Experiment with various salts for mottling the silk dyes.
Dating to the 2nd century A.D. in India, silk painting is a beautiful art form that requires proper tools to produce good results. Whether painting a silk scarf, decorative pictures, or a full quilt top, the same techniques and supplies are always used for consistent, beautifully executed outcomes.
Silk Painting Brushes
The paint for silk painting is very thin and begins to spread immediately when applied.
Silk brushes are soft and soak up large amounts of paint, allowing the artist to apply the paint sparingly to prevent oversaturating the fabric or design.
Silk Paints and Dyes
Paints and dyes made exclusively for silk painting are very thin and free-flowing, and are used with a "resist" to restrict their path from one to another. Silk paints and dyes are available at local art supply or craft stores or through internet art supply websites such as Dharma Trading Co. and Dick Blick Art Materials. Marketed under various brand names they will all contain the word silk in their description.
Silk Resist
"Resist," normally clear, is a liquid barrier that stops the spreading of the silk paint. It leaves an outline where the silk fabric color shows through wherever used.
Silk Resist Applicators
Resists are applied to the silk with an applicator. Applicators can be a plastic bottle fitted with various sized tips or a Tjanting, which is a batik tool used for liquid resist or bees wax. Both allow the artist to apply a steady stream of resist to the silk.
Stretcher Frame
Some silk painting artists prefer to work with their silk stretched in a frame. This tool is a wooden frame with a fabric sleeve fitted to it that allows the artist to attach the piece of silk, pulling it taut for working on the project.
Silk Paint Air Pen
Silk paint air pens are handheld, air powered tools, similar to an airbrush, that allow you to draw very fine decorative details. They are also handy for applying the resist to the silk prior to painting.
Salt
Place common household salt on the wet silk paints and dyes for a decorative mottled effect. Various salts produce varying results as the salt absorbs and resists the silk paint as it dries.
