Kalamkari is a traditional Indian art form that involves hand-painting or block-printing on fabric using natural dyes. The name is derived from 'Kalam' (pen) and 'kari' (handiwork). This tradition flourished in the temple regions of Masulipatnam & Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The themes depicted in this art form are from Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana including deities like Ganesha, Rama, Krishna and warriors like Arjuna. The rounded face, long big eyes, detailing of costume and jewelry are unique to this art.
Technique and Method
Creating a Kalamkari painting begins with preparing the canvas, usually cotton or silk fabric. It is washed with cow dung, myrobalan (haritaki) and buffalo milk to remove starch and prepare it for dyeing. The artist draws with a tamarind or bamboo pen dipped in black dye made from fermented jaggery (a natural mordant) and iron filings. Natural dyes from flowers, roots and minerals are applied in layers. The fabric is repeatedly washed and dried to fix the colors. Natural dyes include: iron rust + jaggery (black), madder root or alum (red), indigo leaves (blue), turmeric or pomegranate peel (yellow), indigo with turmeric (green). Natural dyeing makes each piece unique and long-lasting. The entire process is intricate and time-consuming, requiring immense skill and meticulous precision.
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