Masmara - handcrafted products by rural artisans

<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(41, 48, 59); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>"Masmara" the story unfolds here says their first post on their blog.....</b></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Masmara, founded by Two friends ( who are incidentally married to each other :)) quit their jobs and then travel, chill out, laze around...and soon decide its time they did something more constructive with their time.. They travel some more, meet lots of people, research some ideas and zero in on starting "masmara".</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Masmara, based out of Bangalore, was started with the intention of bringing little known rural crafts to a global audience. Masmara strives to bring before you some beautiful handcrafted products which sustains and promotes good craftsmanship.<br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >All our products are eco-friendly says "Masmara" and are aimed to appeal to a wider global audience. Being original handmade selection of products, they are surely a treat for your eyes. Coming in an affordable range of prices, we have several products in our collection which are made of natural fibers like jute, cotton, banana fiber, sheep wool and hibiscus fiber. We also collaborate with NGO’s who promote craft-based sustainable livelihood projects for women.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >I like Masmara,coz they have a huge collection of my favourite Kerala Murals in a different fashion,drawn on bamboo and which could be put on walls and cute pendants and silver jewellery which I have been always eyeing on....</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Enjoy their products and promote "Masmara",Truly Indian</span></span></p></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785139620588754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D5LY4o55YFPMLb44NR-w9MHtIz0PU58RyuXXsAFxlqOsPN5Rbt3dcTF9xKcZy8cFsECoWjt-3WnKsfuiFPhxZGpIGydC8ENYzQ1mhBvfd8OYDMJNVVd1-uhMEs_d9r02cg5xzZjc75g/s400/35949_150368918306859_118349821508769_513312_8086542_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 400px;" />Simple jewellery from beads and colored thread and a mural work<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785132819931826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9cfNqU7iE3xOaOjfiZo7PAt8xAR72WRy83vsSVyu3KMbUZvdXYVeMEgtO33reCzKxVEh6tFkS287HMMTcUIXyfZD6Mrg9qGlwXR0FlzZ1WXYMjHvb0Eq6AdQP6X_qw8P-lyHvErYGaI/s400/35949_150368911640193_118349821508769_513310_4934405_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786527654337458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vo7OKqrdD7jklF-ZGuo8T_gRiAWMHJ6KHWFKgKj5hyphenhyphennzGlB8-ZkLsfmWhNwUsxBhmV1Ldmq_c_bBIVrJ-oiNQCVPeW4Fck_DGMQnTlDNCEApfXQVpJS-cVry6bKzOPhi3yhXfX72ah0/s400/47765_159713697372381_118349821508769_567744_5625756_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" />Lambini jewellery made by lambini tribes in Karnataka<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786530976986530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8aHEI50_s6jwhUMdEWSx50xsgAyPmf6xRS2RXtr7lYIdoIEm9upVjemrWGWJFxBmWZIOeT7O1UHfWF1ZGiCq2SkXA8fkzYrBVNF0O20rc5tD1PF6sDnS-p2GJhDUUcMTN4f1PxgktoE/s400/38982_148861868457564_118349821508769_503547_667059_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 207px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786191846781634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bZy87Is6d4se6x3RHYdRgmX7VK4j9GVN0yf5YjukclLsUQsOxPBwfxYm7lwrlj6hsBt_1Bf7Kd77bUFt7qVz78Q182h9W6d5zTE6qoLfiIem44RWG8EuPKcRP9x9ko_1LClhFMOnA8E/s400/37537_148861955124222_118349821508769_503550_5079943_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" /><br /><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785120282817042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrp0nn3Sollotx1gHjWwzmntjmB3GA9iJZVZDQPCMy3uU8C3pVIQDT6UyBYtB6E9Lr5DHocoreJ50bcFtSVdfv5Z27H-lOX1m5GmfdnjpoKhqblmQaL81KSiAMw45hUTpW8X1RF7h20E/s400/34948_145616058782145_118349821508769_481151_1924563_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 400px;" />very colorful