and after washing. I didn't notice any colour running in to the water though the sample on the right has gone a little lighter.

I also tested some other aquarelle sticks on damp silk. I didn't cut these samples in half but just washed the right hand side of each.
D    Daler Rowney's Aquatone
CD Caran d'Ache Neocolour
L    Lyra

With these I could see the colour coming out into the water. The manufacturers of these makes don't claim that they are colour fast.

The Inktense blocks seem to have done the best on washability.
I am not sure that I would use any of them for silk scarves.
They would be good for making silk painted cards or small paintings and are more portable for working outside or on holiday. They would be ideal for groups of children to use.

Canna Durban silk painting

  Canna Durban    silk painting by Tessa Spanton (c)

                                   
I have several paintings in 'Art for Gifts at Christmas' until 24th Dec 2013
The one above is in the window. It is in a light hardwood frame size 23x27in
at The Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey

I grow these cannas in my garden and draw them at different stages as they grow. I did a series of paintings from my drawings inspired by the way the colours glow in the sun.

I painted using successive layers of colour and clear outliner resist. No size or thickener was used.
I draw on the silk with a pencil and then wet the silk. It wouldn't work using a fade away marker as it would vanish when the silk was wet. The colours are brushed onto the wet silk and go beyond the pencilled shapes. I used iron fix paint for this but steam fix can also be used this way. Clear outliner is then applied to some of the pencil lines. Then paint is brushed to one side of the line to cut out the shape.
It needs some planning as to which colours will work over which. The outliner lines will not be visible if paint is only put on one side of the line when finished a sharp edge is created. If painted both side of the line then the line will be the colour of the first layer as in the pink edge of the stem of the central flower. Depending on the painting I might repeat this several times building up more layers and depth of colour.