flour resists

Lately i have been experimenting with different flour resists, started out by using Complex Cloth's mashed potatoes resist recipe, then went on my own. i have experimented with a mixture of cornmeal and cornstarch paste and rice flour paste to get a crackle textured background. As it was experimental i kept it simple by using fabric paints instead of thickened dyes and used scrunch dyed cotton fabric dyed with procion MX.

My personal conclusions:

• The mashed potatoes recipe gives a very flexible paste, good for stamping, not too good crackle.
• The rice flour paste if very thin gives an interesting veiny crackle.
• i used a rice flour layer, sponged paint on it , let it dry, re covered with more paste and re painted it with another color. This gives depth in the crackle.
• Cornmeal and cornstarch paste gives an interesting granular crackle- my favorite.

Tips:

• rub the paint to create splotches within the crackled surface.
• use two different colors for more visual texture.
• use metallic paints for extra zing.
• work in layers- interesting results can be obtained.
• different crackle effects can be obtained if the fabric is dried stretched or flat.
• a bit of tugging on the bias when the fabric is dry improves the crackle. Ditto fro crumpling.
• if you get an amazing crackle scan it and digitalize it so you can print it on fabric and use it again!

i want to get cassava flour and experiment with it. Most of the batik cloth from Africa uses it as a resist. And while on the African topic check this site out.
Let me know of your experiments.


neki desu