Beginning with a pair of illustrated artwork with some Indian-pop colors! Our set of 2 Indian Gala artworks is a pair of paintings in the hues of pink. This digital print uses different elements associated with India and gives you a modern twist woven into ample color and chicness. The prominent features of the artwork consist of components like architecture, botanical elements and nature which can be seamlessly blended into your household as one of your cherished home decor items.
It is a whimsical sci-fi dream, every child’s wild imagination of an alternative universe, and an illustration that will be equally loved by the young and the old. We present the ‘Shadows of the Sea’ artwork which imagines a scene right out of a novel. With crisp animated features, it depicts colossal waves crashing in the backdrop with a giant monstrous Octopus enveloping the only beacon in sight, a lighthouse. One of the unconventional home decor products, you can use it to turn your corners unique and interesting.
Our next recommendation is a vibrant set of illustrated artwork and a delight for music lovers. ‘Beats of the Rainbow’ is a set of 3 paintings consisting of musical instruments, a piano, a saxophone, and a gramophone. The minimal subject matter combined with sizzling colors makes for a timeless piece of home decor art that will be perfect for your home, office, cafe, and every other corner!
Illustrated artwork can not only be used as a piece of home decor art to add color and liveliness to your home but also act as a meaningful piece of art acting as a conversation starter and providing a piece of history. Our next suggestion is an artwork that needs no introduction. Petra Lidze’s illustrated work highlights the legendary Mexico painter Frida Kahlo whose work was considered vivid and portrayed indigenous Mexcian symbolism.
Step away from concrete jungles and take a step into the wild. Welcome nature into your home with our 2 ‘Hangin’ Around’ illustrated work highlighting the lush jungles, animals, and birds enveloped in all the right shades of nature. These botanically influenced home decor products bring a cohesive and elegant look to your space while maintaining the essence of an illustration.
Who doesn’t love home decor art that gives you the pleasure of traveling while sitting in the comfort of your home? From the hot air balloons of Cappadocia to the city of lakes, Udaipur, our colorful collection of travel illustrations is a window for every travel lover. It is a vibrant and great way of keeping up the spirits in your office and home and making it uniquely personal.
An illustration that is elegant, versatile, and understated. The ‘Bond of Grace’ Abstract artwork is one of the home decor items for those who like to keep it minimal. With bold lines, shapes, and colors this piece of home decor art adds a contemporary and dynamic vibe with its royal presence of the color blue. Make this artwork a focal point in your home and create a dynamic and interesting visual landscape.
A unique native Indian artwork that reflects rich heritage and artistry, the ‘Buffalo Hunter’ by Julian Martinez offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of native Indians while capturing their essence in intricate detail using watercolor ink and pencil. Home decor products that encapsulate cultural narratives and brilliant visual storytelling add great character to your home.
Our last recommendation is the most colorful of the lot. Doppelpack is a creative and eccentric illustration by Italian sculptor, painter and artist, Alfio Giuffrida. A vivid landscape of geometric elements that seamlessly camouflages itself into human beings and their surroundings. Alfio’s work is best known as contemporary art and can be used as one of the home decor items to add a neo-pop element to your home.
Explore a hundred other options on our website and surf through our Abstract, Travel, Minimal, Boho and other collections!
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Ending with a legendary Indian painter who is known for his artistic brilliance and his unmatchable skills with the brush. Raja Ravi Varma’s work is a household name and is celebrated for its aesthetic appeal and cultural significance. A royalty in the field of Indian art, his paintings reflect a perfect balance of Indian mythological elements and European academic art techniques which are reinforced in his realistic artworks. Having his artwork as one of the home decor items significantly enhances the ambiance of your home and gives an impression of refined aesthetic sensibility.
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We begin with the most colorful of the lot - Madhubani Paintings. Considered one of the most vibrant, meaningful, and traditional Indian artworks, Madhubani artworks breathe life into any space. Traditionally known as Mithila paintings, it belongs to the Madhubani district of Bihar and is known for its auspicious symbolism. Each artwork is filled with motifs that symbolize different meanings. From trees and flowers, to animals, they symbolize love, wisdom, strength, fertility, wealth, long life, etc. It also shares common features with the Japanese concept of Feng Shui, which brings positivity to one’s home and home wall decor.
