Silk painting is an ancient art form, modernized more recently by the French. Jocelyn uses the French Serti method of silk painting. This involves stretching the silk tightly on a wooden frame which creates the “canvas”, then adding “resist” lines to enclose the design and outline the image. The silk dyes or paints are then mixed and carefully applied with Sumi brushes. The dyes and paints flow freely to the edges of the resist. Special effects can be achieved with layering colors, or using salt and alcohol.

The dyes and paints are translucent allowing the beauty of the silk to shine through. It is an unforgiving medium, though, when a momentary distraction can ruin a painting in an instant. Once the painting is completed the dyes or paints have to be “set” to become permanent. If using paints this involves heat setting. If using dyes the painting is rolled in newsprint and steamed for several hours.

The paintings are then rinsed, ironed, and finally stretched onto acid free foam board ready for framing.

Although the silk dyes and paints are permanent, silk paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight as silk is a natural fiber and the sun can damage the silk over time.