History of Silk Painting
Originating from China, silk painting is an art form with over 2000 years of history that involves applying colour pigments to silk cloth. The ancient art was once known as ‘BO ’painting referring to the white silk used as a surface. Silk was the ideal canvas for painting because it is luxurious, easy to cut in any desired shape and light weight to carry.Artists of the imperial courts first used silk as a medium for calligraphy painting, which at the time was thought to be the highest and purest form of painting. Over the years, the art developed to include human figures and depict religious and mythological characters as well as forms of nature exclusive painting.
In around 300 AD, the Japanese came to learn the method of silk production from the Chinese. These early silk paintings were monochromatic. Twelfth century Europe was the major centre for silk. In Italy, new manufacturing techniques were developed by the eighteenth century. The industrial revolution made the cloth even more widely available, and with it spread silk painting as an art. Indonesia introduced the Batik method of silk painting using wax resist. They brought the art to France where the ‘Serti’ technique was introduced in the 1900s. This technique of painting using Gutta resist to control dyes or paint on silk is one of the most widely used and easiest methods employed today. Silk painting as an art continued to spread and gained popularity in Britain and America by the 1970s.
Today, silk painting art can be found all around the world. It is practical and widely spread especially in Central Asia, Western Europe and America. Now, modern techniques such as ’Serti’ with its simple outline, Gutta resist and dye, and special silk paint method have made silk painting easy for all.
The silk surface is often prepared by stretching in a special wooden frame. Pigments and dyes or colours spread freely when applied to silk. Gutta and wax as a resist are popular for sketching the outlines of designs on the silk. Once the Gutta has dried, dyes or paints are applied to the silk which are stopped from spreading outside by the resist. In this way, silk painting is different to painting on cotton, canvas or paper and all other painting techniques. Dyes or paints flow freely on the silk, creating soft, diffused and fabulous art work.
Silk
Silk is a beautiful gift from nature. Its beauty and rich feel has made it valuable source of trade for many countries. Silk is the strongest fiber and able to absorb up to thirty times its weight in water and warmer than wool. Silk process a luxurious quality and accepts dyes/paints to yield rich and intense colours.Caution
Silk painting is hand washable using a mild liquid detergent or soap.Try to avoid crushing or wringing the cloth.Silk should be ironed on the back side with normal heat.
Keep silk painting out of direct sunlight.
While framing the silk art work, there should be a source of passing air to protect from fungus and moisture.
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