Kim Michelle Toft
Silk Artist | Author | Illustrator
Silk Painting Technique
![Silk-painitng-in-progress-](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Silk-painitng-in-progress-.jpg)
How I paint on silk…
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/1.Pen-and-ink-design-to-go-onto-silk-300x236.jpg)
1. Before I start painting onto the silk I draw a small thumbnail sketch of my design and then draw a more detailed pen drawing using photographic references. The design is then transferred onto the silk with a HB lead pencil. Some of my paintings are 2m x 1m and these first 2 steps can take up to 2 weeks to complete.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2.-white-silk-stretched-then-painted-2.jpg)
2. The silk is then stretched over a frame ready for the “gutta” and dye.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3.-gold-gutta-drawn-on-then-dye-paintied-in-between.jpg)
3. The solvent based gold gutta is applied with a nib and applicator bottle , over the pencil lines. The gutta sets hard and takes up to one hour to dry. The gold outline blocks the weave of the silk and acts like a barrier.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/4.wet-dyes-blended-together-.jpg)
4. Each area, enclosed by the gold gutta lines are painted with silk dyes. If there are any breaks in the lines the dye will bleed through. I use pointed paint brushes ranging in size from 000 to 4cm wide to paint the dye on. I recommend putting the darker dye down first then blending the lighter colour into the darker tone. The dyes must be wet to be able to blend the colours. This ensures a smooth transition between colours. Depending on the amount of detail it can take another week or 2 to complete these next 2 stages.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5.1-salt-on-the-wet-BG-.jpg)
5. I always paint the BG last. I often use rock salt to create the ‘bubble’ effect. The rock salt is placed on the wet BG and the frame can be tilted to create a stronger pull of the ‘bubble’ patterning. The salt is brushed off the silk once it is completely dry.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5.2-Salt-brushed-off-BG-painted-last.jpg)
6. Because I use solvent based gold gutta I steam my finished silk. I had a steamer custom built because of the size of my pieces I paint. The steaming fixes the colour, takes the tacky residue out of the gutta and dissolves the salt film left behind from the salting. To steam I place the completed silk onto clean butcher’s paper then lay a piece of white cotton fabric over the top of the silk. It is then very carefully rolled onto a piece of dowel making sure there are no wrinkles as I roll. I then steam the silk for approximately one hour.
![](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/7.-Completed-silk.jpg)
7. My work is then ironed on the wrong side of the silk and stretched onto foam core board ready to be photographed for my books , cards and prints and then framed for sale in my gallery and exhibitions.
Materials
To get started you will need…
- White Silk – I use habutae or Jap Silk
- Gutta – I use solvent based gold gutta
- Brushes that come to a point , at various sizes
- Dyes – I use Silk Designer liquid dyes
- Rock Salt
- Steamer
Most of my silk art supplies I get from Batik Oetoro www.dyeman.com
I run classes out of my gallery in Ballina. Sea Silks Gallery is located on the river at the entrance of The Ramada , 2 Martin Street , Ballina NSW.
You can also contact me at info@kimtoft.com.au
Videos
Silk Sensation – Time Lapse
40 hours in 2 minutes
Coral Sea Dreaming
New Gallery
2 Martin Street Ballina NSW
![kim-web-footer-bg-phone2](https://kimmichelletoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Background-corals3-1.png)