How To Paint Silk

Girl With A Mandarin Collar

Oil on linen panel

8"x10"

$500

$5 shipping

I painted this silk collar as my demo at The California Art Institute. The silk collar excited me. I painted it fast with dry brush work directly onto the dry linen board with a scratchy old brush and no medium. Thick paint. I like to get in and out fast! Old brushes are very useful. Especially tooth brushes. Don't overlook them.

The third image is from a commission just before I finished it. This is a more polished silk. I took more time on it. Worked with a small brush, following the form. The 'box' of the rib cage is very apparent here. I was working the silk over it. The box was softened and widened at the finish. More gold thread added to the pattern.