In the making of kalamkari painting – part 1

Does art ever require canvas? Certainly not! If you are creative, you can turn any piece into a master piece of art.

Kalamkari Painting is an ancient Indian painting originated in Kalahasti and Masulipatnam. It is done on fabric using vegetable dyes with the help of a pen. I was so curious to learn Kalamkari painting and was looking for dye colors. I’ve tried in all nearby stores and couldn’t find it. Love for the art, lost in the fog.

How do I have interest in Kalamkari painting now?

Last week, I was at arts & craft bazaar with my sister. There was an outlet selling Kalamkari paintings and dresses. I saw a beautiful Kalamkari stole with a peacock motif. It’s pretty amazing! When you see the beauty of it, you’ll fall in love.

The stole occupied my mind and it’s worth giving a try on Kalamkari painting.  The store room door at the outdoor is little wrecked and desperately needed a makeover. Revamping the old door with Kalamkari painting would enhance outdoor spaces. 

What you’ll need:

• White Primer
• Acrylic paints – Black & Green
• Brushes
• Black color pencil

How to do:

To start with, first clean the surface with water and allow it to dry. Then, use a primer and paint it completely. Once primed, it’ll be easy to draw.  Allow it to dry for a day. Next day, I drew the outline using black color pencil as the lines would be visible to paint it. If you are good at free hand drawing then you can draw the design easily on the door.

It’s complicated ! I can draw only for 2 hours in the morning after sun-rise and in the evening before sunset.  Day 2, ended up with outlining the design.

Take a look at the Kalamkari Painting – Part 2. It’s beautiful!

With Luv,