I’ve been looking for a class that I could take that would push me out of my comfort zone. I found that in Evi’s Silk Painting Class.
When I take classes I not only learn new things, but recognize even more things about me. In this class I recognized that I am really into control. You’d think with the ice dyeing (little control) and marbling (little control) I’d be okay with NO control. Well, with silk painting there is no control. The dyes just do what they want. It’s a lot like herding cats.
In our first class we painted a scarf. Here is mine.
In the second class, we learned two lessons. The first was to paint each dye color in squares she had drawn on the silk. Sounds easy, but we are not using any resist. So this taught us how to attempt to control the dye. This was a very challenging exercise!
Here is how it looked when I finished. We numbered all of the colors for a quick reference – really a great idea.
Here is Evi showing Mary Beth.
And Mary Beth- her scarf was almost perfect. She’s also a much faster painter than I am!
For our second lesson in that second session we painted on two scarves: one was wet and the other was dry. Evi wanted us to try to paint the exact same strokes so we could see the difference. Well, painting on dry I have no control; on wet a little.
Now, we’re not done with those. This past week we painted over them. I’ll show you those results when I get them back next week.
Also this week we painted scarves using fabric wax crayons. They acted as resists so I had control. Yeah!
For the next session I’ll be bringing in some of my wood printing blocks and my gelli arts plate, and we’ll also play with another resist. I am really looking forward to that session – much more in my comfort zone.
Evi Slaby not only is a talented artist, but a patient teacher. For more information on Evi and her art, check out her website here. If you are local and want to play with silks and dyes, Evi is teaching a free silk painting class where all of the painted scarves will be donated to chemo patients. Information is on her website.
I am really looking forward to our next class.
Have a great weekend!
This looks like great fun! What kind of paints are you using? I have some friends who are going through chemo right now… this would be a nice thing to do for them…
I’m surprised that you have more control over wet painting than dry! Looks like a really fun class.
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What a great exercise, and pretty scarf. What happened to the numbers? Did they stay on, or eventually wash out?. I like the frames you used. I have never seen that before. I love silk dyeing, because it seems like you always get a beautiful product in the end… and it is a TOTAL surprise!
Your scarf is beautiful! I’ve seen the exercise with the squares in one of my dyeing books, great idea. I bought some periwinkle silk dye this week and will attempt to dye a scarf again with soy wax resist. Enjoy all your classes, looks like great fun!
Diane
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Hi Judy, We are using Jacquard Green Label Dyes. They have to be set with steam.
Lisa, Yes, it’s interesting that you have a little more control with wet fabric. It is a fun class.
Darlene, The numbers are still on the scarf. They didn’t show up real well because the scarf was wet but you can see them now that it is dry. We used a Sharpie to write the numbers. Those are just pvc pipes. I love how she used regular office supply clips and rubber bands to stretch the fabric. I want to use that equipment for soy wax resists also when I get around to that! Thanks for dropping by.
Diane, it was such a great exercise and good idea. When I was working on my long scarf during the last session I referred back to this scarf for the colors I wanted to use. I’d love to see you soy wax resist project.
Enjoy your posts. Love the painting on silk results. Wish I lived closer (743 miles) to do the Evi class for Chemo patients.
Hi Jean! Glad you enjoy my posts. Yes, her class for the chemo patients will be a blessing for both the painters and the recipients.
I would like to know if Evi Slaby gives online silkpainting courses. Thanks.
Leonisa, I don’t think so but you can contact her via her website: http://angelsilks.com/