How to Paint a Silk Fan

Step out of traditional crafts project and put your painting skills to work by turning a plain silk fan into a masterpiece. Use a design of your choice.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• pencil
• plain silk fan
• paper
• tracing paper
• masking tape
• vanishing fabric marker
• gold gutta
• gutta applicator with a fine tip
• thickener
• iron-fix silk paints
• small bowls
• fine paintbrushes (one for each color)

1. Draw around the open fan on the paper. Draw or trace whatever design you would like to put on the fan onto the paper within the area of the fan outline.
2. Secure the open fan over the design with masking tape and trace the design onto the fan with a vanishing fabric marker.
3. Trace over the entire design with the gold gutta. Allow to dry.
4. Mix thickener with the paints to prevent them from spreading over the gutta. Lightly paint the design using a different brush for each color.
   Allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to wash out a brush, make sure it is completely dry before using again so the paints do not become watery.