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Silk
Silk is the strongest natural fiber. For its weight, it is stronger than steel. Historically, Silk has been used as Sails on boats, as parachutes, as the first hot air balloons, and as armor. Its beauty and rich feel has made it a valuable source of trade for many centuries.
Silk is animal protein similar to our own hair. This is why it has a sensuous, warm, lustrous touch. Silk is created by silkworms - the bombyx moth. This is one of the earliest domesticated animals. The bombyx moth needs human intervention to survive because it cannot fly.
Records indicate that silk has been in production before 6803 BC. The oldest known piece of surviving silk is from 3630 BC and there are examples of still brightly colored silk found in China from the third and fourth century BC.
Silk Paintings and Dyes
All of these paintings are created on white silk. The dyes are painted onto the stretched surface of the silk using a calligraphy paintbrush. The dyes flow into the fiber and bond with the proteins, becoming a part of the silk thread. This is different than oil, acrylic, or watercolor paints which sit on the surface of the support.
These paintings have been steam set - locking the dyes into the fiber and making the color of the painting lightfast and washable. The silk painting is archival. Archeologists have found brilliantly dyed silk dating from 3630 BC. Probably because it is a fiber created by an insect, no insects will touch it. The most serious culprit for damage is moisture.
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Silk Painting Techniques
Silk and Silk painting has been with us for a long time. Silk was the painting support of choice long before canvas or paper was used. There was a resurgence of interest in silk painting in France in the early 19th century with the discovery of gutta.
Gutta is a rubbery resist that can be used to create boundary lines on a silk. The dyes that normally would flow through the silk are stopped at the boundary created by the gutta. This gives the artists control over positioning the dyes on the fabric allowing them to create images.
There are also other more recent materials that help the artist control the way the dyes move through the silk. Many artists use a dye thickener or an antifusant on the surface of the silk to slow the progress of the dyes through the silk. You can find examples of all kinds of silk painting techniques from all over the world at Silk Painters International.
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Lee’s Technique
Lee uses a different technique to create his images on silk. He uses his knowledge of how the dyes flow in the fiber, gravity, and timing to create sharp lines in his images. He likens his technique to a controlled spill.
Because he doesn’t need to “draw in” a pattern with gutta, he can be faster and more responsive to the subject of the painting. Lee can approach subjects that few silk painters have successfully attempted such as plein air landscapes or figure painting. It has also allowed him to dazzle audiences with his large scale, live silk painting performances.
The multi-overlapping figure paintings are the true exhibit of his skill – capturing the subtle movements of the model and maintaining distinctness of each pose in a single complex image.