Another sacred wall art canvas and our next favorite is an Indian tribal art which has a close relationship with nature. Gond home wall arts are artworks that are prominently vivid and radiant and yet have eloquent features. Visually, they stand out because of their creative use of dots and lines which makes the image come to life. The clever use of dots and lines instills a sense of movement in the painting. The spirituality of the Gond people is profoundly linked to these elements and by painting these natural elements they bring in good luck and show their gratitude towards nature. If creating a sense of positivity is one of your home decor goals, this is your pick.
One of the most intricate wall art decor Indian paintings, Pattachitra Artwork, can be used as a single painting to light up your entire wall and turn it into a magnificent piece of art. It truly can be described as a decorative canvas, which is a celebration in itself. Not only do they honour divinity, but they also manage to weave the viewer into an enchanting web of storytelling of timeless legends like Ramayana. Originating from Bengal and Odisha, it is primarily used in temples as a substitute for Lord Jagannath’s idol. The sheer sanctity and precision of this artwork are enough to turn your place around 180 degrees!
Moving from colorful and playful artworks to more sophisticated ones, we bring you the royal collection of Classical Indian Art. A combination of four schools of art - Mughal, Deccan, Rajasthani, and Pahari, it is known for its miniature paintings which are extremely detailed and a visual delight. They are famous for themes that depict the daily lives of royal households and also royal portraits, exquisite birds and animals, important events, and occasions - all done with a brush with as fine hair as of a squirrel. More than the colors, the craftsmanship stands out and compels the viewers to appreciate the wall art canvas.
A perfect union of European style and Indian subjects, Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings are iconic artworks that can be recognized in a sea of wall art decor. The emotional sensibilities and storytelling via Indian mythology and characters are prominent themes in Varma’s works. His unmatched skills are famous for making the work look almost lively and real. Paintings like Jatayu Vadha, Hamsa and Damayanti, Woman Holding a Fruit and other gods and goddesses are ever-classic artworks that change the character of a wall with their mere presence.
We end with a quirky, lively, and modern illustration suggestion. A minimal yet impactful collection exclusively available on our website - the Petra Lidze collection. These illustrated artworks comprise themes like traveling, self-love, leisure, and all things joy! Perfect for a workspace and cozy corners of your favorite home wall decor that need color, and liveliness in a chic way.
Spoilt for choices? Explore all our affordable yet premium artworks that are available on our website. Shop and start Mission Home Decor today!
]]>For all those who are less aware or not at all aware of Vastu Shastra, let us begin by understanding its meaning. ‘Vastu’ means a home/building architecture and “Shastra’ means a set of rules so the complete term becomes ‘a set of rules for a building architecture’. In simple words, it’s a Science of Architecture that lets us know about the arrangement of all five elements of nature for absolute peace. These elements include earth, water, sky, fire, and air.
According to Vastu experts, the main principle of the science of architecture is to add value to people’s life. Each guideline of Vastu Shastra has a scientific reason behind it. It is for the people’s good life. Whether or not you believe in Vastu, it has a great impact on your life. Therefore, you can bring immense peace to your place and life by just making minor changes in your interior. Here are some easy ways to improve Vastu of existing home:
Is there a blank wall in the entryway of your home? If there’s any such wall, make sure you put a Ganesha painting on it. Alternatively, you can place Ganesha’s statue at the entrance. This should be done to eliminate the feeling of loneliness. When you bring Lord Ganesha painting to decorate your home’s entrance, you will feel a positive aura throughout the day.
In today’s modern world, most of us invest in ready-to-move-in homes. Not all property builders focus on Vastu compliance of the home and we as buyers also don’t focus on this concept. But, after shifting to that new home, you realize that it’s built in the wrong direction and something is not good about it. If this is the case with you, worry not and simply put Panchmukhi Hanuman's painting in the southwest direction to get rid of all the negative energies around!