bags<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785113435047122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCBN_-3Vs5R4Ok38N4AYr_PSg7_E4DxQjLH6snRVVniJ-eDjlDdUyFhAOVPVKyfIkNdmSl9wjLb_oHtwz0cxNXrTaNYTX0kZ0AuiRi266bN-hz0rSEw2p33ajELSm3MhBeyPs8QaNQOo/s400/34553_141091192567965_118349821508769_457990_5062705_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" />beads in different colors<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785106450510674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng47tMGTrYbxz6C9H3-cXXO_60y9zdz7N9h2iOCfm3MCu4F1wCZJJ0TI-KrSHKfykY2NCC9SYMStCrgmFhlhF690j2ZsC_WBLi9M8jFN-mhu81IgPTI5y5FqnjFlYvY6_bdtdOV__9L0/s400/34553_141091172567967_118349821508769_457984_7936385_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519784477081631010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFllzYfteOd9JIvPJRFQ-xVjk-H19erBdNZhIkZmV4KpHcIlAqVZ3rNliJPhZZYE-eaauluZByqDKIQU1iDkCZIt4hNoBuSi5Rehajup97XpCxOofSHgz9Gdw7tkfFaBIRGIV-rzDKfs0/s400/34546_141096219234129_118349821508769_457999_5215488_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 353px; height: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519784471883847314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEika8Ik3Z1kl0TrKO56XbA_ydzef9FuyYIX9h3tsS3YQAScfYjGnRJzPiPrUptSmL3WA7Gkc8aRmYaSzsZFneBuJhIEQTl8SsM3GDHQXuqzby6jJ0bvm8pnUmwVApkzB1h78omYPGahJBw/s400/34297_145614478782303_118349821508769_481136_8293175_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786526748440002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHL8MK_E_Rr4MEejcPgVsoZlY6lffZAi9nVWunq06XX1vdAZlwPAx7I6f_MksolPFFZFDW9IixKGZqiIQSrYJEKsnrcE7as0JUaB_0uMycXE6bU_S2roMEnkfcyOghMnBWa0Kg3glPzc/s400/38804_150368511640233_118349821508769_513304_6328572_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" /><div style="text-align: center;">mural work on bamboo,wall art</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbuWKf2NkTSKE5RNl95Wo5uRjusKLJrNIrydd2yKRe-_LHSw4nVHfuSvZiL8XEVxpt5HzZosnHjsRjGlNY8a7cvKz2hoD2CA4vuILiPrrpjTJQP2fu3l9tl5Y0OpsrvbHb8dW6h7riWI/s1600/25094_118351848175233_118349821508769_337750_3004885_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519784467879862978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbuWKf2NkTSKE5RNl95Wo5uRjusKLJrNIrydd2yKRe-_LHSw4nVHfuSvZiL8XEVxpt5HzZosnHjsRjGlNY8a7cvKz2hoD2CA4vuILiPrrpjTJQP2fu3l9tl5Y0OpsrvbHb8dW6h7riWI/s400/25094_118351848175233_118349821508769_337750_3004885_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRpjb0ib2QA9uzLGl9eL4SOWPoRnYlxTZaTEQVZXe9giVQgTYq7ufFHV3GdzASjbBZOCUfoAHJadSLEs6V6IyAVYJkyAdsu-EybY4JhlKfyymErN8yi0Eb_9iMoz9fB9eC1SAYfZJe4s/s1600/25094_118351844841900_118349821508769_337749_4442799_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519784464231535650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRpjb0ib2QA9uzLGl9eL4SOWPoRnYlxTZaTEQVZXe9giVQgTYq7ufFHV3GdzASjbBZOCUfoAHJadSLEs6V6IyAVYJkyAdsu-EybY4JhlKfyymErN8yi0Eb_9iMoz9fB9eC1SAYfZJe4s/s400/25094_118351844841900_118349821508769_337749_4442799_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 400px;" /></a>mural painting by rural artisans<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rfiUrnnGPt6dutx2MClXICO9YVE3qZj1GFuU3IqaJ9RPELSMGviNwDbRg-n8xRI09aOevbxniy_H65XvBIQS1xsu3SE9WFYH15_bkN3qbojFN5Cx1SFjSq7VojEeIBSC9rIvvqKnurs/s1600/25094_118351834841901_118349821508769_337747_3927181_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519784458231883618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rfiUrnnGPt6dutx2MClXICO9YVE3qZj1GFuU3IqaJ9RPELSMGviNwDbRg-n8xRI09aOevbxniy_H65XvBIQS1xsu3SE9WFYH15_bkN3qbojFN5Cx1SFjSq7VojEeIBSC9rIvvqKnurs/s400/25094_118351834841901_118349821508769_337747_3927181_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" /></a>mural art kept to the side of the mirror</div><div><br /></div><div>Site: <a href="http://www.masmara.com/">http://www.masmara.com/</a></div><div>Blog:<a href="http://masmara-india.blogspot.com/">http://masmara-india.blogspot.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>All images are courtesy to "Masmara"</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(41, 48, 59); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><b><br /></b></span></span></p></span></div>

Masmara - handcrafted products by rural artisans

"Masmara" the story unfolds here says their first post on their blog..... Masmara, founded by Two friends ( who are incidentally m...

