Silk Life Painting

That's Clever! : Episode HCLVR-201 -- More Projects »
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Project by Miranda Roberts from Redmond, Wash.
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Miranda Roberts recently moved to the United States from England and loves living in the Seattle area where she enjoys an active lifestyle with her husband, 12-year-old son and two dogs. She recently completed her first half-marathon and already has another marathon lined up! She has actively participated in painting and printmaking, both of which she studied in college. About 10 years ago, she saw a painting-on-silk demonstration and after trying it she fell in love with the technique. Miranda makes a life painting on silk to depict the notable details of a individual person's life.

Materials:

silk paint
gutta
Habotai 8 silk
stretcher frames
3-pronged pins
scissors
paper
photocopy machine
paper towel
paintbrushes
spray mount adhesive
newspaper
mat
white card
pencils
fading embroidery pencil
eraser
tape
iron and ironing board
computer – optional only for references

Steps:

1. Collect as much background information on the subject (person) as possible from someone who knows them well. The stories portrayed in the picture will strengthen the likeness.

  • Remember this is an illustrated representation of their life, not a caricature, so illustrations of the person don't have to be an exact replica, just a fair similarity in terms of body shape, hair, typical clothing etc.
  • Look for pictures online, work from photographs or create your own images.
  • Investigate other aspects of the person including their astrological sign (which may be portrayed in the sky as the actual constellation), their Chinese year and the day they were born to help build a detailed picture that keeps revealing more every time you look at it.
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Figure A
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Figure B
2. Create a montage of these pencil drawings or clip art to create a picture that is visually pleasing (figure A). Enlarge or reduce drawing on a photocopy machine in order to fit a size you are comfortable working with. Note: It is difficult to work on a very small scale.

3. Stretch a piece of white Habotai 8 silk tightly over a wooden frame that is slightly larger than the planned painting (figure B). For beginners, an old picture frame will work just as well as a properly notched frame; it just doesn't allow the same flexibility of size. Three pronged pins prevent the silk from tearing and should be placed roughly an inch apart down all four sides.

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Figure C
4. Trace the drawing carefully onto the silk using either a fading embroidery pencil or a lead pencil (figure C). If you use the fading embroidery pencil, don't leave it too long before you go to step 6 or your picture will vanished! On the other hand, using a regular pencil means you must execute step 6 very accurately. The picture needs to be placed flush underneath the silk for tracing. Support the paper from underneath with a few old books or cut a piece of wood to just the right size for this!

5. When the tracing is complete, remove the books and the original illustration.

Also in this Episode
That's Clever! : Episode HCLVR-201
•Keepsake Paper Dollhouse
•Vintage Tin Charm Bracelet
•Silk Life Painting
•Festive Happy Birthday Banner