I use some premixed dyes in my work. Finding the time in the studio to painstakingly mix and document mixing tertiary colors has been something I’ve wanted to do, but just hasn’t made it to the top of the list yet. So I order my colors from ProChem or Dharma Trading, test them pretty thoroughly, and keep a dye book of the results. I reference my book all the time.

tap tests

When I took Jane Dunnewold’s class this Summer, she suggested doing tests of mixed dyes so that you can see what primary colors are being used to create them. So I did “tap” tests of all my colors by labeling two inch squares of cotton, dampening them, and then carefully tapping just a tiny bit of dye onto them. The dye colors spread without mixing and you can see the make up pretty well.

I got some new dye colors as well from ProChem and have started testing those. For my book I dye cotton, raw silk, habotai silk, and I’ve started doing rayon, too. Next I will test the different discharge agents. I use thiourea dioxide, bleach, and I just got a new product from ProChem called DeColourant that is supposed to be more environmentally friendly.

This stuff is enjoyable too, it’s just more the “work” of artwork.

new dye colors from ProChem