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Indian Arts and Crafts-Making of a Kerala Mural

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Kerala mural paintings are frescos (strictly using naturally available materials), depicting mythology and legends,which are drawn on the walls of temples and churches in Kerala. They stand out for their emphasis on beauty, clarity and symmetry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443266157223573458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvn66OfebmrF6G7UV8EI2Z40JbJNyXvqejdfI4AUOTefu4gB1CYuH8FBCJ72WJCUWQvC8O5qzu4WDkgPgT_yDyNLXBNCGzNc76SUkCh0IrymeziaBbdK9ZBS8XYcFw3WvuQhkw3t_z4o/s400/2238994436_cd7978f69d_o.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 308px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Preparation of the walls</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The walls have to be first prepared before one does the murals. The walls are given a rough plastering with a mixture of lime and sand, the juice of kadukkai or the juice of a creeper called chunnambuvelli and dissolved jaggery. Then a smooth plaster is applied. The ingredients are the same as in the case of the rough plaster, except that at this stage, cotton is ground together with the other ingredients.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After 10 days, 25 to 30 coats of a mixture of quicklime and tender coconut water are applied.  Its features are the lime medium and technique in which the prepared walls are painted only after it gets completely dry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Colours</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Five basic colours are used in mural painting — <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">white, yellow, red, green, and black</span>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Preparing the colours</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">yellow and red,</span> stones such as laterite are ground and the powder is cleaned to remove impurities. The pigment residue is collected and dried. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">green,</span> the leaves of neela amari(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Indigofer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a</span>) are dried and powdered. This powder is bluish in colour. Eruvikkara is a herb whose leaves are crushed to get yellow powder. The blue neela amari powder is mixed with the yellow Eruvikkara to get green, the proportion of the two powders being varied to get different shades. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">black</span> colour wicks are immersed in sesame oil, and then lit. The smoke is collected on the inside of a mud pot. The soot is then carefully scraped out and used where black colour is needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The outline is drawn in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">yellow</span>, and then again in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">red.</span> The colours are then filled in. Once the painting is finished, the outline is done again in black.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Brush</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">es</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brushes for painting on the wall are made of the blades of certain types of grass and the roots of some trees. Sharpened bamboo pieces are used to draw the outlines of the murals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Making of Krishna and Gopis</span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443263633880116786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37BI2Ms87viGWWRMUroCbdkKIe8ZZ_cQjLFQ9bf4y-jzcXA09JjYXMJfnw-ZbsanEhMXidh26qsONOPE4tWzx8NmrKuDfFiSoAqLtJC5yFWOplE-3cH8ak2N2yRU-x9DBNWhg2iRB6z8/s400/krishna_gopis0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Sketches are made and yellow is been filled<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJNj1KEaxEERU36dXiGf62HZM3b1Qcn9kDZCFxLI1IqLL4DcgquW0orwwiVnnQ_GszK6-32763nFPogBUPXSeNWWXvOUPwK_yFfHduJdIdB_m1oiTF5l1RmVPid8XhywQJ0zghFru5As/s1600-h/krishna_gopis1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443263652507176946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJNj1KEaxEERU36dXiGf62HZM3b1Qcn9kDZCFxLI1IqLL4DcgquW0orwwiVnnQ_GszK6-32763nFPogBUPXSeNWWXvOUPwK_yFfHduJdIdB_m1oiTF5l1RmVPid8XhywQJ0zghFru5As/s400/krishna_gopis1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Next comes red<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443263644300190354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb_JaOigE_PNoj2yAgylb6bEl37cNFF9fg4mJsNfBvrZIMdB-xl2KmICBdnIJEmH97N49xi8gjQF2NUxu3j_0055ho4hCUhB_nSrvGCNpm5lzWbohHzUw7DBs0uvMgJVQrsfEcE2kh4k/s400/krishna_gopis2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div>Characters emerge layer by layer,most painstaking