How were your weekends dear readers? Mine was spent in a marble painting workshop at Dakshina Chitra.
Dakshina Chitra refers to itself as a "living art museum" and is filled with traditional craftsmen from Southern India that come and practice their art in public.
Sari weaving for example...
They offer classes from pottery making to glass blowing, Kalamkari drawing and palm reading. I got to make a pot for 25 cents.
The workshop I took focused on the ancient tradition of miniature marble painting in Rajasthan. Turns out painting on marble is really fun. The surface totally glows and makes the image look translucent and lit from within. If marble wasn't so expensive I think I'd switch to it permanently. I loved it.
Here's a look at mine start to finish:
The teacher was so strict it was hilarious. We weren't allowed to change anything about the composition. I snuck in a few extra flowers and peacocks, and when he walked by I got a talkin' to. :)
Dakshina Chitra refers to itself as a "living art museum" and is filled with traditional craftsmen from Southern India that come and practice their art in public.
Sari weaving for example...
They offer classes from pottery making to glass blowing, Kalamkari drawing and palm reading. I got to make a pot for 25 cents.
The workshop I took focused on the ancient tradition of miniature marble painting in Rajasthan. Turns out painting on marble is really fun. The surface totally glows and makes the image look translucent and lit from within. If marble wasn't so expensive I think I'd switch to it permanently. I loved it.
Here's a look at mine start to finish:
The teacher was so strict it was hilarious. We weren't allowed to change anything about the composition. I snuck in a few extra flowers and peacocks, and when he walked by I got a talkin' to. :)
After two months of desperately searching for anything art related in Chennai, I'm so excited to have found this place. Also I'd recommend it to anyone passing through Pondicherry or Auroville--it's definitely worth a stop.
During my stint at The Times of India, I had done an article about DakshinChitra in association with Kalakshetra devising a 2-year programme for developing Managers in Arts. Nice pictures ..
ReplyDelete25 cents?! Amazing. I'm blown away by your artistic ability.
ReplyDeletePeacocks on marble? I'll take it for my living room, please! Beautiful work, as usual, doll.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! I can't even imagine how much fun it was to hang out with those ladies all day! Jealous!
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds so amazing!! It just becomes all the more exotic because it's in India, and it has their traditions embedded into the classes too! :) Wow, wow - I would LOVE to go abroad to take these classes! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so adventurus I love it. Everyone I know that has been to India for more than 2 week says the the transition is no cake walk. Looks like you are making the most out of your experience :) beautiful pictures, looks like a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteoh my this is gorgeous! you are definitely a true talent i must say ;) and that's funny that the art teacher was strict ~ haha! i can just see it now.
ReplyDeletei just love your artwork.
xo ~ kristina
:) it's sort of amazing finding new things half way across the world!. I never could get do ceramics I always had a problem getting perfectly centered.
ReplyDeletepainting marble! Love the peacocks reminds me of the gardens that I saw last time I was in Singapore.
WOW! What a beautiful painting. And I love the pottery photos...I've been dying to get a wheel for awhile. It's been too long since I've been covered in clay! : )
ReplyDeletei'm so insanely jealous of this experience. please go again and post more photos!
ReplyDeleteps. feel free to share any pointers about ballet. i feel about as graceful as a hippo.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful experience you got to partake in! I love that you are immersing yourself in the culture and local activities of Chennai :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible weekend-and the work is just stunning!
ReplyDeletehow fun! your painting and photos are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLoved these photos. I feel like I'm back there. I do miss Chennai. Can just imagine how strict the teacher must have been :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Painted marble? Was it heavy to carry home? ;)
ReplyDeleteI almost hit two peacocks on the way to the grocery store the other day. The most random thing ever.
@Nikki, I laughed *out loud* when I read your comment. Why on earth are peacocks roaming the streets where you live?!
ReplyDeletethat sounds really amazing! a great way to delve deeper into the culture through their traditional art forms
ReplyDeleteYour marble paintings are lovely...
