Silk Painting How to

Gutta and Resist Applicators

Plastic bottle with metal tip

Useful for applying gutta, water based resists and medium to thick consistency paints or thickened dyes in a fine line for your silk painting design.

Applicators are plastic squeeze bottles. Their sizes range from 1/2 ounce to 1 1/2 ounce. A metal tip is secured to the top to control the size of the line of gutta. These tips come in sizes ranging from #3 (the smallest opening) to #5, #7 and #9. (You can tell them apart by the tiny rings that run around the center of the tip. One line is a #5, two lines is a #7 and three lines is a #9)

Applicator bottles can be purchased individually or with the tips. The bottles come in a variety of profiles.

The tips generally are screwed tightly onto the tip of the cap of the squeeze bottle. To deter the tip from coming off, wrap securely with electrical tape.

Some applicators are better suited to have the tip inserted from the inside, with the metal tip extending through an opening cut off the end of the spout ,1/8 inch below the first joint and then insert the tip from the inside so the end pokes out. Use a ballpoint pen to gently push the tip in so the tip extends through the opening.

Pour leftover gutta back into original gutta container and clean bottles thoroughly after use to keep the tips open. Some tips come with a fine wire, or use a very fine stainless steel pin with a ball top to store while working. Bottles can be left to dry, then cleaned out with a Q-tip or cotton and toothpick.

Acetate Cone

Form a cone from a 8 x 10 piece of clear acetate or waxed paper.  Leave a very small opening at the point to allow the gutta to be released. Secure the cone with tape. Use to apply resist, non-gutta resist or cold wax. Toss when finished.

Refillable Pens

Refillable pens designed for use with acrylic paints can be adapted for applying thickened dyes and cold wax.

Air Pen Applicator

A hand held, air-powered tool for drawing fine decorative details and outlines, or for filling intricate areas. Resists, paints, glues, glazes, and other viscous mediums are effortlessly dispensed by placing a finger over the flow control hole.

Useful for detailed production work and to ease repetitive wear and tear on your hands from squeezing applicator bottles all the time!

Tjantings

A tjanting is a Javanese tool used to apply hot wax to the silk. A hollow body is filled with melted wax, then it comes out through the tip, just like a pen. The width of the lines achieved depends on the size of the tip, how hot the wax is, and how quickly you move the tjanting.