process</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t0onHJ8tIkYQVjJOcfpsfOA4Q5RbPzVCJf3Ug37mLusKRnfnyHaZ7Cnyd_SKtVpRtw2Ax1KTu2XN6a6btoL8JfQkHAZ4lWHREfmMHAlggQ4Vw9SRatbBSJINjjMC-nAFBmnEeS4lsj8/s1600-h/krishna_gopis+4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443212416867499954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t0onHJ8tIkYQVjJOcfpsfOA4Q5RbPzVCJf3Ug37mLusKRnfnyHaZ7Cnyd_SKtVpRtw2Ax1KTu2XN6a6btoL8JfQkHAZ4lWHREfmMHAlggQ4Vw9SRatbBSJINjjMC-nAFBmnEeS4lsj8/s400/krishna_gopis+4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCKnokMxJkqEvnRrYCqXzzt9lGEENGcrg96SMumNqa_P0PiNIcMDLZzr5l6W6Qw6VGXZCKOP21uew5MajdxA_2YuTdBGTmIgJxPE7DmV5V-jFTvmpWFcFTKoUWWZwwVZIQ7_h5LsJDgo/s1600-h/krishna_gopis5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443212409663139090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCKnokMxJkqEvnRrYCqXzzt9lGEENGcrg96SMumNqa_P0PiNIcMDLZzr5l6W6Qw6VGXZCKOP21uew5MajdxA_2YuTdBGTmIgJxPE7DmV5V-jFTvmpWFcFTKoUWWZwwVZIQ7_h5LsJDgo/s400/krishna_gopis5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>After yellow is the turn of green,characters come to the forground with green<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4HXBj9w631csMTbDcYV-ZTGRDmku6Ymkn1GyYZeZ_fEJcxqJiO0gBfEoqEmEIJm4vpQnkqDb1FJ2X8MxbL3ypZ3edFOwxV5qBStDIQpMJDsU2ryRaNV5j5yIfu29vlMv2d1HilTV5fQ/s1600-h/krishna_gopis6+(1).jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443212401479077906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4HXBj9w631csMTbDcYV-ZTGRDmku6Ymkn1GyYZeZ_fEJcxqJiO0gBfEoqEmEIJm4vpQnkqDb1FJ2X8MxbL3ypZ3edFOwxV5qBStDIQpMJDsU2ryRaNV5j5yIfu29vlMv2d1HilTV5fQ/s400/krishna_gopis6+(1).jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Then comes blue<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPfxOTG5BKMwxMzTkdH_idcbQii29HYLHMs7OzO8pOByk_i3YJf-Bd6lihZWWnq9xr3c4FxoToB1u3cV_LMP9M0FiA88Jul2efqLbOa_hyphenhyphen_eibp-CVYUDkLgelZ4kQ2Udr55OKFTQPcY/s1600-h/krishna_gopis7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443212391040655346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPfxOTG5BKMwxMzTkdH_idcbQii29HYLHMs7OzO8pOByk_i3YJf-Bd6lihZWWnq9xr3c4FxoToB1u3cV_LMP9M0FiA88Jul2efqLbOa_hyphenhyphen_eibp-CVYUDkLgelZ4kQ2Udr55OKFTQPcY/s400/krishna_gopis7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The gopis begin to take their places,charming and coequittish and full of life<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iEUoHOzPLtW0zu73rrOV3uf9EKWcllh3ab1LHeAoc-QFjXaOALHbxw4qqJ2d0i48oAmYTniNhf6MeyxxqkpZl75Cybqko5_w2oLsmUI94No3okyLk9Ymzwy45OXsHVdiWkiRB8T4rW4/s1600-h/krishna_gopis8+(1).jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443212375895902658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iEUoHOzPLtW0zu73rrOV3uf9EKWcllh3ab1LHeAoc-QFjXaOALHbxw4qqJ2d0i48oAmYTniNhf6MeyxxqkpZl75Cybqko5_w2oLsmUI94No3okyLk9Ymzwy45OXsHVdiWkiRB8T4rW4/s400/krishna_gopis8+(1).jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Finally in life like glory<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Making of Ananthasayanam,Lord Vishnu </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443205711590876834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFnV_n9xybHTHIWPLUgg05EI9UeTJ5U3cJHig6HmFztq_1SyfKFtfcZDitAhbC3SQn4pjhWgBX3YUtnx_Cr0dBkmDsY-toLE1umpSJiwsfE41iZo4RL6HV4g_1AHPIEnQNJgdOBJ8KVc/s400/ananthasayanam0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>Making of Yellow<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yellow central character<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443205718806890354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnl3oLt5_3Gjbof15qLweB_2K0fPyNm4qKQWBp9Ap6mSFd-1VjY-x8aUaDFJ5XlgxBwni8vjLvqB3zbhQVjfUUQ64bX_E0i7chPL-OyMjDTs_Nm2U6b3fu3d1G62epuvPScol0ohOAWY/s400/ananthasayanam1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443205727410784770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzmUjgLD8f8StYd5hjZ0vu0Pv-i48FtvXQW49z3plvJSWY8_zvFwMTzDdZplSWcEEjvB3B7n1MHgzuYXyholVTbDpJPD7L2-UBZwO1PgsYDRjK1Z7IzwgjealasV9Q7uPjO6t8oaQAuU/s400/ananthasayanam3.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Vishnu Emerges</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443205732512986642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bFsp9W60QJcI4FZaOKxyzXy0oDfbqgZSiU1_0iuJkNkDsjxafmufwgA7uu6WqHjf1qv9m0KANpZH99eJhWmWQ2gNOQ8quYKFw_8YKO9peONSsKejly18OzCZsLuTnMXAmUb4mqnnLmM/s400/ananthasayanam4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lakshmi emerges in yellow</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443205741740364306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFshpazU5Wr4jdTjfz0w-EYTF6wiL-7VJrFAzH5cwRn7RLtUYYpCpx9pEIsQ_8i0Bady0_ReA7HSVtOOfzTaQNKUm01qLs5faPhXG0eH8WAfMOB7bVy6j7zme-zLMPnYd2tuZhJXF-TcU/s400/ananthasayanam5.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Still it is Yellow,All characters in yellow<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206065052568882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiD6BRu5ea894AA3AnYjNXXeF_zPmPe7bqLODUa2o4BSzvscPpEiMXK27cdZ4XM28W7Ddg3-2Qm7ld_HqNAAC3iPp6Tpm-uEuDCaeRefkSJ5SCESPQuQuq_Z0lyWGktEbJ9vVb0Fiyks/s400/ananthasayanam6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Supporting characters emerges</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206073042572626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V6XQ0s9Jxmhd1TLRpKA2ka-E7Vx_yDWJNuxxBlQ1AiYr1dLphHM8blHmUQpWIyS1UR9L2A4HggnstZcM_cOinfLO1RvPXnDwNMOf4B2ZoSHUCgroaYrBkRrsbmLWfdbdiwndBFwSfGQ/s400/ananthasayanam7.