Susan C. Mills

I've been a working artist for many years (decades) and have mostly kept to watercolor illustrating and jewelry making. About two years ago, I had a problem with a window that had lots of light, but an ugly view, and remembered a painted silk show I'd seen in Montreal about thirty-five years ago. The pieces had been done in the Serti technique and were complex, beautiful and tapestry sized; big. At the time, I convinced the artist to sell me some of her dyes, and although I carried them around for years, I never used them since I didn't have the first clue.

So there I was in 2005 with a window that needed something interesting, and I did a Google search for silk painting. That was when I discovered Dharma Trading, and what a delight it's been having this wonderful connection. I live in Portland, and even at the best art supply stores, there's very little available for a silk painter, although that's where I bought my first Jacquard colors. Through Dharma, I've purchased more of those and Tinfix, as well as silk charmeuse in yardage and scarves. Pebeo resists in gold, silver, copper and black are very lovely and easy to use. I used spray bottles and silk pins on wooden stretchers for that window piece, as well as numerous scarves. Then I bought the full set of Easy Fix Stretcher Frames including the Tripod so I could make pieces in different sizes without the hassle and expense, never mind the bulk, of more stretchers. I mixed a lot of my own shades using the Sennelier diffusants, and with the liberal use of Jacquard No-Flow, began again where I'd originally started - that is, painting small, detailed pieces.

I'm still buying my dyes, pens, resists, and general supplies from Dharma -- and always will -- but nowadays the heavy silk charmeuse comes from a shop. I've been very delighted to see the pieces so many of your customers have chosen to share, and would be pleased to add my small contribution to the list. Thank you Dharma.

Susan C. Mills
milasu7@fastmail.fm