How to Create Cold Wax Circles On A Silk Painting for a Great Effect!
I love trying new ideas, testing out some of my designs which are in my head, and putting them onto silk, and painting up something new and exciting!
PLEASE NOTE – I DO NOT USE “HOT WAX” – I only use Cold Wax.
A while back I created some samples of painting on silk with Cold Wax – here’s a little video to show you what I did:
Questions I’m frequently asked:
What is Cold Wax?
The Cold Wax I use is specifically for textiles and is NOT THE SAME as the Cold Wax used in acrylic painting.
I can outline shapes and designs and make much wider lines which really stand out. It can also be used for layering (I’ll show you a ballerina I painted using multiple layers of cold wax over the silk dyes.
Why use cold wax instead of gutta (“gootah”) or outliners?
If I want really wide, bold lines and shapes, I use Cold Wax.
For everything else, I use outliners — and I like to make my own coloured outliners to match the colours in my current silk painting.
How is the Cold Wax removed?
After the silk painting is dry, I use my normal process for steam-setting the silk.
The following day I wash the silk — and I use my washing machine on the “lingerie” setting which is gentle.
The cold wax washes out, and leaves the silk as smooth as … well … silk 🙂 Or a baby’s bottom.
It’s soft and supple and there is no hardness or trace of anything on the silk.
Is it possible to remove textile Cold Wax with an iron, like the wax in batik silk painting?
No — the cold wax is not meant to be heated with an iron – ever.
Please follow the silk dye manufacturer’s instructions for “setting” the dyes so they’re permanent.
- this could be steam-setting (3 hrs for some French silk dyes)
- this could be a dye bath where the silk is submerged
- it’s possible this is called a “curing” process.
Please follow the silk dye manufacturer’s instructions for washing the dyes out.
I prefer to do this with the washing machine on the gentlest cycle to ensure all the cold wax is removed.
Can silk dyes be added to Cold Wax to change the colour?
In a word — no. I have experimented and the cold wax I use didn’t like to be mixed.
Can a piece of silk be almost totally blocked out in sections with cold wax?
Hmmmm – no — and yes. Let me explain.
- If the purpose is for coloured “layers” of a design (like the Ballerina), yes.
- If the purpose for the sake of keeping the background “white” or a different colour, no.
For blocking out large parts of a background, it’s much better (and much more economical) to use a watered-down outliner solution (by adding water).
The silk can be painted with this very runny solution, and then left to dry.
The silk takes on a Chinese paper feel to it, and designs can be painted direct onto the silk without the dyes spreading in any direction. This is the type of result seen from Chinese and Japanese paintings on silk.
The silk artist ends up with much, much more control over the brushstrokes, and many silk artists prefer this style of painting on silk.
Does cold wax work with ALL thicknesses of silk?
In my experience, it works best with thinner silks, and I found that when used on thick silk it rested on top of the silk, but did not penetrate the fibers enough on the back of the silk.
Why don’t you use HOT WAX?
I wrote an article about my first try at using Hot Wax, and why I have never used it since. Each silk artist needs to do their own research and decide which techniques they will use. Read the Hot was article here >>
Got questions about How to Create Cold Wax Circles On A Silk Painting?
If you do, that’s great! Please chat with me:
I look forward to hearing from you!
Teena Hughes
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