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Red emerges</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206076681448946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOVHiW_IOrLJbEIHvd-WjBOX1FG42OFKOibtBaZuVW-duhvZRkSaCKKCleZ4CTwK-P_3aFkvX100N7UXeC5JOLusaS2ajBD7HiN4A6IBfhRh2Xvf7PhnxvMXd_JAcOyM1tFD8Fh4F5hk/s400/ananthasayanam8.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Central characters becomes red<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206095469123858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrDfs_BdVXSmuDicLA0-njFhnbCs7m8lBFkz8dk8McpM-mUJL7hrxULD34H6Ln_rfEQW8AEpD359nh_B-gr1ugWYtpam6cc_7XLNVYY7y1lHdbi-aqUgHkIrhqnOFrmGWRQPQlwPW3no/s400/ananthasayanam10.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Supporting characters gets their share of red<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206087891220658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj7u4k4QyHH_8cAN0y5NabqynJVHyBXSrWqxspgaTwVUONx1dgoPb5_yFdEEUAtjbPknhflhBZynBdZbPFvno4Sr5PvEiU8nrle1PKBAzJTLebKyWel4ndiey9bz1xDLWwM2cBzc1Xdc/s400/ananthasayanam9.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206393737948674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCw6zrP_vV2VodUh2pBZ-nESEzlf9-4PO1cFqrOg3nulW9RCtBRKtJw6fBPTRoCLE9fNfvso90KLCWPReYHlv7cBoDDftRWJvbl7qx47MJrSXMHBE_F_5pW6Di8Wo3JVAjJko1xKmbR8/s400/ananthasayanam11.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Green is the other colour which emerges<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206398916777586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZD4P7bFmncxfQWjdXnd5j15MbmrGTnF1qIBHDzI147fZ2DZN-YiM0dhByG24C31gkDsvbnX2sHes6cW1u3IXwpvMLZ2UEdAvbcijoDlzkfP9ozPU4odb7RtxDRPVrJyGsdTtbWuumNQ/s400/ananthasayanam12.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />After green comes blue<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206414617145634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK9EImQ90kwceEDdVFrlmGqLlCjwjj2jh7zFVb_u08-S4zXypsFg_F4WjyGGyi_gGJe048eVVikXRqdk-zs5FNRT-1NLXhWpoe3k7Zs9FxLyYOZSeq56qZS6K-4zexhCEp4fvd6zi8Zg/s400/ananthasayanam14.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />The outlines are filled with black<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206407852172738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJSaDZCBjYpJtbihq_mQmLGOZqK7-BI5E7xpdyRdm3TOjk2yXPdGHEc040zUDeEAoqNuMF7meYvCj9ORbGoOAQhU2Db9VUGJ1Jsr0Xq1yjXaNCKodxS_kTh0ClItTzVhLEofDleRePrw/s400/ananthasayanam13.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Outlines almost done,image done almost</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443206426111792578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz7RtGckCCoz_Ryqd4_M7OmGHMZFk20irkSvNxsEI3iukPDUzZO5Bw7RzoetDvC5p4eCBN03qEqw95vhGNVmibxO9jTeykk9m1FR1X6Gsgyjv4c4ynvdWVhF6zreEDPb9hZJ4hcJDPWM/s400/ananthasayanam15.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>Lord Vishnu in all its glory,a piece of adoration<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy and Informationcourtesy:aptclasses.com</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy:keralmurals.in,Artist Naveen,Text:A.Menon</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>

Indian Arts and Crafts-Making of a Kerala Mural

Kerala mural paintings are frescos (strictly using naturally available materials), depicting mythology and legends,which are drawn on the wa...

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Arts and Crafts of India -Kerala Murals

<div align="justify"><strong>Art</strong> is in the blood of man from the beginning stages of civilization. It began as a medium to communicate and preserve the events. It has no language but expressions. Every piece of art in Kerala tells us a story. <strong>Vibrant colours and dramatic details bring to life stories you have perhaps</strong> <strong>heard from your grandma or read in your favourite Amar Chitra Katha series.<br /></strong></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kerala murals are known for their emphasis on <strong>beauty, clarity and symmetry.</strong> </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Accentuating dramatic elaborate costumes and rich ornamenta</strong>tion, these murals are somewhat similar to dance forms like Kathakali. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Murals were used to <strong>depict religious and mythological stories</strong>, and predominantly in temples.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Artists have to follow <strong>strict codes that govern the depiction of figurines and expressions</strong>, something that is followed even today. </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Lets read some "History"<br /></strong></span><p align="justify">The <strong>history of Murals in Kerala</strong> can be traced to the <strong>seventh or eighth century AD</strong>. Indian Mural in its primitive form was done and can still be seen on the walls of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. They were done by the early Buddhist monks. Later the style of art spread towards the southern part of India especially to Tanjore, and from there to Kerala. One could say that the tradition of painting on walls began in Kerala with the pre-historic rock paintings found in the Anjanad Valley of Idukki