Bird And Flowers Original Silk Fabric Painting. A little Green-backed Tit bird rests upon the branch of some Cherry Blossoms and ponders life the universe and everything in between. Framed art is approx 21 12" x 1" x 18 1/2". Fabric Painting is approx 16" x 13". Artist marked the left side of the piece. Framed art is in good, used condition with some wearing on the frame. If you look closely, the silk is slightly rising up from its backing. Chinese silk paintings are made on silk and involve the artist using a brush dipped in black or colored ink. The materials used are similar to those of Chinese calligraphy. Silk must be stretched by the artist and then dyed. Then a layer of gutta, which is similar to rubber cement, is placed on the silk so that boundaries are created to limit the free flow of silk. After the gutta dries, the artist then begins to paint on the silk. Once the paint is applied to the silk, it cannot be altered, so the craft requires patience and careful precision of strokes. After the painting is completed, it can be hung on a scroll for display. Most commonly pine soot is used to create the ink used in Chinese silk paintings. Some Chinese historians believe that silk paintings were created during the Warring States period; they were placed in tombs in order to assist the dead in entering the afterlife. Originally, silk was used only for calligraphy, which was considered the highest art form in China, but later Chinese artisans began to paint landscapes, koy fish, maidens, dragons, daily life, cranes, and plum trees.