In the present time, not all families have good connections with family members. There is a lack of bonding amongst the members. Being a part of your family, you want to improve the relations so you must get Vastu Shastra’s help. Putting a family photo in the southwest direction can blossom love in every relationship and help improve family bonding!
You must have heard about a statement that neighbors comes first in times of need than relatives. And, it’s 100% true! Therefore, everyone must maintain good relations with their neighbors. However, if that is not the case with you and you wish to make a fresh start with them, Vastu Shastra is what you need to consider. Place a sunrise painting in the east direction of your home for a new start!
All parents love their children more than anything else in this world. They want everything of the best quality for them. However, when they start their learning journey, you may realize their learning power is not up to the mark. Don’t worry, you can boost their learning ability by simply placing their study table in the east direction. Doing this will improve their concentration level!
The bedroom is the best place of your home for you so you should ensure positivity there at any cost. If you want to get better sleep and all good energies there, you should keep it free from unwanted things and clutters. Useless things attract useless & bad energies and you definitely don’t want them to disturb your private space!
Your mattress impacts your sleep quality as well as marital life considerably. It should be soft and comfortable for enhanced living. Additionally, you should get a single mattress to keep your relationship with your spouse healthy all the time. As a couple, you should always sleep together, and the wife should always sleep in the left direction for the best marital relations.
A positive mood and energy are highly essential for one’s success in life. And, a lively and positive home environment helps ensure the same. Therefore, you should get some green houseplants for a green effect inside your home.
A good night's sleep is essential for your personal and professional life. Therefore, you should never sleep in any direction that has sharp corners as this attracts negative energies and makes you a stressed personality.
Colors play an important role in Vastu Shastra and you should carefully choose them for your sweet home. It is believed that dark colors should be avoided as they draw stress and negativity to your life. This is why you should always choose lighter tones for your walls like yellow, blue, orange, pink to bring positive vibes.
Vastu impacts human life directly and indirectly so one cannot ignore its significance. A Vastu-compliant home can be reason for your successful life. With these 10 easy ways, you can say good bye to all negative energies and lead a healthy and happy life.
At the Bimba, we offer you Vastu paintings for your good life, so do check them out!
]]>When we speak of traditional Indian art, it is hard to leave out the impactful history and the rich traditions from which these art forms have developed. Spanning from North to South and East to West, we have been blessed with diverse forms of art that have multiple styles, importance, and a peculiar significance to it.
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When we speak of traditional Indian art, it is hard to leave out the impactful history and the rich traditions from which these art forms have developed. Spanning from North to South and East to West, we have been blessed with diverse forms of art that have multiple styles, importance, and a peculiar significance to it. Today, The Bimba dives into one of the art forms that encapsulates the beauty of tradition and history — Kerala Murals, one of the most ancient and culturally rich paintings from the Southern part of India, Kerala.
As the name suggests, Kerala Mural paintings originated in Kerala and can be traced back to the 8th Century AD. These artworks are frescos which majorly depict characters and stories from Hindu mythology. It is believed that the first mural art of Kerala was discovered in the Thirunandhikkara Cave temple in Kanyakumari (now in Tamil Nadu). Before the murals were discovered, they had a predecessor in the form of rock engravings found in the caves of Edkkal in the Wayanad district and Perimkadavila in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala followed by pre-historic rock paintings found in the Anjanad valley of Idukki district. The history and scriptures related to this art form can be credited to Sanskrit texts like Chithrasoothram, Tantrasamuchaya, Abhilashitartha Chintamani, and Silparatna, all texts ranging from the twelfth century to the sixteenth century.
The Kerala Mural art flourished between the period of 9th to 12th centuries BCE under the many royal patronages but with the advent of the Britishers, the artform took a hit and slowly went out of practice. Post-independence, many major temples undertook the responsibility of reviving this dying art form. One of the major centres that represent this revival phase is the Centre for Study of Mural Paintings established by the Guruvayur Dewaswom Board in Thrissur, Kerala. Today, there are over 150 temples in Kerala which are decorated with ancient mural paintings.
