ART FORMS

India is known to be the source of various art forms since time immemorial. These art forms are like a legacy and have been passed down from one generation to another. Given the fact, the country has been ruled by various dynasties and different religions. This explains the existence of such a wide array of artworks that have emerged over time. Keeping the essence intact, modernization has touched these art forms and added more creativity to it.

As a part of these legacies, it is our duty to carry it forward. Keeping this in mind, I decided to join a workshop or a tutorial, to learn a form of Indian art, honestly,  it was long on my bucket list. There are many art workshops and tutorials one can join, it will not only help in gaining a new experience but will further make us understand a place in a better way.

Let’s take a glance at different art forms which are present in India since time immemorial. Few art forms have a religious significance, and others have originated from tribes, who religiously preserved and passed these unique art forms further. Let’s explore a few of them-

MADHUBANI

It is an ancient art form that traces its origin to Mithila, a district of Bihar. The Madhubani paintings narrate their own story. The tales of Indian rituals, mythological characters, and folklore are inscribed through contrasting colors and geometric figures. However, it is not that difficult as it sounds.

No straight line needs to be drawn, and yet there is enough room for precision, for a creative mind. This form of art also lets you explore and customize designs. The colors used in this art form, are usually extremely bright and vibrant.

In ancient times, the colors were obtained from plants. The base is usually kept white or off-white One can also use acrylic colors or a sketch pen. Shading and borders however form an important part of this art form.

Crimson red, turquoise blue, parrot green, and lemon yellow are a few of the frequently used colors.

This art form is done on fabric, paper, canvas, or cloth. The most popular motifs are fish, turtle, parrot, peacock, and lotus.

This has increased the utility of the art form and thus has been commercialized. These paintings can be found on various stand-alone items, such as crockery, wall-hangings, apparel, and many more.

I would love to share my experience, when I enrolled in a week’s course, to gain hands-on experience in this artwork. After doing a lot of research and talking to a few of the tutors, I liked Ms. Rajashree immensely and wanted her to be my guru.  I was never into art and had a drawing phobia since childhood.

My first confession on meeting her was around the same. She smiled and said, “You cannot draw a straight line.” I sheepishly nodded my head in agreement. She said, “Good, let’s start with Madhubani then.”

Through our talks, she sensed my deep interest in history. She took me on an interesting journey, where she gave me a sneak peek into the evolution of Madhubani, and how it changed with time. She further piqued my interest by suggesting, drawing my own table mats by using this art form. Finally, she gave her perils of wisdom, she mentioned no art form have a stringent rule, we should allow ourselves to dwell inside and develop our own creative aspect or signature style. This gave me an opportunity to introspect, and come up with my own designs.

Thankfully I drew the much-planned table mat and was proud of my creation. I have not only ticked off something from my bucket list but also addressed one of the biggest fears of my life.

MANDALA

The concept of Mandala depicts circular and geometric shapes. This art form was the gift of ancient Indian religions Hinduism and Buddhism. This art form increases concentration and helps in striking the balance between body and mind, if you love philosophy then you would relate to it. The art upholds the true essence of meditation and traditions, followed in some parts of Tibet. The basic art requires cloth, paper or sometimes it is even inscribed on stones.

This is the only art in which the stationery requirement is less, and therefore it can be practiced easily while traveling. All one requires is a pen and paper.

This art form requires a lot of focus and is believed to be a stress reliever.

FLUID ART

One of the easiest art forms which give you full freedom and unleash the creative flow.

Fluid art is based on acrylic pouring, and it needs somewhere between half an hour to an hour, to get the whole work done. It is better to pick 3 colors and use it throughout. All you need to know, is the basics of color combinations, to start the activity.

Some tools and accessories that might come in handy are comb and sprays. This is one of the modern art forms, and there are a good number of workshops present teaching the course.

BLUE POTTERY

This art form has its roots in the Turko-Persian origin and has a touch of Moroccan art in it. In India, the art started flourishing in Jaipur.

One fact that sets it apart from traditional pottery, in this the motifs is made of quartz instead of clay. Dark ultramarine blue (cobalt oxide) is used which neds the art a bright blue hue.

There is evidence of the Mughals using this form of art in their architectural designs as well. One can find typical designs and motifs of the animal and birds.

The material with which the pots are made is extremely durable, and don’t develop cracks for years. The painting is done using a brush. If you are looking for some utility from this art, you can make beautiful showpieces with intricate designs or simply make the paintings on daily use items such as flower vases, coasters, tiles, or dishes.

GOND ART

Gond Art is more of Indian tribal art. The art derives its essence from nature. This art form also contains intricacies, and is called the ‘online work’. This means, the artists majorly focus on drawing perfect lines, including dots and dashes, in order to bring out the creative aspect.

Bright colors like red, blue, yellow, and white are typically used for this art form.

These colors were traditionally extracted from charcoal, cow dung, and plant sap or soil. Nowadays, artificial colors like the poster colors are used. Another shift to modernization witnessed, the artwork to be done on canvas instead of walls or floors. Drawing on the canvas makes it much easier to preserve, and also carry the artwork if needed.

This is surely one form of art that you would enjoy learning and is sure to give you aesthetic pleasure.