Annie Sloan has given this Jhoola (a traditional Indian swing) a colourful makeover using bright colours from the Chalk Paint palette.

Did you know that you can find some of the most colourful hand-painted transport in the world in Pakistan? Annie discovered Pakistani Truck Art when she was an Art student and has been fascinated by this beautiful artform ever since. It inspired her to paint a Jhoola (Indian swing chair) in a similar technique using some of the classic motifs found on these long-distance trucks like flowers, script and geometric patterns painted in vivid and contrasting colours.

What is Pakistani truck art?

Vibrant, colourful transport can be found all over South and East Asia but in Pakistan it’s deeply rooted in tradition as an established artform, where master painters transform vehicles into works of art on wheels. But they aren’t just for show, these are working trucks that transport goods across the country, brightening the streets as they go, while being a source of pride for the own.

The tradition started in the 1920s and over the years different themes have been incorporated into the designs. Originally, trucks were painted to overcome loneliness, reminding drivers of home but they became useful too, spreading news to like painting on sports results like cricket scores and even the faces of missing children, which led to several been found.

The signature style of the truck however incorporates shapes, patterns, nature and lots and lots of colour.

How Annie painted her Jhoola

This special piece of furniture was gifted to Annie by a friend. Jhoola swing chairs are typically used for parties and weddings but also make a very unique and special piece of home  décor. She decided to give it the Annie Sloan treatment using the brightest colours from the Chalk Paint palette, starting with a base of Aubusson Blue to create a neutral, dark background to allow for lots of bright coloured designs. The details and flowers were picked out in individual colours including Barcelona Orange and Antibes Green. The whole swing was then waxed in Clear Chalk Paint Wax and details highlighted using Annie Sloan Gilding Wax.

Discover more about Pakistani Truck Art in Issue 3 of The Colourist Magazine.

Truck art images Momtaz Begum-Hossain