One can easily distinguish between Kerala mural art paintings and other paintings because of their distinct features and style. It reflects a unique blend of indigenous artistic traditions. The initial style of the mural art of Kerala was influenced by the local topography and nature, depicting lotus flowers, elephants, peacocks, etc, which one can still spot. But one overarching and important theme is Hindu mythology and religion. Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharat find great significance in the style of Kerala Murals. Gods, goddesses, historical characters, events, folklore, traditional cultural practices, and performing arts associated with Kerala are some other imageries that one will find in Kerala Mural paintings. The figures are vibrantly drawn and a distinctive aspect of these is the depiction of large eyes, prominent ornamentation, and a curvy flow of art style.
The process of making Kerala mural art is considered time-consuming, only to be able to create something long-lasting as a result. These were murals (wall art), which were done as frescos. A layer of fresh ground was prepared by plastering it with a mixture of lime, clean sand, and cotton with 25-30 washes of a mixture of quick lime and juice of coconut tender. The frescos could be chosen to be done in two styles - a dry fresco or a wet fresco (the mural was done while the plaster was wet). An outline is created of the sketch and followed by filling it with colors and finished off with with final touches.
Kerala mural art paintings are drawn with fine brushes and colored with natural pigments made of minerals, plants, and gemstones. These traditional murals were done using the panchavarana i.e. the five colours - red, yellow, green, white, and black. Each color signifies a prominent trait of the character depicted. The importance of colors is emphasised via the color used. White colour is used to portray satvauna, a spiritual trait. Red is used to portray rajoguna, a character with power and wealth. Yellow colour is used to depict both rajoguna and satvaguna or someone with a lively personality. Black colour is used to portray Tamoguna, an evil character and blue and green colours are used to portray a righteous person.
Today, with contemporary needs, the mural art of Kerala has been dispersed into more modern forms. Very few places practice making traditional Kerala murals. Now, people prefer to buy Kerala mural painting online and Kerala mural painting on canvas, with artificial colors on mediums like cloth, sarees, and more. One can easily spot digital prints which are made easily available in other formats too. Hence, preserving the cultural heritage and safeguarding the values that come with this art form are important to protect. Not only are they great mediums of knowledge but with every generation, they tell a story that no other technology will.
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Art is a mysterious yet powerful tool. It manifests itself in multiple ways and the power to create this art lies in the hands of artists - dynamic, creative, bold, and sheer brilliant. Today, we take you behind the canvas and the magnificent brush strokes of an artist whose collection is one of our most sought-after. We introduce you to someone who found his inspiration in every nook and corner of the world and transferred it to the tip of his paintbrushes - Bharath Vaidyanathan. Bharath is known for his artworks that capture multiple cultures, the essence of a city, and every little element that ties it together and makes it what it is. From the bustling streets of Mumbai to the ancient temples of Kerala, to the quaint lanes of Italy, his art is a reflection of how he finds beauty and meaning in ordinary and yet, chaotic settings.
Born and brought up in South India, Bharath is called the ‘artist with an MBA’. Now based in Mumbai, he considers art to be his best friend which has stuck with him through every phase of his life. Exposed to art at a young age, he fondly recalls spending countless hours in his school’s art room with his teacher, Shankari Ma’am. His collection offers us a glimpse of the cultural beauty that he has absorbed through his travels and a life experience that binds his art together - historical architecture, quaint corners, bustling streets, and vibrant festivals that speak of the beauty that we tend to miss in our daily busy lives.
‘Villa Maya: Trivandrum Charms’ from the collection ‘Scent of a City’
A glance at Bharath’s work and one can easily spot the importance of the medium he prefers to work with. Using it as an instrument to explore possibilities of bringing his art alive, he uses vibrant colours and bold lines to create paintings that are meaningful, vivacious, and lyrical. “When I use acrylic, I believe in the depths and textures of dry strokes, energetic lines, and form that emanates energy instead of containing the depiction to its familiar form. For example, it is impossible to capture the energy of the elephants in festivals in Kerala by actually replicating them. The touch of acrylic strokes lets me bring out the frenzy.” Similarly, Bharath experiments with mixed media and watercolour to bring out the majestic structures and lanes that are elevated with the help of ink with sharp black and white textures with added intersections of colours. Yet, he oscillates between his go-to mediums - acrylic on canvas, watercolour, and pen & ink.
