Advanced Sun Printing

Have you used one of the methods in the previous two posts yet to create some Sun Printed or Sun Less Printed Fabrics?  I hope so!

Today's post will use take the Sun Printed fabric one step further.

The fabrics created with Sun Printed are beautiful in and of themselves but they can be so much more when you layer them.  

The paints used in Sun Printing are transparent and lend themselves well to layering.  (Note: Pebeo's Setacolor has been renamed "light" instead of "transparent" as pictured above.)  

It is amazing the depth which can be achieved with two and three layers of paint.  To create a layered effect, start by creating your first layer as described in this post. 

One of the biggest tricks to creating a beautiful second and third layer 

is to remember basic color theory:

  Blue + Red = Purple

Blue + Yellow = Green

Red + Yellow = Orange

And don't forget that

Purple + Yellow = Brown

Green + Red = Brown

Orange + Blue = Brown

Brown is a beautiful color!  

Especially when you can see layers of the colors it was created from.

Here are just a couple examples of the beauty you can create with layer Sun Prints:

First layer: Blue

Second Layer: Fuchsia

Don't be afraid to cover the entire piece with the Fuchsia!

The fabric has three colors despite only using two colors of paint.

And this piece was given an additional layer of blue.

The masks used on these pieces were cut from plastic transparency sheets as well as natural leaves from a tree.

The second example is a piece where Brown is especially beautiful.

First Layer: Blue

Second Layer: Orange

Third Layer: black

This is one of my favorite Sun Printed fabrics.

What colors will you combine?

What shapes will you create in your Sun Printed fabrics?

Leave a comment for another chance at winning these FOUR Sun Printed Fat Quarters, TWO yards of Mistyfuse and a Mini Goddess Sheet.  (I just started singing the 12 days of Christmas there, sorry about the ear worm!)

Next week's post on September 27th will show you a fun project to create with your Sun Printed fabrics.

- Lisa Chin

SunLESS Printing

So one day I woke up wanting to sun print and this is what I saw outside . . .

. . . another day I've been busy with the family or work and missed the sun. . .

What is an artist to do?!? 

Improvise!

By creating a fake Sun or a Heated situation, I have found I can still produce great "Sun Prints."

1) Fake Sun

Following the instructions in this post, prepare the fabric and place the painted and masked fabric under a Fake Sun.  I like using shop lights. . .

. . . as well as my desk lamps.

Both create the same images I get outside in the bright sun.

The amount of time to create the Sunless print will depend upon the heat and humidity in your home or studio.

2)  Bottom Heat

By placing a heating pad underneath the painted fabric laid out on a cookie sheet, the same evaporation effect occurs and allows you to have a Sunless print!

3) Ironing

The fastest way to create a Sunless print is to use a very hot iron.  

I demonstrated this method on Quilting Arts TV Season 1700 and 1800.  

• Simply place your painted fabric and heat-proof masks (I like to use shapes cut from overhead transparencies) on to a cookie sheet.  (Don't plan on using the cookie sheet for baking again!)
• Cover the fabric with a Mistyfuse Goddess sheet.
• With an iron set on the cotton setting, iron over the top of the fabric until dry.  This will take about 5 to 7 minutes of ironing.
• Remove the Goddess sheet and masks to discover your fabulous designs!

Are you inspired to create some fabulous Sun Printed Fabrics of your own yet?  Go forth and create and then come back here on September 23rd to learn one more Sun Printed trick!

Leave a comment below to be entered for another chance at winning these four lovely Sun Printed Fat Quarters, Two yards of Mistyfuse and a Mini Goddess Sheet!

- Lisa Chin

Sun Print-paloza!

The seasons are a changing, and no matter the weather where you live, 

it's time to take advantage of sun printing!

Ideally the weather is hot, dry and windless for sun printing.

Pull out a table, or a large piece of board. . .

. . . grab some paint, fabric and masks (i.e. leaves, cut outs, stencils, hardware, etc) and get busy.

The basic instructions for Sun Printing are:

1) Wet your fabric with either a spray bottle or soak the fabric in water and squeeze out the excess water.  Lay the fabric on a table or board which can be placed in the sun.

2) Mix your paint of choice (see photo above) at about a two to one ratio - two parts water to one part paint - and, using a large foam or bristled paint brush, spread the paints across the fabric.  Use one or multiple colors.  It's all up to your creativity.

3) Place leaves, masks, keys, nuts and bolts, or whatever you like over the top of the painted fabric.

4) Leave fabric in the sun until the fabric has dried.  The sun heat sets the paint and so it is now wash fast, however, I am a creature of habit and always iron my fabrics before I wash them.

This process is much shorter, and more dramatic, in dry climates rather than in humid climates as the process is really working by evaporation.  As the water travels from under the masks, it draws the paint with it out from under the masks and creates an outline of the image.

But with the season's changing, maybe the sun isn't shining right now. . . 

. . . or it's the middle of the night and you want to create. . .

What's an artist to do???!!!

Well don't panic because. . .

Guess what?! 

There ARE ways to Sun Print WITHOUT the sun!

AND, I will tell you all about them in the next blog post. . .

In the meantime, leave a comment here about your experiences (if any) with sun printing for your opportunity to win FOUR Sun Printed Fat Quarters, TWO yards of Mistyfuse, and A Mini GODDESS SHEET!  The winner will be selected and announced on September 30th!

Don't forget to enter your email address over there on the right hand side so you will not miss the next post about how to Sun Print without the sun!  There will also be a post about layering Sun Prints, as well as a post with a fun project to make once you have created your sun prints (clue:  the project uses Mistyfuse!)

See you Next Week!

- Lisa Chin