Cheri's Silk Painting Process

Cheri painting in her studio.

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​My primary medium is fiber-reactive dyes on silk or silk blends. I like the fluidity of dyes, their transparent quality and vibrancy of color. Most of my work is created using a “free-style” silk painting technique (painting freely onto the silk and avoiding the use of resists or wax that are commonly utilized in traditional silk painting). Transparent dyes are brushed directly onto the white silk and layered until I achieve the desired colors, image and design. The whites and light colors need to be "saved" (just as in watercolor) since you cannot “erase ” the dyes or paint light colors over dark. Details are added using very fine brushes. Once the painting is complete, the silk is steamed for permanence. Finally, the fabric is washed and can be stretched, mounted and framed for hanging or sewn into an original garment design for a wearable work of art.

18" x 72" Peony painting step-by-step