Silk Paintings

About Painting on Silk

The silk culture boasts a long history in China. In Song Dynasty(960-1279) and even earlier, painting has been made on silk fabric which is damp-proof, mothproof and fastness. Hand-painting Chinese silk paintings take prestigious fame and form throughout Chinese dynasties as its finest nature. The perfect combination of prominent painting and silk culture endows the greatest view effect and collection value to silk painting.

Hand-painted silk art boasts the longest history among Chinese handicraft art forms, with a classic, timeless appeal and statement of elegance. The nature of silk allows the colour and patterns on hand-painting silk coverings to remain fresh and vivid for at least 20 years. Our fabulous hand-painted silk paintings are from Master Xu and her apprentices with prestigious fame in Beijing handicraft industry. We produce for our clients according to their needs in style, size and quantity.

How to Paint on Silk by Chinese Artists

Heir of Chinese silk painting, Mrs. Xu, is painting a lovable giant panda.

Silk painting is a direct paint-on art. Movement and fluidity are the hallmark of this art form. As the paintbrush of the artist delicately guides the flow of the liquid, the colors glide through the silk and generate delight and excitement.

Following is a brief description of the traditional methodology involved in practicing this art form:

The most suitable fabric for paintings with the traditional dyes is 100% SILK. It is because the traditional silk painting dyes have special characteristics such as easy moving and saturation. Once set, they become very brilliant and bond to the silk which is then washable and dry-cleanable.

Other techniques include: resist, shading, blending, gradation, watercolor, hard edge, salting and spotting with water or alcohol.

Do not be intimidated by the need for designs. In the beginning, you can easily trace pleasing designs from various copyright free sources. To personalize them, you can use some as well as all techniques.

To begin silk painting, the fabric is stretched on a frame and the design is resisted (if this is the technique of choice). After it is painted, the silk is allowed to dry and then steam set to permanently bond the dyes to the fibers.

The fabric is then rinsed, ironed and ready to be used as intended.

Compiled by Alan and edited by Jackie from Chilture.com
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