Kalamkari - The Ancient Indian Art of Organic Fabric Painting

Kalamkari is an ancient Indian art that originated about 3000 years ago. It derives its name from Kalam meaning Pen, and Kari meaning work, literally Pen-work. The Kalamkari artist uses a bamboo or date palm stick pointed at one end with a bundle of fine hair attached to this pointed end to serve as the brush or pen. These paintings were earlier drawn on cotton fabric only, but now we can see these paintings on silk and other materials as well. The Kalamkari art includes both, printing and painting. The colors used in making these paintings are organic. Most of the colors are prepared using parts of plants - roots, leaves along with mineral salts of iron, tin, copper, alum, etc., which are used as mordents. There are numerous forms and styles of this type of painting throughout the Indian subcontinent.