how-to of the day – making silk paper, part four

 Time to work on the background!

I’m using standard artist’s canvas as the foundation layer for the background.  You can also use cotton fabric & quilt batting, or even work directly onto a stretched canvas.  Play around and see what you like best.

I show you the sketch I’m using to create the background in my last post.   Here’s how I’m translating my sketch into the finished piece:

 I’ve started off by marking out the edges of the background.  I’d recommend using chalk or erasable fabric markers if the edge will be visible.  I then used standard wax crayons to draw soft stripes onto the canvas.

Wax crayons are a lot of fun to use on fabric – just make sure to use a pressing cloth if you’re going to iron it.  They’re not particularly color-fast, so don’t use it on garments that are going to be washed (they will stain still!)

 The crayons aren’t quite as strong as I want, so I’m using a combination of Dye-Na-Flo and Jacquard textile paint to add more color and stronger lines.

It still needed a little bit more color, so I dry-brushed more red Dye-Na-Flo (the same color I used to paint the flowers on the silk) onto small patches of the canvas.

The paint needs to dry throughly – and then I’m going to stitch it

all images: C Findlay-Harder