Background
Silk
painting originated in China going back to 2600 BC. Long before paper
was invented/made, silk was a medium on which to paint. Silk was
durable, portable, and readily rolled for travel.
Silk
was chosen as an artistic surface not only because of its soft,
luxurious feel, but also for its practicality. Silk is light, easy to
cut into any desired shape and size and is convenient to carry.
Chinese artisans prepared the silk for painting by beating it on a
stone slab until the surface became very smooth. After the silk was
prepared, the color pigments or ink tones were applied slowly and
carefully.
The
Process
A
resist product similar to glue was applied, dried, and then Jacquard
silk paints were used to created these floral pictures. Both
paintbrushes and rags were used to blend colors. Paints were allowed
to air dry thoroughly. The silk paintings were then rolled in
newsprint, coiled into a snake, set in a pressure cooker over hot
water and steamed for three hours. After steaming, the paintings were
dried and stretched over canvas and stapled to the frame. Backs of
the frames were then applied, finished with stock paper.
Come to the Bazaar! Spend your money! (American Lutheran needs to pay off its building fund.)
