Hitting the Mark

Been doing a lot of silk dyeing lately for my current project. Working with color is probably one of the most interesting but also challenging aspects of my work. I have a mostly 'intellectual' approach to color - I understand and study color theory and do my best to apply it to my projects. My instincts for color are to create very harmonious color schemes - monochromatic and analogous stories are what I will generally put together. They are more easily created and are more pleasing to my eye in general.

I really envy those who have bold, natural color sense. I do my best to study what they've done to understand why it 'works' when I would not think that the color combination used would work. I use color wheels and similar color tools to find the correct complimentary, split complimentary or triadic combination when I need to make something 'pop'. But generally speaking, I stick with my gentle, harmonious schemes.

My biggest challenge at present is working with an established palette. It's not difficult to dye silk, nor is it difficult to come up with a pleasing combination. It's dyeing to a specific color that is very, very challenging. It's not just a matter of color; sometimes you are lucky and the dye you use already comes in a particular color, so that custom color mixing isn't necessary. But you still have to hit the correct tint or shade, and when working with fabric, the fabric itself can cause colors to appear differently due to weave structure, dye uptake, etc.

I'm currently dyeing chiffon scarves and I'm working with a Pantone palette for that particular forecasted season and year. Thankfully I'm mostly working with blues, but it's not been an easy endeavor. I have to admit it's been good for me, though. When I teach classes that involve silk dyeing I often need to assist students in achieving a particular color for their design. So it's always handy to have more practice!

Tyger update: Another trip to the vet for post-operation check. He hasn't eaten in a week, and wasn't eating yet so he was given a small dose of an appetite stimulant. Otherwise he seems to be doing well - in spite of having undergone major intestinal/stomach surgery to remove the thread, he is in my lap at every available moment, wanting his belly rubbed. You can see his nekkid belly in the photo.