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Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress on Wednesday- Painting on a Kurta

This week planning to start designing a kurta with fabric colors. I can say this as start of work , not WIP :).  Have not decided the colors. It is a white Kurta, so hoping  any combination would look good. Hope to complete it soon.

White Kurat with thread work

  It has thread work. Planning use the colors on thread work design itself. After many months I'm working with fabrci painting. Let us see how it will be.

Closer view of thread work

 Two weeks back  I had posted about sospesso work on a pot as WIP. It is ready. I liked the work very much. It is really fun to work with the paper flowers. The prints on the tissue paper come alive through the art.

Here is the sospesso work:

Sospesso work

I have chosen very small flowers for the sospesso work. So it took many days to complete the work. I have fallen in love with this art. So planning to make many :)

-Thanks & Regards,

Ranjana Shankar

Work In Progress - Wednesday- Crochet sweater

Crochet is the craft which I learnt in the beginning of my journey in the world of arts and crafts. My mother taught crochet. I still have some doilies made by her 60 years ago. I love the crochet. I had made many doilies, but now I don't have those with me :(.

Crochet sweaters are the best gifts to babies. I had shared about the baby sweater I had made in the post : Baby sweater- Crochet.
Here is the one I made :

Baby sweater- Crochet work

 Making similar one as a gift to another baby. This is the WIP of this week. I have chosen different colors for this sweater:

Crochet sweater I'm making now

The sospesso work I started and shared in the last week's WIP is completed. Will share in the next WIP post.

Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Kerala Mural-Paintings of Gods from Gods own country

Most of us, are familiar with Kerala Mural Art. It is originated in Kerala. These paintings represent the rich and colorful  heritage of Kerala. Earlier these were made on walls of temples, depicting many mythological stories. The colorful paintings now has taken a special place in design world. It is becoming popular in dress designing, jewels designing , interior designing etc.

I have already shared about the Kerala Mural paintings made on Bamboo.

Kerala Mural on Bamboo

In Kerala mural paintings, the bright colors  and the right combination of the colors make you awestruck. The right combination of colors, paired with fine lines with black paint and white background, beautiful and big eyes of the figures and the special technique used for ornamentation of the figures are specialties of Kerala Mural painting.

Recently I tried it on canvas too. Here is the outcome:

Kerala Mural on Canvas

 Closer view:

It took many days to complete the painting. But really enjoyed while painting this.

I always suggest  learners of arts and crafts to get trained under experts or professional trainers. Still will post about a tutorial on Kerala Mural painting soon. Hope that will give you some knowledge about the techniques of making Kerala Mural.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Chitrasante-2017 - some interesting paintings

About my visit to Chitrasante-2017 I have written in my previous posts.I have shared the glimpses of Chitrasante 2017 and Bhuddha paintings exhibited there. In this post sharing some unique paintings which were exhibited there. There were loads of paintings, each one was unique. I can share very few from those.

The below ones  are the paintings of ghats of Kaashi. When I had visited Kaashi, I had seen many artists were painting sitting in a boat. This artist must also have painted in the same way. Such paintings require a lot of concentration.

Ghats of Varanasi

Ghats of Varanasi

These are paintings of wildlife. These look like photos rather than paintings. Hats off to the artist for his perfection.

Wildlife paintings

This is very interesting, different versions of Monalisa. The rightmost one is Indian version, wearing ethnic jewels. I could not guess about the painting in the middle. If you can guess please share your opinion.

Different versions of Monalisa

I can't resist sharing this painting. Painting of Krishana in color and black and white. Which one looks better?

Paintings of Krishna

These are collection of some contemporary paintings. Each one is beautiful!

Collection of paintings

Chitrasante happens only once in a year and for one day. But in one day we can see and enjoy thousands of paintings. Every year it makes us to wait for next Chitrasante.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress on Wednesday-Sospeso Art

Most of the craft lovers know about sospeso art, this is also known as 3D decaupage. Already I have done many decoupaged articles. Trying sospeso on a pot. The pot is ready with basic decoupage.

Pot is ready with basic decoupage

 I have chosen a design of bunch of small, flowers. Each flower is very small, and it is taking time to cut and give the 3D effect. Finally that work is also completed.

Flowers with 3D effect

Now I have to attach the flowers to the pot. Hope to complete it soon. Will share once completed with the tutorials.

Until then-

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Visit to Chitrasanthe-2017

Chitrasante is an event which happens every year in Bangalore , organised by Chitrakala Parishad. About my last year's visit to Chitrasante, I have already written a blogpost: Chitrasante 2016 at Chitrakala Parishat- Ocean of paintings. 

Chitrasante is like an auspicious event to art lovers. This year there were more than 1300 artists exhibiting their paintings. One can see everywhere paintings- the magic created by artists on canvas. It is not possible to post all the photos I have clicked in one post. Let me start with paintings of Bhuddha:

Peaceful face of Bhuddha:

Side view of Face of Bhuddha

This is face of Bhuddha with different shades of color:

Face of Bhuddha in different shades

The below are paintings of Bhuddha in meditation:

Bhuddha in meditation

Bhuddha in meditation

These are just glimpses of the paintings exhibited there, like a drop from an ocean. There are thousands of paintings, in which we could see the efforts and talents of the artists. I have more to share about Chitrasante in coming posts.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Surpur miniature paintings- extinct art of Karnataka

I was aware of Rajasthan miniature paintings and Mysore miniature painting. Recently in an exhibition I came to know about another finest art of Karnataka - Surpur miniature paintings. I met an artist, who is practising painting forms , influenced by Surpur miniature.