Frenzied: Pooram Kaanam from the collection ‘Enriched Roots’
Through every shape of his drawing subject, a stroke of the brush, and a shade of color, Bharath has found his rhythm. But what does he do when he comes face to face with the dreaded phase of having to deal with a creative block? He traces back the steps that inspired him to pick up the brush and create unique gems. Travelling, and watching the art of other artists, big and small, and the wonder of all things chaotic inspires him. “Whenever there is an artist’s block, I break free in pursuit of chaos through travel and a curiosity to find great art. I might find it in a busy morning railway station, on a dinner table, or an imposing monument.”
Some of his most meaningful and memorable work has developed by customizing artworks for friends, and art lovers. By interacting with people and understanding their thought processes and needs, Bharath has been able to create pieces that have emerged out of weeks of pure engagements about art. This immersive experience has allowed him to grow as an artist and walk closer to his dream of being an ‘art socialist’ in the future.
‘A Few of My Favorite Things’
As an artist, he dedicates his growth and learnings to the countless hours he spent in the studios of legendary artists AV Ilango, Kishore, and Bhagwan. Bharath is the recipient of over 100 awards in Fine Arts contests and has exhibited his work at prestigious art festivals like The Kochi Biennale’s collateral event, South India Art Show, Art Plaza Kala Ghoda, and the International Art exhibition at Lalit Kala Academy. For over ten years, he has been exhibiting and shipping his art across the world.
Exclusively available on our website, Bharath Vaidyanathan’s collection is a reflection of his life and travels that have inspired vibrant artworks that speak to people of all ages. Some of Bharath’s celebrated collections are ‘Scent of A City’, an ode to the cities he has visited and loved, ‘Enriched Roots’ where he explores beauty through the rustic, traditional spectacles through which great cultures are built, and ‘A Few of My Favorite Things’, a mix of films he cherishes to the animals he loves’.
]]>To keep up with the top art trends, has become the new trend. Every person who has ever dreamt of building their own nest has always desired the current art trends that can enhance the look and feel of their home. And because nobody wants to be left behind in showing off their interior design knowledge, right?
Popular art trends consist of new practices including the latest designs, artworks, interior designing, and home decor that keep changing with the times and according to the needs of the market. Now, with an unavoidable situation that hangs over our heads and keeps us in the safety of our four walls, the world of art has dramatically shifted and the trending art has taken a U-turn for better things.
The trends which have taken over the world of art range from art focussing on wellness to art that has practically become virtual, boosting the e-commerce sector. Today, we tell you some of the famous fine art trends that have taken over the world of art this year;
One of the most popular art trends is the importance of art in the context of wellness. With the growing pandemic around the world, trending art that helps in healing is imperative. Artworks ranging from paintings, wall art, sculptures, and even soothing art pieces can help increase people’s wellness.
When people connect to a certain artwork, it increases their mindset towards actively interprating its meaning and this very connection leads to the increased ability of the brain to heal and remain active. Abstract art, nature-inspired artwork, soothing landscapes, minimalistic paintings, and sculptures; having your favorite artwork around can seemingly stimulate your brain, boost your self-esteem and lower your stress levels.
Adding art in your workspace or home often develops into better social interaction as well and this is why it tops our list of top art trends.
It is no hidden fact that participating in buying, investing, and owning art can be an expensive affair. While art fanatics sit at home and wonder when they can lay their hands on their favorite piece of art, they also wonder how they can make it pocket-friendly. The current art trend is to invest in alternatives — not only are they great for your pocket but they also fulfill the category of looking seamlessly authentic.
The Bimba happens to be a one-stop shop to fulfill your heart’s demands; offering you hundreds of framed art prints which are great substitutes for original paintings. A glimpse at it and your guests wouldn’t be able to differentiate between an original painting and our framed art print. One can find all the trending paintings that are premium framed prints right here!
