Collectors Corner

Glossary: Important terms for determining the care of your silk

gutta serti- literal translation is "Glue fence" a gummy, rubber based substance is drawn in a line on the silk to prevent the flow of dye through it, enclosing each section of dye in a closed area. In this technique, the lines can be clear, black or colored at the will of the artist

gutta- the rubber based substance used for resist painting

resist- a substance added to the silk which prohibits the dye from attaching to the thread

discharge paste- a pastey formula used to remove dye, leaving an organic, bone-like texture to the area. Paste is usually brushed on, stamped on or sponged on, ironed or otherwise heated to activate, then washed off so that it doesn't eat the threads of the silk

thickening paste- a compound that thickens the dye so that it can be painted with the substance of guoache

chemical set- chemistry that glues the dye to the surface of the threads, rather than dye molecules infiltrating threads by osmosis in the steaming process and then being washed clean on the outside. Extremely important in looking at silk painting, the luminousity, intensity and vibrancy of the dye painting is determined very much by the method of fixing.

dye wash- a large amount of dye flowing across the silk beyond what a brushload alone can carry

momme- weight of fabric, 8 momme = one ounce. 1 square yard of 24 momme silk charmeuse weighs 3 Ozs from an old (1891) Japanese measurement system, first applied to pearl.

I have only just begun this page. Please feel free to leave a message for me in the guestbook below if you would like me to cover certain areas in the issues of caring for silk paintings.

Details from various Fire Paintings. The Fire paintings are painted on silk crepe de chine, habotai or charmeuse using the gutta serti technique with different types of pastes and dye. These images are Copyrighted 1996-2011 Kirstin Ilse, all rights reserved.

Care For Your Silk Painting:

how to keep the painting you love looking like the day you bought it for generations to come

Congratulations on acquiring a vibrant, luminous, painting on silk! If you have a painting from me directly, I gave you instructions how to handle it. Ask me for help if you need it, I want to help you keep this wonderful art well for generations to come.

Silk painting is as varied an art medium as any other: no one rule of care applies to all. Below are some general guidelines for caring for your silk painting. No one rule applies to all silk painting, it is important that you know which way is best to keep your silk healthy and archival. I employ many techniques in my work. You have to know what you have to handle it correctly.

Only one rule seems to apply to all silk paintings and other works of art: do not hang in direct sunlight if you want it to last. Temporal pieces sometimes were made to fly colors in the sun, but if it's hanging on your dining room wall in an open-air villa where the sun hits it directly, it's going to fade in a number of months to years, various factors depending.

If there are black gutta lines, do not dry-clean. The dry-cleaning fluid will break down the gutta into a gooey mess. You may have an unhappy dry-cleaner as result.

Any time there is texture to the lines of resist, press with a press cloth or freezer paper, or steam while hanging loose.

If there is no texture to your silk other than a naturally smooth, silky hand, and if there are white, unpainted lines of resist separating soft feeling, solid blocks of color, it still depends on what type of color was used whether you want to dry-clean, hand wash or not clean at all. It is very important that you know what you're dealing with. If you have the above conditions and know your dyes are steam set, hand wash in cool water, press with an iron, steamer or hang dry no problem. Simple and easy. I prefer to use shampoo on my silk scarves.

Pigments applied to silk which is sized is an ancient, classic technique of silk painting, and if you wash it, the size as well as the pigment may fall right off.

UV protective glass covering the silk is highly recommended to preserve the painting, but detracts from enjoying the precious luminousity of the image, so I suggest covering a painting with a sheath when not on display. A draped swag that can lift off easily for dinner parties is ideal.

If you have a painting by someone else and you are looking to my page for advice, be forewarned: how the artist used materials may be different than what I have used and these care techniques might not apply to keep your silk in good shape. I accept no liability for the way you handle your silk. I am not advocating anyone use my methods for caring for a silk I did not paint. I hope you find the best possible method, but my words are not a sure guide for anything other than those I have directed as such from inspiration through creation.