district. Archaeologists presume that these paintings belong to different periods from the upper Paleolithic period to the Early historic period. </p>In Kerala, this form obtained a very distinctive and classical form that is unrivalled and unique compared to any other form of Mural around the world.Though the art form developed as a temple art, it soon spread its wings and became universal. The Murals of Kerala bear the stamp of uniqueness in aesthetic composition and technique. <strong>Kerala has the second largest collection of archaeologically important mural sites. </strong><br /><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Originally, <strong>Kerala murals</strong> were a <strong>pure form of devotion</strong>, eulogizing Hindu gods <strong>and events and scenes from their domains.</strong> It is noticed that most of them were done in those places in palaces and temples where the common man couldn’t easily see the picture.</span><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326815953009062066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_hU7oyr4x3H59OPXgscAHH609jrsSQQNr6LA-hDYL_G-MPc68U-eyXliamdxASITlcdXvnNG-fDWos_POVcWap7FryKP5-zqJsybkVs4IGemVoqAYXHWENCMIPCRetiDxqt-yBdLy7E/s400/guruvayoorappan.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Hindu God-Guruvayoorapppan(incarnation of Krishna)Artist:A. menon</strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326821265534614578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrqJK9Fc11z3-f0Us8ni_2dmLu0DWJXP2dCLPqTEDqaSeBlh7-BwNTaBcN2a8Wv1DS9jhd3nsHThTNQVBCLPFeMPLQT_DPcQh6jA0zcnJxX5PvxrDJeDyTqSa5P_XwobgbuLHwNFURsI/s400/varalakshmi.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></p><strong>Hindu God:Durga Artist:A.Menon</strong><br /><p align="justify">It is perhaps to create a genuflecting atmosphere that temples, palaces and churches in Kerala decorated their walls with intricate chumarchitrangal (murals) that told stories from the Mahabaratha, Ramayana, Puranas and the Bible. </p><p align="justify">Ancient places like <strong>Padmanabhapuram, Krishnapuram and Mattancherry</strong> are enriched with murals. One of the most fascinating works of mural art is on the walls of the<strong> Mattanche</strong>rry <strong>Palace at Kochi</strong> which was probably executed in the late sixteenth century. It’s the Ramayana epic that seamlessly unfolds in the <strong>palliyara (royal bed chamber)</strong> on the upper half of the walls while the border is covered with simple textile designs that mural artists call <strong>"veeralli pattu".</strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326815958338066450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNI4dEZ3yXXYTQRjQsTERKy_DFwAT81M3AWPHNMqkQeC_RmfR0nyWdu_tsGu97x8CgdPXGdV1ufehyphenhyphenpHqICbkabGMLWSWjbRUPSSjeqGHZT8Lm_Yl8lFSjw0rXDA_zD0IVjcmJCkY3n4/s400/matancherypalace+015.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326815959639030418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDO_C5Vacz7KEPorf1IO1O6ZAHPYznbRqk-yXDDGSO5xSNg9vjW796wgnEEYTZ-n4Qp9kytWev4F5h0ooeKdM5qCHqXUNHCUeqV4TIpBA9G3kJYZQcavLYr5cNstDjpnImKEXCinDw2E/s400/matancherypalace+010.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></p><strong>Mattancherry Palace</strong><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326815961427445442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4f29DtcM9JLqWYYqHurJkWpvDcBVVhSDtLiHhQKrS2TXEU5WaVU9xQR1acyvYQgHLkSyU_8k2ZWVw-2BxWa_R9K_E40T9AbTQOjGVR3NrcOC5RogUXIn6jHt3m6Lsoh7B-dGdKzWILs/s400/matancherypalace+022.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p align="justify"><strong>Temples</strong> and churches in Kerala have walls decorated with murals. Earlier the intention was not a public display of art for appreciation. Later on, when these palaces and temples were opened up for public appreciation that these paintings saw the light as far as the rest of the world was concerned. </p><p align="justify">A group of adventurous artists decided to go a step further and use this grand style on canvas, this magnificent style of painting moved form palaces to museums to homes and hotels winning accolades for the grandeur and breathtaking beauty of the rotund figures and blatant colors.<br /></p><br /><p><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Colors and Expressions</span></strong></p><p>A typical Kerala Mural Painting is done using five colours namely, <strong>red, green, yellow, white and black. Blue</strong> too has made its presence felt in later murals. </p><p>Obtained from <strong>natural dyes </strong>from the <strong>saps of leaves.</strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Each painting is painstakingly done in five steps.</span> </strong></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">1.On a white background, first comes the <strong>sketching</strong> where the deft lines of the artist bring out the contours and curves of the motifs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">2.Outlines are filled with yellow colour leaving the white spaces. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">3.Red or green(as they are darker compared to yellow and white) are filled into the spaces where required. