Silk Painting Techniques
A course by DesedamasTextile Artists and Artisans
A course by Desedamas, Textile Artists and Artisans
Learn all the basics to create your own silk designs
Cecília and Mercè Gonzalez, sisters and creators of the craft and textile art workshop Desedamas, describe their silk painted pieces as magical, due to the unique way in which colors are reflected on silk. The duo, who have been exploring the different possibilities of painting on silk for over 20 years, exhibit their materials in craft fairs and exhibitions in different countries in Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada.
In this course, learn different techniques and ways to approach painting on this material, without the need for previous knowledge. Understand how to recognize the different types of silk and be able to apply the techniques by creating small or large design projects where silk takes the leading role.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 22 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 41 seconds
All the materials
7 minutes, 33 seconds
Silk preparation
11 minutes, 45 seconds
Reserves and paint control
6 minutes, 30 seconds
Color chart
19 minutes, 12 seconds
Gradients
14 minutes, 25 seconds
What's included in this course?
First, get to know Cecília and Mercè and how something that started as a hobby became a passion which itself a way of life. Take a tour of their professional career in the textile world and also learn about their main influences.
See the different materials and tools you need, and learn about the different types of silk so that you can choose the one you like best. Cecília and Mercè introduce you to the different forms of resist-dyeing for silk painting and the best way to control it.
Then, learn how to make a color chart, an exercise that will help you to understand color mixtures and will allow you to work, if you wish, only with the three primary colors and black; moreover, it can always serve as a reference for future work.
In the third unit, get down to work and start to learn the different ways of controlling silk painting, seeing a wide range of techniques and the best ways to apply them.
First, make gradients from light to dark and from one color to another, then move on to the gutta technique and its variations. Next, learn the resist-dyeing technique and painting with a thickener and then with non-slip paint, so that you can paint without the paint slipping and achieve other effects. Finally, get an introduction to the batik or wax resist-dyeing technique, a very old process with which you can obtain works with texture and depth.
In the last unit, Cecília and Mercè show you how to set the paint, so that the work does not get damaged. They also explain all the care you should take with silk. To finish the course, take a look at a variety of projects with silk to inspire your creations.
What is this course's project?
Paint a silk scarf using different painting techniques to achieve spectacular results.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to experiment and enjoy silk painting. It’s for textile creators, illustrators, designers, and artists who, using their own painted silks, want to personalize their works.
Requirements and materials
You won't need any previous knowledge.
Regarding materials, you will need silk, a frame, tacks or acid-free adhesive paper tape (painter's or bodywork tape), gutta, silk dyes (ideally they should be steam-fix, but you can also use iron-fix), three sizes of brushes (if you don't find specific ones for silk, you can use watercolor brushes), invisible marker, large pot, a steamer. These are the necessary materials to start the course, but you can expand the materials little by little as you gain experience.
Reviews
- 4 months ago
ESTE CURSO ES MARAVILLOSO , CLARAS LAS INSTRUCCIONES, AMPLIO EN CONTENIDO , LOS RECURSOS EXCELENTES
- 4 months ago
Un curso increíble para conocer este producto. Práctico y muy bien explicado.
- 7 months ago
Me encanta la técnica y lo bien que la explican.
- 1 year ago
Good.
- 2 years ago
me encantò aprender un poco màs. Yo pinto pañuelos pero bien autodidacta, Ambas hermanas explican bien claramente el paso a paso. Amo los pañuelos
In the year 2000 they decided to turn their passion into a way of life and began to sell their work at craft fairs throughout Spain. In 2006, they began to combine silk with textile art, painting silk for patchwork pieces and working with specific techniques. They currently work in equal measure between craft and textile art, and also share their knowledge with others through different forms of training. In 2013, they both earned the Maestras Artesanas (Master Craftsperson) diploma.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Preparation of silk and materials
- All the materials
- Silk preparation
- Reserves and paint control
- Color chart
- U3
Let's paint!
- Gradients
- Transparent gutta 1
- Guta transparent 2
- Decorative gutta
- Thickener 1
- Thickener 2
- Anti-slip 1
- Anti-slip 2
- Introduction to batik 1
- Introduction to batik 2
- Mixing techniques 1
- Mixing techniques 2
- U4
Fixing, care and uses
- Fixing
- Silk care
- Other apps
- FP
Final project
- Silk Painting Techniques
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
You’ll learn everything from traditional and modern silk painting methods, using gutta, gradients, and batik, to combining painting with embroidery, patchwork, and sewing to create unique artistic and handcrafted textile pieces.
No prior experience is needed, but it’s ideal for those with basic to intermediate skills in crafts, painting, or sewing who want to dive deeper into mixed media silk techniques.
You’ll need genuine silk, an embroidery hoop, brushes, gutta, special silk paints, thinner, pins, palettes, sponges, thickener, and tools for mixing colors. A detailed materials list is provided for each project in the course.
You can set the paint on silk using home steaming methods, following detailed steps to protect the fabric and ensure the colors stay vibrant and long-lasting after painting.
Both require reserving whites and planning color application, but silk demands specific techniques to control color spread and the use of gutta as a barrier.
Batik on silk involves applying wax resist and layering colors to create intricate visual effects, removing the wax at the end to reveal the design. The course offers step-by-step guidance for this technique.
Yes, you’ll learn how to design and make scarves, handkerchiefs, and other personalized items by combining painting, sewing, and mixed media on silk.