Kalamkari Artwork
Kalamkari continues to be a popular textile art form in India today and there are many artists working to preserve and promote this ancient art form (It's over 3000 years old!). Though its origins can be traced back largely to the small towns of Kalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, it is also practiced in some villages in Tamil Nadu. We recently met a Kalamkari master craftsman from a rural village in Tamil Nadu. His dedication and mastery of this ancient art form is highly impressive. A third-generation award-winning artist, he learnt this art from his father and grandfather. He uses natural dyes and a traditional technique that makes his work very authentic and vibrant. Materials like turmeric, indigo, red sand, cow’s milk, crushed flowers, cow dung etc., are used at various stages in the tedious process of creating the final exquisite masterpieces. We bring to you a few small Kalamkari art pieces from this artist. These can be a great addition of ethnic ar...