Page 11 - Oct-Dec 2018
P. 11
VOL. 15 No. 3
comPosiTe crafTs DID YOU KNOW?
Wood has been used as a primary raw material for The low-cut table called ‘Choktse’,
various other crafts as well, resulting in the creation of from the Northeast, is known
beautiful objects and artworks. for its artistic carved woodwork.
It is open on one side and the
other sides are panelled with
BLoCK PrInTInG carved figures of dragons, birds
or flowers painted in vivid colours.
In Rajasthan, wood block
printing on textiles has been
happening for about 500 years. InLAY WorK
The wood is soaked in oil for
10-15 days to soften the timber. Wood inlay is the art of adding different materials into
The design is drawn on paper grooves on a wooden surface. Rosewood objects are
and then carved into the teak famous for this work. During the reign of the last Maharaja
or sheesham block. Colour is of Mysore artisans practiced several crafts such as this one
applied and the block is pressed because rosewood was easily and abundantly available.
over the cloth.
ACTIVITY: Khatumband Ceiling
MAsKs
In Khatumband, thin sheets
In Arunachal Pradesh, carved of wood are held together
and painted masks are worn by by double-grooved battens.
dancers while performing in The wooden sheets are
evening social gatherings. In West cut into geometric shapes.
Bengal, such wooden masks are These are then fitted. Some
called Mukhosh. These are mostly of the finest examples of khatumband ceilings can be
used for the mask dance which is seen in the wooden shrines of Naqshband in Srinagar and
the folk dance of West Bengal. Nund Rishi in Chirar-e-Sharif.
Megha benerjee, X, Green Fields School, Using the given shapes made of
Safdarjung enclave, New Delhi different coloured craft papers,
make a khatumband of your own.
TAnJore PAInTInGs : A CAse sTUdY
Tanjore Painting is a style of painting The process behind making of a
practiced in South India. These are done Tanjore Painting:
on wooden planks and are also known • First a base is created by pasting a
as palagai padam, meaning wooden cloth on a wooden plank.
plank picture. The wood used here is • Next, zinc oxide mixed with
either jackfruit wood or teak. However, water-soluble adhesive is applied
now it has been replaced by plywood. on this base.
R. Monisha, VII b, little Scholars Matric Hr. Sec. • A preliminary sketch is made of
School, Thanjavur the painting.
Illustration by: Ritik, IX, Sri Sathya Sai Jagriti
Vidya Mandir, Jagadhri, Yamunanagar • On this sketch, decoration is done using Jaipur stone.
ACTIVITY • A mixture of chalk-powder and African gum called Muk
is applied around the stones to give it an embossed
Study the Tanjore Painting style and try to recreate the look.
style in a painting of your own. • On top, gold foils are pasted. Finally dyes are used to
add colours.
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