Kitebuilder.com

Dennist3 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject: paint and pens on tyvek

the letter below is my Wife posting some good info about paints and pens for Tyvec and maybe other fabric....Knotty sugested that I post it out here for all to see......a little background my wife is a professional art student and worked in an Art Supply store for over 4 years and knows alot about different paints inks and such....I hope this helps someone..

"Hi Ronda!

I'm Marjorie, Dennis's wife.

I am so thankful that you answered my question about the paints. (Dennis thanks you too- I have been bugging him to no end.) Most everyone I have meet in the kiting community has been unbelievably friendly and helpful but for some reason when I asked about painting it has been presented to me as "trade secrets". So thank you thank you thank you!!! Art major here- love to paint anything! Also, the diversity of kiting is a good way for Dennis and I to share an interest! I refuse to be a Kite widow!

Anyway, I am very happy to know I can use acrylic paint. I had been told that you couldn't because it cracked, faded, and peeled. I use to work in an art store (again, art student) and I know the nature of acrylic can do all of the above so I never 'wasted' the materials I had lying around the house- Shame on me.

You mentioned you liked the consistancy of the metallic colors as well as the metallic itself and that you didn't like matte finish. Now this is something I actually know about. If I repeat something you already know my apologies.

Have you tried mixing one part paint to one part glossy medium (good brand is Liquitex)? The medium acts like water making the paint 'wetter' which gives you more time to manipulate it and if you increase the medium you can get a stained glassed effect liked you referenced.

If there is a color that you really like and want but it isn't metallic you can buy (in powder form) a metallic medium in several grain/grit sizes. Mixing that with your paint mixture above will have the same properities as pure tube paint. I'll get the name of the brand I use and send it to you later.

You mentioned sharpie brand markers. These are great. There is a marker that is stronger, very juciey, will maintain its color longer and has 1000s! and I am not exagerating 1000s of colors to choose from. They are Tria markers from Letraset. They are assocated with the pantone (color grid used in microsoft applications and most desktop publishing programs). So if you like color 347 on the color grid in Microsoft word then you can get that same color in a marker. It has three tips so you can get a wide wedge, medium (sharpie stlye) tip and a fine (ink pen) tip. But the coolest accessory to this marker is it comes with its own 'airbrush' style attachment. They are a bit expensive (about $3) but they are so cool! and they are refillable if you want to save some $$$ in the long run.

I can't wait to get the tyvek from you to get started. I love co-op style projects! Collective creativity is so interesting and inspiring. I can't wait to see how you put it all together!

You said the theme of the competition is Kaliedoscope of Color are you going to asign a 'color pallete' to everyone or a micro theme to the design or is it a free for all?

Thanks again for your instruction!
Marjorie True "

Dancing

knotronda · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:27 am Post subject:

Marjorie,

Thank you! Yes, all that you mentioned is great information. I am so glad you took the time to share your knowledge. I have played with everything but the airbrush. For anyone out there who wants to participate in the Friendship Shirone project just go to: Conception, Construction, & Completion - Friendship Shirone Project

The local art store in my town is very limited on their offerings. But, they did have the metallic powders. I also found some inexpensive metallic acrylic paints in the outlet stores paper store. Most of the time I am talking with people who do not want to invest $ into decorating their tyvek so I generally give just the basic info on decorating with easily found products. However, one thing that is beautiful is Gold or Silver or Metallic leafing. Of course, you need to experiment to make sure what you are using will not react with the tyvek.

I will definately send extra pieces for you to play with. There is a Tyvek website but I didn't have it listed in my favorites so it must be on my husband's list. I'll check and when I find the correct address, I will post it here.

Thanks again for joining the group. You know you can sign up under your own name? But, it is wonderful that you refuse to be a kite widow. I think it would be fun to have a spot for 'Art Kites'. Maybe if we make enough noise Steve will give us our very own space to play in. ????

gotta go for now but be sure to keep adding anything you happen to think of.

knot(ty)ronda

KiteSquid · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 8:36 am Post subject:

Marjorie et al,

There are some people who are trying to make a living or at lest expand their income by applying art to kites in some matter and selling them.

Some of them think that their process is what makes their works special....

I respect them but at the same time I think of it is the art you apply not how you apply it that makes your art stand out.

I am not a very good artist, so I realy respect someone who can come up with original art.... I am lucky if I can copy popular cartoons..... My stick men look like something a rather dull child would draw...

I was once told that I could not apply dyes to Ripstop nylon at home by one person and another would not share his knoledge with me, so I just did some reseach elsewhere and brought it into kites.... Look in the Alubm for my Iris Edo...

I am willing to share with you ALL of my kite building knoledge as long as I know it works or at least I will tell you what I have tried and has not worked.........

I see that you are of the same mind set... LETS ALL SHARE!!!!!

BTW my Wife signed up at another forum (GWTW) as Mrs Squid... I love her so much!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

KiteSquid · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 8:44 am Post subject:

I understand that the Tria markers from Letraset are NOT permanent....

Is that true?
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Dennist3 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 10:51 am Post subject:

Hi all Dennis (the abuser of tyvec here)

I have a scrap of Tyvec and I used the "Tria markers from Letraset"

so far this is what I have......

1) 24 hour test..... PASS no change or wrinkling in the tyvec
2) wet test...... PASS both fresh and salt water have no effect
3) crumple and rubbing test ....PASS no change in the brightness or color

Squid, If they are not Perminate I will find out

the only thing I have found about these pens that might be a drawback is that they run just a little bit so getting a straight edge can be a bit difficult...but if you think Monet...you are all set

please let me know what other abuse I shoud do to this poor little piece of tyvec.....going to leave half outside in the sun next figure a week should give me an indication of fading rate....

Dennis Dancing

UPDATE....test on Teal and Orange .75 Ripstop now will do the same series of tests and let everyone know what I find...

***since I don't have any white Ripstop {all scraps and colors are welcome for abuse...just please identify them so I can keep track of the tests....no bad JUJU from here) just 2 bold colors the darker colors (Blues/browns/purples/ drk reds) are what I am trying...I even threw a sharpie to it as well to compare..I will let everyone know how it goes....

this is great if I can bring something back to the table in here .... instead of just asking questions....

Dennis
Dancing

PS....Kitesquid/Rhonda... I will encourage Marjorie to get her own ident on here...but that will mean I will lose computer time...pout d'oh!

Oh well guess that will mean I will have to work on my kites more.... Dancing

smarties · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

Dennist3,
Can you try to leave it in direct sunlight for several days to see if the colors fade away?

Smarties Razz

Dennist3 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:25 am Post subject:

yup doing that now...putting half in the sun and keeping half inside for a week...will be glad to post all I find out...

Dennis

Dennist3 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 11:34 am Post subject:

Hi All....

I took my dremel tool and a felt pad to the colored tyvec...and I can say with out a doubt 10000 RPM's is too much for the tyvec...but at 2000 RPM's the color didn't move....so Squid...any ideas on how to further test the perminace (is that even a word?) of the markers?

Dennis Dancing

KiteSquid · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject:

make a little flag and hook it to hte antenna on your car adn drive on the highway for an hour...

If it can handle that It will stand up to over a year of kite flying....

Make sure the flag does NOT tocuh any part of the car as it will rub the paint off in its fluttering....
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Dennist3 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject:

will do...I'll put it on and take it to work with me tomorrow..... Dancing