Silk Painting

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS USED BY JUDY KUSHNER:
Over the past ten years I have developed my technique in silk painting. My figurative and abstract paintings are sewn into wearable art. I begin with a pencil drawing appropriate for loose, flowing fabric. The pencil drawing becomes a template I trace onto the silk using resist. Besides defining the image, the resist serves as a dam to keep the fabric dye with which I paint from flowing outside of the outlines.Fabric dye pigments are combined to create colors appropriate for each design. I paint the most detailed portion of my design first. Then, the fabric is stretched onto a frame to paint larger areas.Once the silk is painted, the dye is set to make it colorfast and washable by immersing it into a chemical solution or steam setting it. Then, to finish the process, the silk is washed using a mild detergent, blotted to remove excess moisture, and ironed on the reverse side. Once colorfast, the fabric is sewn into neckties and women’s wearable art.