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing such amazing pics.
and thanks for the amazing info... nice and interesting post ♥
@Nikki, the piece was so small it wasn't heavy at all. also it was veryyy thin. like maybe .25 inches thick.
ReplyDeleteYour artwork is beautiful! i love seeing the steps to how it was made! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteoh what fun - I loved seeing all the intricate Indian artworks - they were so incredibly detailed. I love your miniature peacock painting - hilarious that you got a "talkin' to" - so funny :)
ReplyDeleteoops I meant to say Jaipur was great - the Amber Fort is incredible, and we found THE BEST guide at the bottom of the hill. He was an older gentleman who had been guiding since the 1960s and was incredibly knowledgeable and genuine. I just wish I could remember his name....
ReplyDeleteMarble painting sounds/looks really cool. I wish I could take a class like this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blog you have. Thank you for stopping by mine :))
ReplyDeleteTheir weaving loom is so HUGE and cool looking.
ReplyDeleteweaving is so awesome! i'd love to learn someday.
ReplyDeletewhat amazing photos! thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures and it must have been a great experience.
ReplyDeletethats beautiful - what a lovely way to spend a weekend x
ReplyDeletehttp://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/
@Danielle, I 100% agree. I am totally wanting to learn more about textile design/weaving here. There is such a rich tradition of it in India!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, i'm so jealous that you got to take this class--your painting looks great--even better than a traditional indian painting! and I laughed so hard when you said that you snuck in some extra birds into your painting--aren't strict teachers the best?
ReplyDeletexo mary jo
wow that is awesome!!! good find, i would love to go to something like that!
ReplyDeleteit would be so fun to learn a new art form like this.. your marble painting is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing weekend; your artwork is absolutely STUNNING. Wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my blog, which led me here! I'd love to visit India someday. Looks like you are having some amazing experiences!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! Those fabrics must have been amazing to the touch! Have a gorgeous day, Kellie xx
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - absolutely incredible, it looks like it would have been a very inspiring place to go to as well :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds amazing! You're making me want to sneak in a trip to Chennai (whenever I make it to Kerala).
ReplyDelete@Joyti, haha no! Don't go to Chennai...it's a dummp. Dakshina Chitra is about 45 minutes outside of the city, close to Auroville.
ReplyDelete25 cents! Wow! What a beautiful painting and how fun to discover a new medium. I love the weaving photos. I took a weaving class in college and loved it. It's such an intricate art form. Glass blowing would be fun too. Looks like you'll be busy. :)
ReplyDelete-bronwyn
what an amazing thing to to go and see these great women working!!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn´t mind having this painting hanging up on my wall, it´s gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing experience!
ReplyDeletex
Michelle
www.michellesstylefile.blogspot.com
GIVEAWAY
Sounds like a great find Kimia! I love your paintings and the women in the class look so beautiful too. Hugs, Stephie x
ReplyDeleteso very lovely! what an amazing experience you are having kimia!
ReplyDeleteLove that he was so strict! That's really great. The pictures of the women in your class are wonderful, I didn't even realise that were such a thing as painting on marble
ReplyDeleteOh!!! this place looks great. Can imagine how happy you are to find a place like this.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great weekend!
Hi Kimia,
ReplyDeleteGot here while looking for DakshinaChitra related articles.
Your art work looks great ... We had tried our hand at miniature painting session while we were in Udaipur. It was on paper though, but a lot of fun.
We didn't see any classes or sessions happening when we had visited DakshinaChitra last year. But we had absolutely loved DakshinaChitra. We had tripped on the Kerala Houses.
Here are the pictures I had clicked when we were there just in case you want to give it a look.
http://10yearitch.com/states/tamil-nadu/photo-post-dakshinachitra-muttukadu-tamil-nadu/
Take care and enjoy your stay in Chennai.
Cheers,
Madhu