Kalamkari painting is pen drawings on cloth. Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh are famed for Kalamkari paintings. This folk art form derives its name from kalam or pen, which is used to trace outlines patterns and images. The Kalamkari technique involves drawing outlines with burnt tamarind twigs dipped in molasses and iron fillings. The vegetables dyes of deep shades are used to create religious scenes. The final effect comes with repeating the process of coloring. The uniqueness of this folk art of India is that no two panels are similar. Vegetable and mineral pigments are used to create these paintings. The Kalamkari folk art of India undergoes a laborious, slow process of resist dyeing and hand printing. Many stages have to complete before the results is obtained. Unlike other styles of painting, Kalamkari folk art of India demands a lot of treatment before and after the painting is complete on the cotton fabric. Depending on the treatment of cloth, or quality of the mordant, colors change accordingly. Every step from soaking of the cloth, to sketching the outlines to washing and drying the cloth, is done carefully and correctly. One would be astonished to know that the color red is obtained by using the Indian madder root, yellow from the pomegranate seed or even mango bark, and black from myrobalam fruit.

Folk art of India Kalamkari (drawn with pen) on cotton fabric

Size: 40 inches x 28 inches

Frame it, hang it on wall to achieve country style home decor.

Made by the folk artisans living in Andhra Pradesh region of south India

Ancient Folk art of India