Kalamkari Indian Art Folk Paintings

Kalamkari from Andhra Pradesh demonstrates the variety of natural materials used to create a work of art. Kalamkari means `pen work' in Persian and refers to both printed and painted cloth. The work carried out by exclusively painting with a pen made out of a bamboo sliver wound at one section with wool and then dyed with natural colours is more specifically called vrathapani.

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The black ink used for the purpose is made of jaggery, rusted iron filings and water. Originally large paintings on cloth served as pictorial versions of great epics, such as the Ramayana and the Mababharata for temples and to supplement the spiritual poems of eminent writers. Persian influences of the 17th century led to the depiction of trees, fruits, flowers and ornamental birds.

Folk Art of India ShalinCraft Kalamkari Paintings Pen Drawings on Cloth

The art of painting stories entirely on cloth is seen at Srikalahasti. The process of painting on cloth and the fineness of the lines depend on the artistic talents of the painter. However, equal if not more skill is required in the craft of laying on the colours, washing the entire piece in flowing water, sprinkling water on it regularly to ensure colour fastness, and drying it suitably in the sun. It is a laborious process, which, if done carefully according to the prescribed methods, produces a piece of art that can last centuries with the same brightness and vigour.

 

What is most interesting is that the process involves no chemical product and the excess dyes that flow into the rivers while washing do not pollute it. A vrathapani or Kalamkari artist who was once working on a painting in the capital city ofNew Delhi preferred to return to his hometown to dye the cloth as the River Yamuna was too polluted to enable him to bring out the richness of colour that he wanted. The quality of the water, air and sunshine are all-important in the art forms of this nature.

Comments

[Xena]

I love folk art paintings. Very Beautiful !
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[Maya Aryan]

Very Beautiful Paintings !
I have seen like these here : http://shalin-india.com/category/1868321481/1/Folk-Art.htm

[pravin]

This art form derives its name from ‘kalam’ or pen, which is used to trace outlines patterns and images.

[Brass Sculpture]

Very Beautiful Paintings. I love to see this again !

[naina]

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