One common thing that we love as humans is nature; the mere presence of trees, your favorite plants, and fresh air alleviates your mood. You could be an art aficionado, a lover of plants, or an interior designing enthusiast but a little touch of green hurt nobody. One of the fine art trends is to have nature-inspired art in your home; these range from a wide variety of paintings, framed prints, artificial plants, nature-inspired sculpture, vertical wall art, floral-themed wallpapers, and even tropical-inspired bathroom tiles.
Nature follows us everywhere! Not only they add some color to your home but they also bring along a sense of peace and aesthetics that are unmatchable. The floral painting collection at The Bimba is the perfect example for this trend; they range from single to two sets and three sets of paintings which will enhance the look of any of your rooms.
Other options to look at can be adding wooden furniture, earthy colored palettes, paintings that depict flowers, flora, and fauna, and mountains. So for the current art trends, don’t forget to go green.
One of the most understandable popular art trends is virtual art. In the midst of a pandemic, people have learned to mend their whole lives and live them in a completely new way. The world of art also learned how to interact with their larger audience while sitting at home and this has been achieved through virtual art. Online art exhibitions, increased opportunities to buy art online, online fashion shows, unveiling of new art collection through websites — you name it and people have tried it.
Another platform through which people have increasingly showcased their art-related talent is through social media; Instagram lives and Facebook are your new best friends to explore new art. These range from sharing their work online to actually producing digital and graphical work online which makes it easier for people to navigate. Look out for interesting virtual art in the top art trends.
We all love Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ — it is bold, passionate and one of the most outstanding pieces of art ever made. But the thing that makes it stand out is the use of gold, silver, and platinum leaf. These metallic tones catch your artistic eye and make it stand out from the rest. A little bling and a little rust at the same time, the beauty of having metallic tones in your house is the next trending art we will discuss.
Metallic tones in any artwork give it a dimension and a strong personality; these can be incorporated into the house through many mediums - foil art, actual metal pieces which are inculcated in sculptures and wall arts, paintings that are completely made out of metallic colors and pigments, floral metal art which is at the top of wall art trends - endless options as to how you can add metallic tones to your house and give it a rustic and yet modern look.
Gone are those days when people wanted a minimalistic-looking house with features that don’t break the attention of a viewer. One of the current art trends is maximalism; maximalism in interior designing is a trend that requires bold patterns, loud colors, strategically placed unique artworks, statement pieces, and specially curated artworks.
This style might seem like a little too much in your face, but the beauty of it lies in the perfect balance and harmony that come together when everything is placed rightly. This being one of the popular art trends, takes up a lot of thought and balancing of elements. Something as easy as abstract art can be the beginning of your journey towards maximalism; add with it the loud colored furniture, bold patterned tiles, and the perfect showpieces to go with your idea and your house might end up looking elegant, sophisticated, and ready for the guests!
]]>The famous Pichwai art is one of the most auspicious forms of Indian art that one can own. A Pichwai painting finds its origins in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, and usually depicts the idol of Lord Krishna in the form of a 7-year-old, known as Shrinath Ji. These are intricately done cloth paintings that are used behind the idol of Shrinath Ji and have now made their way into the modern world and into our homes as an art form.
Apart from the idol of Shrinath Ji, famous Pichwai art also depicts motifs that are related to Shrinath Ji himself like lotus, cows, peacocks, and gopis. What is also depicted in these Pichwai artworks are various auspicious festivals related to Lord Krishna. Here are the most reoccurring festivals depicted in Pichwai famous paintings;
The most revered and celebrated festival depicted in Pichwais is Janmashtami; Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. One of the largest Hindu festivals in India, on this day the idol of Lord Krishna is bathed in milk, curd, ghee, and honey. People pray, fast, and visit Lord Krishna’s temples to offer their prayers.
Usually in famous pichwai art, Shrinath Ji is shown to be in the middle of the painting, dressed elaborately with a peacock feather on his crown. Pichwai paintings that depict the festival of Janmasthami show Shrinath Ji in a cradle while celebrations unfold around him and people surrounding him eagerly to get a glimpse. Most of the Pichwai painting always show the Shrinath Ji durbar being attended by two priests who are offering their prayers and the intended festival or occasion is shown taking place beneath the idol.
