Happy Valentine's Day and GiveAway 3

 "We love life not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving" - Friedrich Nietzsche

I think that's so true...everyone...each one of us is in some way or the other trying to be in love with someone or something all the time. So here's to the Universal appeal of Love.

Now onto the winner of GiveAway 2 - Ganesha Print

My daughter, Anoushka (Krishna) was all set for school when I asked to pick a winner - the traditional way...She was all so delighted :)

PRITI SINGH!!!!

Congratulations Priti :D

Moving onto the third GiveAway....

(Come on guys, be a sport :D)

To enter the giveaway:

1. Need to be my blog follower. (Come on guys, it would be unfair for my followers if not!!! ;) )

2. Hop over to my FB page - Hues n Shades - and Like it.

3. You can even bring your friends over/invite them to like my blog/page and leave the names of your friends to earn extra credits.

4. Blog/post about the Giveaway and leave a link.

5. Finally leave a comment mentioning all or any of these :)

Follow these steps and you earn extra credits for each thus brightening your chance to win the art print :D

What you are going to win...

6x4 inches

This is just one print, different angles.This is a fine quality print on acid free paper.

Open to all, until Thrusday (20 Feb, 2014) until 12 am IST.

Adieu dear friends for now.

Spreading Luv :)

For those who wish to accept that Love can download for free my special Valentine pattern papers. Print and use (for personal use only!)

Colours of Love 
Eternal Love

Linking the post to PPF(Paint Party Friday)...Visit to meet some awesome artists and get a glimpse of their art.


ps: Radhakrishna image is from google.

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the author.

Gajalakshmi (Kalamkari Painting)

Gajalakshmi, 7*10 inches,

Pitt Pen and Watercolour on Watercolour paper

Kalamkari or Qalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile, produced in parts of India. The word is derived from the Persian words kalam (pen) and kari (craftmanship), meaning drawing with a pen.

The art of painting using organic dyes on cloth was popular in several parts of India, but this style of Kalamkari flourished at Kalahasti (80 miles north of Chennai) and at Masulipatnam (200 miles east of Hyderabad) in Andra Pradhesh.

The Kalamkari tradition chiefly consists of scenes from Hindu mythology. Figures of deities with rich border embellishments were created for the temples. In Masulipatnam, the weavers were involved in the block printing art, while at Kalahasti, the Balojas (a caste involved in making bangles) took to this art.

Owing to Muslim rule in Golconda, the Masulipatnam Kalamkari was influenced by Persian motifs & designs, widely adapted to suit their taste. The outlines and main features are done using hand carved blocks. The finer details are later done using the pen. Under the British rule the designs as well as the end use of the fabric differed - for garments as well as furnishings. During this period floral designs were popular. The artisans were made to create even portraits of English men.

The Kalahasti tradition which developed in the temple region mostly concentrated on themes form Hindu mythology, epics (Ramayana, Mahabharatha), images of Gods and heroes.
The artists use a bamboo or date palm stick pointed at one end with a bundle of fine hair attached to this pointed end to serve as the brush or pen.

The dyes are obtained by extracting colours form parts of plants - roots, leaves along with mineral salts of iron, tin, copper, alum, etc., which are used as mordants.

Karrupur is a style of Kalamkari that developed in the Thanjavur region during the Maratha rule. The Kalamkari work was a further embellishment to the gold brocade work in the woven fabric, which was used as sarees & dhotis by the royal family during the period of Raja Sarfoji and later Raja Shivaji.

After independence of India, the Handicrafts Development Board took up the task of reviving this art, which had dwindled due to lack of buyers. This style owes its present status to Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhayay who popularised the art as the first Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board.

The specialty is that the finished products are mellow. Bright colours are used but the finish is not gaudy. The fabric looks better and better with further washing, with the designs standing out even better against the background.

description courtesy:India Heritage/Wikipedia

 Linking it to Paint Party Friday - Join the fun!