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">4.The detailing with darker shades of the same col</span>ors and finally outlining with black. </p><br /><p align="justify"><strong>The Detailing of the mural painting</strong> makes all the difference, for every square inch of the painting, the painstaking work of the artist can seen, the blinding of colors, the transition of shades, the play of light and dark and the intricate lines and curves are distinctive to this style. The <strong>shading itself is the hallmark of Kerala Mural Painting</strong> and even for the novice; it is easy to identify a genuine Kerala Mural Painting by a casual inspection of the shading and detailing.</p><br /><p align="justify">The<span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">colour schemes</span> in the murals represent certain symbolic characteristics. </strong></p><p align="justify">The colour scheme is based on the psychological aspects of the characters portrayed. </p><p align="justify">"It mainly depends on the basic gunas laid down by Hindu scriptures</p><p align="justify">— <strong>Satva, Rajas and</strong> <strong>Tamas</strong>. <span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Green or blue is usually used for Satvik (pure or divine); </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">red and yellow for Rajasik (valour, passion, etc); </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">and black for Tamasik (impure, sinful behaviour, etc)," </span></p><p align="justify">Deities depicted in the murals are given colours on the basis of their triple attributes - Sathwikam, Rajasam and Thamasam i.e. Virtuous (the quality of SATHWA) </p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327134925926215554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95Obx3EjkwtBpMp3vFplBDgsiW39PnY1e9IJCryguAKibuodoZIviAvkLYzUDtTk8ULowvTK48P_o5Xn7N0PDzbYGU5zFh9X9y__I0NUFy2NqlVXbxuG9VtuL8jm5mhlRM8AJc42Y5Pk/s400/krishnawithgopis.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><p><strong>Krishna with gopis,Blue for Satvik(Pure or Divine),Artist:Naveen</strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326817486686230754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-SUt9EABy0HFrRedW5nOsGHRATkiJeUNIRQaBCBHyE0AJL14mcPp-R6ea_bXVzchlx07ZKSzh50WtMfa81Wfy27ET7aQOI9NDJb2TFTYci-Y6eqyCSKlyhzLVHj-Yb4KMOBbuBlvNoc/s400/nataraja.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 366px; CURSOR: hand" /></p><p><strong>Siva in dancing form ,Natraja,The green represents Pure or Divine,Artist:Naveen</strong></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326814852957221026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVKhGUeK3Fe5jL7rCE5fN3vCf_FKSRMgT8677cj0iIXWAg8YYhdWxHJoqo37otZXQ5m96mS-siTijRaXtSFHWsF12veOcu48NKmsZuJJXau57n8Qk5FUs44ikJqjYbIvsozzSzpI4B70/s400/apsara.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p><strong>Apsara,Red and Yellow for Passion and valour (Rajasik)</strong> ,<strong>Artist:Naveen</strong></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326814851941278482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_l4PHXrHhhhosGZOSHbNNRf6JCtdAX43i7J83pG4n_KUop5Bd7IWJ5mriBgWeO8Hf2yiqYIUNbBA6n7Rqv1VFWO5vESVJyLFsG-eLrSyy-ydkRat4LyLDRJDM8i3qcgvSYyVCqpqdtis/s400/ashtalakshmi_ganapati.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 397px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Ashtalakshmi with Ganapthi,Artist:Naveen</strong><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326814861756774546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZq_aWepf_2hxQsizTQSkJ5BqYTmQ4ltuNR42ew3p1YqehajPClruoJS-9_uA702lWZZVNRWUa4eMK633GOumAHYWZjimekGAcSsUMbHfGDkzQVAdb29dvGRFNYSfi3aL_EjVhntSUJ0/s400/durga.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p><strong>Durga,White and Black - IGNORANCE (Thamasik)Artist:Naveen</strong></p><p align="justify">The ability of Keralities to restrain emotions is latent in their culture. This outstanding feature is very clearly expressed on the faces of characters depicted in the murals. </p><p align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Themes</span></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong>The themes of murals are mostly taken from the epics and the subjects related to religions</strong>. </p><p align="justify">The murals on the outer side of the walls of sanctums and towers represent Gods and Godesses. They embody the qualities characteristics of epic poetry or legends</p><p></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326814846393431826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmUzThFXv62H2CTZj8VOYEtDISXfMuo6WmF7Du8yLvS4PqfBuJ4Somde-RZcnwDxC9_uhZP6xrSIx3JgiddAQESj92W57Uy1bQRrinJK182i4Yo79eknGfmLLSkIE4ZpUYZTz82YocRk/s400/2006012700150303.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Credit: Artist Sadanandan</strong> ,<strong>Church in Thrissur</strong><br /><p align="justify">However this highly stylized art went out of fashion for most part of the twentieth century and it is only in the last decade and half that there has been a renewed interest and revival. Today it is the new age royals- industrialists like Rajshree Pathy, the Chairman and MD of Rajshree Group of Companies, who can enjoy this art in the same manner as the Maharajas of yore. The entrance of Pathy’s home in Coimbatore flow with the paintings of the Dasavataaram (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) done by Sadaanandan, Krishnan Mallissery and Ajithan Puthumana. </p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326821257993063522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90xnIlQwRswYLw5wnst4E30O-_UEw18MDsx2Kuz6yVDO1jnio6ZzCbEgyamS-bosMBRiupVhyphenhyphent3oY9SCeCBSeitaUNELWct5M6dQEaVPYXS7aBQpUxWpjxZwhfQcK0XJEY408sAGXPls/s400/Raj9.