So, my sister is getting married in May and has asked for a hand painted silk wall hanging. I already have the silk, but what do I paint it with?? I'm only going to be painting in black or maybe a really dark brown.

Here's an example I found on the web of the type of thing I want to do:
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/cmartin/Ulmer/project1/bamboo.jpg

What do I use to paint with? How do I keep it from bleeding?? I'm totally new to this so any help is very much appreciated!!

You'll want to use an acid dye (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2499574-AA.shtml) and a resist (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3251-AA.shtml) which will be what creates the lines that define the image. Or you could go without the resist and do it like a watercolor since the piece will be monocromatic. A great book on silkpainting is the one by Susan Moyer (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1509120-AA.shtml)

Another thought would be to do a photocopy transfer. This would involve a photcopy of the image you want on the silk and a solvent. It actually is simpler than it appears. I can't explain it 'cause I'll just create confusion. I learned the process from a book called Complex Cloth (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1394-AA.shtml) by Jane Dunnewold


Good luck!
Kathy