The Silk Painting Studio · Chennai

Silk painting, taught properly

Dye on silk runs, blooms and bleeds — that's the joy of it, and the reason it goes wrong. Learn to work with it rather than against it, from an artist who's spent 23 years at the frame.

5 courses23 years100s of students
Husna Rafath K. painting a floral design on stretched silk in her studio Orchids hand-painted on silk
Purple irises with gold gutta on teal silk Photorealistic peach rose painted on silk
The Magic of the Medium

Watch colour flow, and a flower appear

Silk paint moves with a mind of its own — it spreads, blooms and blends in ways no other medium can. The joy is learning to guide it, not fight it.

No more wondering why your colours bled wrong or your gutta lines failed. You get a calm, clear path: understand your materials, prepare your silk properly, then layer the four techniques until a finished piece appears beneath your brush.

It's the way Husna wishes she'd been taught — 23 years of hard-won answers, gently handed to you.

Explore the Curriculum
Husna Rafath K. painting a floral design on silk A finished hand-painted orchid silk scarf
Sound familiar?

If silk has ever felt like a gamble…

Most silk painting is learned by ruining scarves. It doesn't have to be.

  • No more guesswork about why your colours bled or your gutta lines failed.
  • No more wasted money or materials.
  • Total clarity — what's necessary vs. what's just nice to have.
  • Real techniques, taught with the mistakes and the fixes, not just the finished piece.
  • Husna on WhatsApp while you paint — not a forum, not a bot.
Who it's for

Made for the curious, not the credentialed

If you love colour and you're willing to play, you belong here — wherever you're starting from.

The First-Timer

You've never touched silk painting — or only dabbled once or twice — and want to start properly, without the expensive guesswork.

The Watercolourist

You already love free-flowing colour and want to discover how magical — and forgiving — true silk paints can be.

The Dreamer

You've watched silk scarves bloom online and thought, "I want to make something like that." Now you can.

The Painter Who Wants More

You have the basics down and you're ready for thickener, soya wax and antifusant — the techniques that open up what silk can actually do.

In their words

What learners say

★★★★★
"Honestly, I had no hope at the start — I thought it wouldn't come out well. But they said 'trust the process,' and it came out really well! Thank you for teaching me a new skill. My experience was much beyond my expectations."
AnishaWorkshop student
★★★★★
"Husna was such a wonderful teacher — she held back nothing and taught us all the nuances of silk painting. Four hours whizzed past, making a thing of joy: a silk scarf painted for ourselves."
Shoba MothinathWorkshop student
★★★★★
"A very good teacher — she's been doing this for over two decades. Silk painting is such a stress-buster. I loved it!"
Rani MuralidharanWorkshop student · via Instagram
Husna Rafath K. hand-painting a botanical leaf on silk in her studio
23years on silk
Your Guide

Meet Husna Rafath K.

Silk Painter · Founder, The Silk Painting Studio

Husna discovered silk painting in 2003, when almost nothing about the craft existed online. With a few bottles of paint and endless curiosity, she taught herself — through years of (expensive) trial and error — to read the silk, diagnose every problem, and rescue any piece.

Over 23 years she developed a signature, resist-free realism that earned her a feature in the book The Fine Art of Painting on Silk. Today she paints photorealistic florals and flowing abstracts — and teaches the way she wishes she'd been taught.

"Once I tried it, there was no going back. I fell in love with the way the paints flowed so freely."
Explore the DyeControl Method
From her workshops

Loved in person, too

Moments from Husna's in-person silk-painting workshops in Chennai, in partnership with Hindustan Trading Company.

Before you begin

Questions, answered

Which course should I start with?

If silk is new to you, start with Every Silk Story Begins — it assumes no art background. The five are ordered by skill, and each builds on the one before.

Do I have to take them in order?

No. The order gives the smoothest learning curve, but if you already paint confidently, choose whichever calls to you.

Where do the lessons live?

Lessons live in your own online classroom. You'll get access as soon as you enrol, and you can watch on any device.

Can I ask Husna questions while I paint?

Yes — every course includes WhatsApp support, and most include a 1:1 consultation before or after your painting.

What supplies do I need?

Each course comes with a supply list PDF and the Dupont colour catalogue, so you can gather everything before you begin.

Botanical Expressions on Silk

Original art for your wall

Beyond the course, Husna creates one-of-a-kind botanical silk paintings using her signature DyeControl Method — signed, unique, mounted ready to hang, and never reprinted.

Iris in Wonderland silk painting Blue and copper iris Crimson amaryllis Golden iris
Browse the Wall Art
Say Hello

Questions before you begin?

For course or purchase queries, reach Husna directly — she'd love to hear from you.

Ready to begin your silk story?

Five courses, one craft — start wherever you are.

Choose your course