Whats so great about
painting on silk? It is after all a type of fabric that you are painting on .Then why this categorization?
Well
painting on silk is as easy as spreading water on a piece of paper.Only problem is that you cannot guide the paint unless a boundary is build by using the ''gutta''.Inside the gutta lines the paint is like an obedient kid.You can mix colours ,shade or lighten the colour as you desire.
Centuries ago wax resist technique was used in India to stop the paint from spreading.India holds a proud place in the history of silk painting with delicate miniatures of Mogul courtesans ,emperors or paintings depicting wedding scenes etc.French haute couture also witnessed a surge of
painted silk in the 19th century.It was a snobbish possession for many.As a textile art it has grown and flourished in all parts of the world. The gutta technique of painting is a recent innovation in this genre of art probably originating from Indonesia where the pallaquium tree ( from which gutta- percha is obtained ) grows naturally.
What makes the art different is this gutta or the linear barrier applied on the fabric.The silk fabric is stretched on a frame and then the design drawn.On this outline the gutta is applied.Once the gutta is dry paint is directly applied on the insides of the design .A properly laid gutta outline will ensure a beautiful work of art.Special effects can be made by sprinkling salt on the material when its wet and then brushing it away once dry.
Try painting a white silk scarf without using a gutta.It is a pleasure watching the silk drink up the colour and when another colour is painted on interesting unpredictable patterns are made while the colours merge.
No other medium has the grandeur or elegance of a painted piece of silk as it is the most exquisite material to paint on be it a scarf,or a wall hanging or a simple sari.