Designs to Dye for :

The tie -and- dye or Bandhani fabrics of India are unsurpassed in their beauty . The nimble fingers , tyeing each fold or pinch of fabric  with acute concentration is a sight to behold ! The villages of Kutch , Gujarat and Rajasthan create beautiful Bandhani  sarees and fabrics . From tiny mustard seeds to small pebbles are used to resist dye the design . Only on completion of dyeing and opening out the knot does the true beauty and skill of the craftsman emerge !
 Adhereing to my topic of Peacock as a design symbol , here`s a look at these beautiful art forms ,

This saree is from Jamnagar in Gujarat , and the tying is done with mustard seeds . To make the tieing a little easier and faster, the fabric is 1st folded  lengthwise and then tied ,as seen in the 1st and 2nd picture. (Notice the size of  the dots )

 A beautiful cotton saree from Mandvi in Kutch , resembles the Madurai Sungadi . Though the pattern is not that of the peacock , the peacock motif border induced me to add this to my collection

Another textile art of India that has used peacock in it`s design form is the Ikat and Patola . Based on the resist method of dyeing, the warp yarns are 1st laid flat and the dyeing is carried out with  brush painting on these warps. After fixing the colour, the weaving is done . A lot of presicion is required to obtain a sharp and clear design

So what do you think? Isnt India a land of innumerable art forms of Textiles? I think the list is inexhaustible , ................................. and yet to follow is the embroidery forms of this beautiful bird !

Ciao  , Till next post then ,

Motidana

Peacock ! A designer`s eternal delight ! Part 3

Peacock ! A designer`s eternal delight ! Part 3

From the painters palette !

  Traditional folk motifs , so revered among the craft artisans of India too have found the peacock motif to be an endless source of  inspiration .

   Here are two of my favourite  works of art  ,

 a dupatta that I picked up from Daram store in  Hyderabad .

The intricate border has been meticulously painted  by a Madhubani  artist , and the fine lines of perfection fill me with  a sense of amazement , for the artist who has labouriously toile over it !

The second one is a beautiful tablecloth that I had picked up years ago from Shilparamam ,Madhapur in Hyderabad. What drew me to this stall was the beautiful and vibrant colours used by the artist. I still remember vividly , the  craftsman from  Gond  proudly proclaiming that I would find it difficult to find a beautiful piece such as this again . ( How  true , since I never again found  a stall selling these paintings made on  home-linen again in Shilparamam )