PO Box 14 • Somerset, MA 02726
orders 1-800-2-BUY-DYE
technical support 508-676-3838
fax 508-676-3980
e-mail • promail@prochemical.com
www.prochemical.com

Silk Painting using Pebeo Orient Express

Please read directions carefully before starting.

Orient Express is a concentrated silk dye that works great without steaming! It spreads smoothly and easily, even for beginners. All colors can be intermixed, or just add water to get pastel shades. Create unique patterns with water based gutta resists and salt. Setting the dye is as simple as soaking in a fixative bath. It also works beautifully on silk or wool yarns.

•   Wear thin latex gloves, apron, or old clothes
•   Utensils used for silk painting should never be used for food preparation

Supplies                                                                         Equipment

Pebeo Orient Express                                                      Fabric stretcher frame   

Water based gutta or Sabrasilk Resist                           Brushes

Starburst Salt                                

Synthrapol and PRO Dye Activator or laundry detergent

Procedure

1.Scour your fabric by machine washing in HOT 140ºF (60ºC) water, or by hand as HOT as possible with laundry detergent or try our Perfect Wash to get your fabric the cleanest: use ½ tsp (2 gm) PRO Dye Activator and ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol per pound of fabric (454 gm, or 3 to 4 yards muslin, or 8 yards of 8mm China Silk). Rinse thoroughly, dry and iron as necessary.

2. Prepare the Pebeo Orient Express by using water if you want to dilute the colors. You can use up to eight parts water to one part Orient Express, to get a very pale shade. Otherwise all colors of Pebeo Orient Express are ready to use right from the bottle, plus they are all intermixable allowing you an infinite color palette to paint with.

3. Transfer the design to your fabric using a soft pencil. You may want to draw your design freehand or use a light table to help you transfer the design. You can also use a window or sliding glass door. Tape the pattern to the glass surface; then tape the fabric over the pattern.

4. Stretch your silk prior to painting. There are a number of frames available on the market for use in silk painting OR you can make your own from artist stretcher frames and stainless steel pushpins.

5. Apply the resist lines, using the Pebeo Water Based Colored Gutta or Sabra Silk Resist. Press the applicator tip firmly against the stretched fabric. It is important to maintain an even flow and continuous line as you trace the design. Pebeo Orient Express will flow through any gaps in the resist. line. Check the back of your fabric to make sure that the resist has penetrated all the way through. If you see any gaps, fill them in from the front. You may need to apply the resist on both sides of heavy fabric. Once you’ve outlined your design, let the resist dry and follow the steps below, according to the resist you have chosen.

6. Paint with Pebeo Orient Express once the gutta resist lines are dry. The size of the area you are about to paint will determine what size brush you need. Use a small brush for small areas and a larger brush to cover bigger areas. Dip your brush into the container of Pebeo Orient Express and lightly touch the brush to the center of the area you are painting. Allow the color to spread out to the resist lines. Continue adding Orient Express and blending brush strokes or colors while the dye is still wet and until the enclosed area is filled. Work quickly to prevent the Orient Express from drying before you have all the color applied to an area. Be careful not to flood the fabric with too much liquid, or the resist lines will break. Use a cotton swab or dry brush to mop up extra dye that pools in an enclosed area. Do not paint over the resist lines.

Add visual texture to your silk painting with some of the pattern techniques below.

• Work "wet on wet" for fluid shading and harmonious color blending.
• A dark-edged ring is characteristic of applying dye paint to a dry dyed area. This is known as a "wet on dry" patterning technique.
• Sprinkle Starburst Salt onto freshly painted wet silk for starburst explosions. Try different kinds of salt for various size patterns. As soon as the fabric is dry, brush off the salt.

7. Fix the painted silk by allowing it to air dry for at least 48 hours. It is very important to wait the 48 hours before fixing the silk to avoid color from bleeding in the fixative bath. To prepare the fixative, mix 2 capfuls of Orient Express Liquid Fixative with 1 quart (liter) of water. If you have used a water based resist on your silk do not immerse it in the fixative bath. Instead, paint the fixative over the painted areas between the resist lines. Leave the fixative on the silk for at least 30 minutes, then rinse in room temperature water. If you have not used a resist on your fabric, just slowly dip the fabric into the bath 3 or 4 times, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, squeeze out the excess fixative, then rinse in room temperature water. The fixative bath can be reused.