No doubt, Surpur miniature is one of the finest art contribution from Karnataka, but it is disappearing. The artists who have learnt Surpur miniature art are shifting to other forms.Government arts academy are not supporting enough to keep the art form alive.

Here are some paintings which are influenced by Surpur miniature paintings. I could not collect enough information from the artist, as he was busy in attending the customers. 

The above paintings are by Artist Krishna Vasant. You can view his works here:

https://www.facebook.com/Krishnaprakashvasant/

Surpur miniature art was practised in Yadgir district of Karnataka.The artists have migrated from Andhra Pradesh. It flourished during the period of ruler Raja Venkatappa Naik. I don't have any pictures of original Surpur miniature painting :( . It is really sad that nothing is made to support this art form.

Original Surpur miniature is found in Salarjung Museum of Hyderabad. Hope this art form will  flourish again.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress on Wednesday- Cross stitch

This week sharing about, cross stitch work, which I have started long back. This has taken too much of time. My sister is also helping me to complete this project. My mother has made same design and she gifted it to her friend. About her work I had shared in one of my posts- Inheritance . 

Here is the work we started:

Cross stitch on 1meter X 1 meter cloth

 We have completed working on the main design, the two horses. Now we need to fill it with maroon threads.It won't be completed so soon, cross stitch is always time consuming and this one is nearly 1meter X 1 meter cloth.
The close view of the work:

Closer view of Cross stitch work

Hope with the help of my sister , it will be completed soon :)

The WIP , I posted two weeks' back is completed. Here is the saree I designed:

Saree with Kalamkari patch work

I have attached the Kalamkari border with brown raw silk border . Attached a  antique gold color lace along, the border.

The border- combination of Kalamkari, raw silk and antique gold lace

Loved the combination, couldn't resist designing jewelry- a simple neck piece with hand-painted pendant and  Rudraksh beads.The Durga pendant, Rudraksh and the Kalamkari border are going well with one another. What do you say?

Jewelry designed for the saree

Will keep sharing about different arts and crafts forms , in coming posts,

Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Papier Mache craft of Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, which is known for its natural beauty, is also known for many handicrafts. Who doesn't know about Kashmiri embroidery? Most of us wish to own a Kasmiri carpet. If we observe all the handicrafts of Kashmir, they are  done , using very delicate designs. Another such handicraft of India, is Papier Mache work.

I could collect some pictures of papier mache work , when I visited a handicrafts exhibition.The manufacturer explained about how they make  different products using papier mache. 

Different products of Papier Mache

The process of making Papier Mache:

Normally they use fine sheets of wood, from a kind of pine tree. And some use old papers too. These are made into pulp, by soaking in water and some chemicals for 4-5 days and grinding it. The pulp is molded into different shapes. And painted with natural colors . Earlier days, the golden color was made with real gold powder. Now they use acrylic and natural colors.

Here are two kinds of paintings. One with single color and another with different colors. The paintings which made with different color is very difficult to make and looks beautiful too.

Papier mache in single color and different colors.

Though papier mache was used to make boxes and pen stands, now the manufacturers make different decorative products. I could click photos of some :

Different products of papier mache

Small house boat model made of papier mache

pen stand and a box 

As any other handicrafts of Kashmir, papier mache also has very intricate work and design. I wish to see the complete process of making this , whenever I visit Kashmir.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress on Wednesday- Saree design

This week was little hectic. Could not write any posts. Could not complete whatever projects I have started. Last week had shared about kutch work design , which I started, last week , is not completed. Many are giving suggestion to use cotton thread on that. So I have decided to follow same.

Here is the sneak peek of this week's project- designing a saree, with Kalamkari border.

Planning to complete this by next week, and share with you.

Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress On Wednesday - Kutchwork on a Kurta

My work in progress series is stepping to third week. I started this with the post of Dress design .
This week sharing about the Kutchwork on a Kurta. I have shared How to trace design on stitched Kurta in my previous post. On the same Kurta I am starting to embroider Kutch work design.
Here is the Kurta with design traced on it:

The design traced

There are some mistakes, I can correct those as it is a geometrical design. The Kurta is in wine color, choosing between pink and light purple for the embroidery. Normally Kutch work looks good with bright color, hope this color look good because of the combination.

The threads selected- Which is better?

The last week's Work in Progress- Kerala Mural on Bamboo , is done.
Last week's work:

Kerala Mural on Bamboo

Here is the completed work:

Kerala Mural on Bamboo

A closer view:

Closer view of Kerala Mural on bamboo

I have completed a Kerala Mural on canvas too. Will share in the coming post.

Until then,

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Work In Progress on Wednesday - Kerala Mural Painting on Bamboo

This week in WIP series, sharing about the Kerala Mural. Most of the artists and crafters now know about Kerala Murala. Though these are mural painting, now many artists paint this on canvas, terracotta pots , cloth , bamboo etc. I'm  learning Kerala Mural painting. I have already learnt painting Kerala Mural on canvas, about which I will share in future. Now learning to paint it on Bamboo.

 WIP of this week, three days back I started. Here it is with outlines:

Kerala Mural on Bamboo-Work in Progress

This is the progress today :

Kerala Mural on Bamboo-Work in Progress

Hope to share finished work in coming week.

By the way,last week's work, was  designing a dress with Madhubani printed cloth. I have completed that work. Here is the dress I have designed:

Last week's WIP

Many suggested go with off white as top. As I have the Duppata in off-white, decided to make the pink  fabric as top. Hope you liked it.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana