Featured Artist : Addie ChernusADDIE SILK ART: Silk Painting Lessons

Teaching the joy of painting on silk is very important to me. I have taught at workshops and community colleges all over the U.S for the past 10 years. My Master of Arts in Education, plus my teaching experience, has helped me with teaching silk painting. “Ask Addie” is a column I write for Silk Painters International. For 8 years, I have taught silk art at Lake Tahoe Community College. Recently, ADDIE SILK ART: Silk Painting Lessons has been published. It is a colorfully illustrated educational silk painting book with 10 lessons: Wall Art, Creative Coloring, Design, Art to Wear, Harmony, Mixed Media, Texture, Plein Aire, Series, and Fantasy. This enjoyable book is for beginners to advanced students.

Capturing a pleasant moment of time, colorfully and joyfully, is my goal. My silk paintings, wall hangings, and art to wear are “Sunshine” art. I am inspired by the beauty of the High Sierra Mountains where I live, by my travels to Hawaii and the Caribbean, by the small towns of Mexico, and by living in Europe with extended traveling. People of various cultures, along with animals, have always brought life to my work. My family and students bring joy to my life, which helps nurture creativity. 

The silks I use are mostly Habotai and Charmeuse. Scarves of all fabrics and sizes are lots of fun. Steam Set Dyes are my favorite choice for their depth of color, durability, and pure joy of watching as they mix on the silk. I use Dupont French Dyes, Jacquard Silk Colors, and Tinfix Design. My water soluble resist is Presist, which is put into a gutta applicator with #7 or 9 metal tip. I put a metal tip on the end of Dupont water based black resist to achieve a nice even flow. Silkpaint Air-Pen is great for large works of art. My favorite silk painting framing system is by Arty. I have the basic stretching system, the small system and the extension. These can fit together to create the size frame you desire. 

Sodium Alginate (low viscosity) is what I use to thicken the dye for direct application. To treat the surface for direct dye application, I use No Flow. A real find has been fabric markers that I can fill with my dyes. They are wonderful for details and controlled painting. Chinese brushes of all sizes are used till they wear out. They can point beautifully and hold lots of dye. Reduran is great for cleaning your hands. Synthrapol is what I use for washing my steamed silk. I always rinse the silk in a water and white vinegar solution with lots of cool water for the final rinse. My Engineer husband designed and built a high altitude steamer out of a pressure cooker for my silk steaming. It works great!