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Wall Mural, Credit: Rajasreepathy Farm House, Home - India Today</strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326814858413462290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKIOQdVMVVCFsxOnhyJVkkRcuELBx_ozKwyRl87QUCPOWzcd0fw1cVjQa0keFakvJtTvGHJ51vryLLqB0v1_gzVx_q6FZYilTjT08aP6Y6_J3CQl8fDz6MXwsx5XDn2ORuDBXqYfYnAA/s400/Dsc01252.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><strong>Wall Mural,Credit:Rajashreepathy,Farmhouse,Coimbatore,Tamilnadu,2000<br /></strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327144598202625954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUD3Wsn799l4aTVeU5EQj0DNzhk05khgjVOvWBurA2y84yZjLJGS8P6mZX4ThYuWguXujfD7wxldKrYsoELkM1ntuPeDvzWMoFdG_-8X6-KUT6nM-ouVFSMqkde_AIAun9vm3qToRyB0Q/s400/Rajashreepathy.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327144595916179090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB91Mk9q7VAwtYhwrUTukpHhiTwAp_QHHg6dQt7FL-PP9XYy-L1c0JH6IATsC8LIjbHPyk2zbTUifxU5QH11DolFVNC9MA_gNLjkTpd69j9sY4LZur1PEyDmdQ7UXtX0FRw9Zy2kC1fc/s400/rajshree_pathy5.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Entrance to the Pathy home ,wall murals<br /></strong><br /><strong>Artist:Sadanandan<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326817488801482866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqOOkE73a2eYqMMLLUcUX8ufjne2zHzkaNNvtoBJbTUeNTnvjreuIc_PrGfIt2salU_RcouNfv9y7hu8uNSnU6tIkzPvxT3EfPvpx9F3Vw8ejbTSPHfqpz7Aw102Kg1iw01OIueeQGc0/s400/pic14.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Wall Mural, Credit: Rajasreepathy Farm House, Coimbatore, TamilNadu 2000<br /></strong><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326817491898634642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hBmbNXvQkvuwKAEDhaAtg83pFtyfC1eMcONMR30gr5zyqrHrkvzHtAC209lQWDqnbohJsE8_Bm28dgnVgUWVpA-MuF-8QZOOm_HgfHJ1nEFNocm6UhPhA2tkJFABpdV9M_O4K2oNbb4/s400/pic15.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Wall Mural, Credit: Rajasreepathy Farm House, Coimbatore, TamilNadu, 2000</strong><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326817496943685906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOWSZV8JdthOFuFJqXXIeR-y3ak79PLf3XRKsmZPukA4ECL_3Bceqp76cvoFMOvOnoQD7t5o_rLygKENWmwwaShpzDxUJzrkI3un6_8AnvhLbWi9hf4Vy50508XrSvCQqGFRcZmq2b0s/s400/pic16.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Medium Canvas, Credit: Private Collection of Mr Guru Ramakrishnan, New York</strong><br /><br /><strong>Artist:Sadanandan<br /></strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326819238105558146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK0M66N67Y8X8GVPzCob2quDEJfqCNFVIiWQD5R3YHtL5w7fViuYnwxbYp44uezSGGFta57YzYe6P4RhBQfT4L0scVCTKwuLCzhyphenhyphen0BiSfItsM6FEVPfrVjMVoCM91C4756SBe9ho1guk/s400/pic46.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><strong>Credit: Artist, Sadanandan</strong><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326819229263822834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPee3br0uKHXKCNNtqZuZey8ywQStPsW5NduuDL6ACfRPvArG-oEIngea5wv3Mtd4iB1FulZ3Oxf-1WR1XjBWyHZhWW61n7sH45jSyuAh4XQRlcZQWsC8dgnFpCn_VMi21M9H6cOhlHyQ/s400/pic20.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><br /><strong>Canvas Medium, Credit: AbhuJani Sandeep Khosle Designers, Mumbai 2002</strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326819227327707250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lcln03w0WpB7nfl5KwE1cOveoJaqxY4iNZNAAWVs5wJzEPiMMyfCiGXUE4NclUQrgO0TtxPp-sFCnPfXBMalfxHjuHiIOZUasqtvRylilWD5DSDC9baSLmOnp787_6myHbNUHx_kv70/s400/pic18.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Medium Canvas, Credit: Abhujani Sandeep Khosle Designers, Mumbai 2002<br /></strong><br /><br /><p align="justify">The Kerala murals if done in the traditional method of treating the walls with the mixture of lime, sand and herbal water and then coating it several times with tender coconut water and lime mixture, then finally painting the mural with the five natural colours can last over a thousand years. But the modern concrete buildings with a lifespan of just hundred years make poor material to house this ancient art. Hence the rapid migration of this art from the walls to other surfaces like canvas and wood. </p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Image Courtesy:Artist:Sadanandan,Naveen</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Literature courtesy:www.keralamurals.in,Panchavarna.in,Home-India today,Home Rejuvenation.</span></p>

Arts and Crafts of India -Kerala Murals

Art is in the blood of man from the beginning stages of civilization. It began as a medium to communicate and preserve the events. It has n...

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