Book Review
SILK PAINTING by Jenni Milne The Crowood Press UK £14.99 ISBN 1-86126-215-9	Every silk painting book has something new to offer or a new approach, and this book by Jenni Milne is no exception. The Crowood Press have, very usefully, published it as a spiral bound hardback, so the book will stay comfortably open at any project you
	wish to try with no risk of the pages springing closed at a crucial moment. This is essential because, as you read on, the book is full of ideas for experimentation that will encourage a beginner and also be ideal for anyone using silk painting as part of further experiment-ation in fabric art e.g. as part of their City & Guilds studies or Open College of the Arts Textiles 1 or 2 course. The book starts with a brief history of silk itself and its various types, a section on 'getting started' and suggestions for what equipment will be necessary to start. I would have valued a little more general information on different types of frames, but this is a common grumble about all silk painting books, not this particular one! However, the glossary of terms and materials is extremely helpful, especially for the novice silk painter. As someone who panicked when faced with Epaissisant for the first time such sections are always of use, as we were all beginners once and cannot take these important notes for granted. The book shows the potential for each technique rather than focussing on a single 'big project'. A painter can work their way through a section or dip in here and there trying the various experiments without expending lots of money on different types of silk, something a beginner might worry about. The chapter on 'Anti-spread' for example shows landscape painting, stencilling, stamping and monoprinting; whilst 'Water' covers wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, dilutant / alcohol and watercolour painting. The accompanying photographs are very clear and show the results that can be expected at each stage. The final section on Experimental Fun Techniques brings out of the 'novelty' closet such techniques as heliography, pens and crayons, decorative use of outliners, fibre etching, microwaving and oven baking. These in particular will be of interest to those using their work as yardage for further textile work as part of a course of study, and also those who want to try something a little different but were not sure 'how'. It is nice to see these techniques used and their potential illustrated. Jenni Milne has written a versatile, useful and easy to read book, full of ideas and information, particularly for those of an experimental and enquiring turn of mind. It shows the potential of silk painting's place in the wider scheme of textile decoration and encourages even the beginner to experiment. Marjorie Dawson 4a Callis Road, London E17 8PN mdawson.design@dial.pipex.com Marjorie is our Guild Book Reviewer. She has written a number of book reviews for the Guild journal over the past few years and is on the mailing list of book publishers for review copies of new silk painting books. However, if you know of a new book which you think should be reviewed please let Marjorie know by writing or e-mailing the details (author, publisher, ISBN etc.) to either of the addresses shown. Ed. Several readers have asked whether we could feature more 'new product' reviews as well. If anyone out there would like to contact a friendly supplier to do these tests and write up reports please get in touch with me. Ed.