Nand Mahotsav, another festival that is portrayed in Pichwai most famous artworks, is celebrated the day after Janmashtami. Also known as Nandotsava, this day is considered auspicious as Krishna was brought home by his foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda. On Nand Mahotsav, the Panchamrit Abhisheka and the Maha Aarti are performed in many temples and the idol of Shrinath Ji, as a baby, is placed in a decorated cradle which is worshipped for the rest of the day.
Sometimes the idols of Yashoda and Nanda are also placed next to him. The pichwai style depicting the festival of Nand Mahotsav shows Krishna in a cradle surrounded by his parents, while people celebrate his birth outside. Villagers eager to see him lined up outside their house and Nanda out of happiness distributes sweets, clothes, and ornaments to saints and sages.
Another festival depicted in Pichwai famous paintings is Sharad Purnima; Sharad Purnima is the first full moon night after the birth of Lord Krishna and it is celebrated as a harvest festival as it indicates the onset of autumn. Typically, a Pichwai painting will depict Shrinath Ji decked up in jewels and dressed in brocade, shining under the light of the glorious full moon depicted on the top of the painting. He is surrounded by people and gopis, who perform Raas Leela on the occasion of a full moon.
One of the most famous and loved themes that are spotted in Pichwai style is the Raas Leela. Raas Leela, in common understanding, is seen as the night when gopis hear the flute of Krishna and rush to dance with him. It is also the night of Sharad Purnima and is otherwise known as Maha Raas which celebrates Raas Leela when Lord Krishna is dressed for the occasion and ready to dance with the gopis. These paintings usually depict the love that gopis have for Krishna and symbolize the union between them.
In a Pichwai painting, the idol is placed in the middle of the canvas, while the gopis are dancing mesmerized and in awe of Krishna who, in an illusion, is seen dancing next to each gopi under a full moon night. The border is decorated with motifs that are commonly related to Shrinath Ji, lotuses, peacocks, and ponds.
Colors flying everywhere, drenching your friends in the water, and ending the day with mouth-watering dishes - the festival we all love is a festival that is loved by Krishna devotees as well.
Holi is one of the grandest festivals to be celebrated in India. The festival of colors is closely associated with Lord Krishna and marks the beginning of spring. During the festival, the idol of Shrinath Ji is dressed in white and as the festival comes closer, the priest keeps applying colors until the day of Holi.
A pichwai portrait that shows Shrinath Ji dressed in white will be one that depicts his participation in the festival of Holi; the pichwai painting would illustrate Lord Krishna covered in patches of color while some colors and gulaal are offered in front of his idol, near his feet.
We all know the famous story of Lord Krishna lifting the entire Mount Govardhan on his little finger and that’s one of the most famous depictions of him on pichwai art.
Angry with the people of Braj for worshipping Mount Govardhan and not Lord Indra himself, Lord Indra showed his fury by letting thunderstorms and rain continue for several days; to save people from the wrath of Lord Indra, Lord Krishna picked up Mount Govardhan on his little finger and took everyone under his shelter, saving everyone. Soon, Lord Indra accepted his defeat and the rains stopped.
Today, the festival of Govardhan Puja or Annakoot is celebrated to worship Lord Krishna to show gratitude and respect. Celebrated on the 4th day of Diwali, people offer a mountain of grains and food that symbolizes Mount Govardhan to Lord Krishna’s idol. In a pichwai painting, Lord Krishna is always shown lifting Mount Govardhan while the people and cattle of Braj take shelter under his protection.
Gopashtami, as the name suggests, is a festival that celebrates the holy symbol of cow. A pichwai art is considered almost incomplete without the symbol of a cow that is considered holy and auspicious.
Closely related to the life of Lord Krishna, this festival is an ode to the relationship between the holy cattle and Shrinathji himself. Gopashtami is considered the day when Lord Krishna became a Gauwala or cow-herd. It is believed that after the incident of Mount Govardhan, Lord Indra gave him this title, bestowing him with his blessings.
