steps that went into dyeing
by John Marshall
The idea for Fallen Angel came to me through association with the Japanese proverb, “Even monkeys fall from trees.” (猿も木から落ちる) That, and the fact that fallen angel has several meanings in English, brought this humorous image to mind of an angel tumbling from heaven only to land in a patch of hydrangeas.
I thought you might enjoy following the steps I went through in dyeing this garment.
It’s 100% silk jacquard organza with a pebble pattern (as in first to cast stones). All dyes are natural. My first version of this was created in 2001 and since then I have executed similar themes in different arrangements and color themes – even as kiribame-style quilts.
Image One: rice paste resist was applied to soy-sized white silk
Image Two: a wash of pale blue was applied, dyes applied to hydrangeas, and angel wings added
Image Three: a protective layer of paste (fusenori) was applied over the dyed hydrangeas, dye was applied to the area of the feathers, followed by protective paste over the dyed feathers, and yet more hydrangea outlines were added
Image Four: another layer of blue was washed over the entire surface, the hydrangeas were dyed and covered with fusenori, an additional layer of hydrangeas was pasted, and again, more blue to the background, with the flowers also dyed with shades of blue
Image Five: the last of the blossoms were protected with paste, followed by shades of indigo and purple brushed into the remaining exposed areas
Top Image: the paste was washed away to reveal the layers, gold powder was painted on to create halos around the wings and detached feathers, and finally, the yardage was sewn into the garment you see above
Bottom Image: a variation on the theme – different colors, different placement of stencils, no gold