On Gopashtami, people worship cows, feed them, bathe them and decorate them with the utmost respect. A pichwai painting that depicts the festival of Gopashtami will usually depict Lord Krishna surrounded by a huge herd of cows, all looking at him in awe. In this Pichwai painting, one can see Lord Krishna in the middle of the painting, surrounded by lots of cows and gopis and gwalas while the bottom of the canvas is lined by swans and lotuses.
]]>There are multiple interpretations about the existence of Thangka. In the ancient times, it is deemed that King Bimbisara wished to give a unique gift or present to King Utayana; so he decided to get Buddha’s image painted for him. When Bimbisara sent the court artists and painters to design an image of Buddha then they were unable to do so because they were mesmerized by the sheer brilliance of Buddha.
On seeing all this, Lord Buddha asked the painters to accompany him to the clear pool and paint his picture using his reflection in the pool. During the painting process, Buddha guided the artists and asked them to paint twelve links around him. This is how this specific painting became famous as ‘Chu-len-ma’ or ‘the picture of the sage prepared through the water’.
The Thangka artwork finds its roots from the traditional arts of mandala and pata. It is a shocking fact that Thangka painting is associated to Indian culture but it has got fame under the Chinese and Nepalese art. Do you know Buddhism emerged as an art style under the supremacy of Songsten Gampo? His studio was used by Chinese and Nepalese artists due to which Thangka painting attained its zenith under these artists.
During the 11th century, the Thangka art was influenced by Nepalese, Kashmiri, and central Indian artists and their indigenous art form continued till 17th century. Further, the Chinese artists started to influence this painting style from the starting of the 18th century.
Coming to the main Tibetan styles of paintings, they included Mensar, Menri, and Karma Gadri art forms. You must know that Thangka artworks were administered by the iconographic regulations, these 3 painting styles can be distinguished by backgrounds.
The Menri style focuses more on nature and less on details. The Mensar style is focused on the details & round, as well as thick clouds. And, the Karma Gadri style depicts things in a realistic manner and not in a stylish way. Also, it is not as famous as Menri and Mansar.
Apart from being just a décor piece, Thangka paintings are an essential part of Buddhist religion. These paintings signify inner reflection as well as meditation. You can gain control on your mind and achieve awareness of your surroundings with this exquisite painting. Additionally, it helps to attain good health, long life, happiness, and prosperity. The Thangka painting can address various concerns.
As Thangka is a part of meditation, a defined set of rules should be followed before painters start painting it. Initially, there were several rules like avoiding meat, garlic, onion, alcohol, and more. However, the main idea is to have a pure body, mind, and surroundings. While designing a Thangka/Buddha painting, the artists should avoid all the negativity and impurity.
The first step in the painted process of Thangka includes the central lines. The middle vertical line is the major axis as it creates the centre of the artwork. The painting has 8 main lines, including 4 borders at the outside, one vertical axis, one horizontal axis, and 2 diagonal lines.
The deities are placed as per the Buddhist religion, and the order involves- first comes buddhas, then boddhisattvas, then goddesses, then wrathful entities, and at the end human beings. After painting these figures, the artists start creating the elements in the surroundings. Firstly, the background gets painted and then figures get colored.
At first, the artists will complete the painting with lighter paints and then they will use dark tones such as blue, green, red, orange, etc. They will wait for the first layer to get dry well so they can proceed with Thangka painting. The Thangka outline is done at last using two different shading techniques- wet and dry. As far as the color of Thangka is concerned, they are chosen as per the color of outlines, from white to indigo.
Now let us discuss the personality and unique traits of Buddha in Thangka paintings. His long fingers are positioned in a tapering position. They are highlighted by the dharamchakra. Having a twisted navel, white stomach, and broad shoulders, he looks well defined.
This is all a detailed guide about Thangka Buddha painting. It holds a great significance from Feng Shui view so it’s great for all spaces. If you want to surround yourself and your loved ones with positive and good vibes, then check out the collection at the Bimba for the best Buddha paintings.
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