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Mixed Media Art is a contemporary art form that uses more than two types of artwork or techniques. Many elements come together to create a unique piece of art. It all flows in the artist's mind and this is why this art is known to be freestyle. This is the beauty of Mixed Media Art. Although this art culture was introduced by revered artists, it continues to evolve and progress and its varied nature is yet to be fully discovered. In the field of art, it stands out as a testament to creativity and the artistic realm. It sets free the boundaries of techniques and processes and innovates a new design that harmonizes into a single framework. Whether you are just a curious seeker or starting to fit into the foundation of artistic hands, this article will help you unveil the mystery of Mixed Media Art. Let’s get into the details.

Indian stone sculptures are the oldest known medium for expressing art since ages. Impacting Indian history and culture, the stone sculptures have played a major role in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions. The stone sculptures are known for their intricate designs and carvings, which represent the cultural significance of Indian art. The traditional Indian sculptures can be traced from the origin of Indus Valley Civilisation from 2500-1800 BCE, deeply intertwined with the heritage of this country.

Attack on sites of religious and political importance and looting of sculptures and artifacts as an expression of victory and a way of adding insult to injury has been a war tactic since pre-modern times. The infamous plundering of Somnath Temple, during which many of its treasures and artifacts were stolen by Mahmud Ghazni, is one of the many events in history where the act of taking away art was a way of marking one’s victory and shaming the defeated dynasties. The site of Somnath has finally regained its glory, with kings in the medieval period and prominent devotees, temple trust, and ASI devoting resources to its preservation.

Many years ago, a man from Greece came to the ancient city of Pataliputra. He was sent by the court of Greece as an ambassador to India. Like any foreigner on a visit, he wrote about his time in the grand capital city of Magadha, mentioning, among other things, the many imposing gateways that protected the city from every direction. Made with wood and metal, the doors of Pataliputra attracted the attention of Megashtenese, and rightfully so. Doors are the first thing that we see when we enter a place and the last thing that meets the eye upon leaving the space. Acting as a connecting element and a protective shield in buildings, doors have always been an important part of Indian sacred architecture, viewed beyond their utilitarian value. Let us look at the history of doors in India and how they went on to become a part of modern decor.

The beauty of the earth bathed certainly caught the attention of the early Indian artists and writers. From the poetry that inspired Saawan’s depiction in Baramasa paintings to the art of Ragamala where the rainy-season melody of Raga Megha is beautifully painted, from the rain-drenched lanes of Vrindavan where Radha-Krishna perform their Lilas to the fearlessness of Abhisarika Nayika, young heroine who walks through the dark forest during a rain storm in night, every corner of Indian art world is enriched with refreshing touch of rain. So pick up your cup of tea and coffee and come with us on an exploration of rain in Indian paintings.

Metalwork has a rich history in India and has been practiced here for centuries, Indian craftsmen have been creating masterpieces with captivating beauty using unique skills and techniques such as blacksmithing, welding, casting, as well as metal inlay. These techniques are passed down from one generation to another, whether it be Koftagari art from Jaipur or the Dokra art from Chhattisgarh, these metalworks are everywhere. The National Museum of Delhi itself has over 20,000 metal artifacts that are appreciated every single day by hundreds of travelers. From elaborate carvings on the temple to intricate Idols of gods and goddesses, these metal crafts have a widespread throughout India, inspiring several contemporary artists to create modern art pieces with traditional practices. metal artwork is a significant part of the cultural heritage in India that is greatly admired for its craftsmanship, and one such metal art is Bidriware. Bidriware is a metal art that originated from the city of Bidar in Karnataka, long ago in the 14th century C.E. during the rule of the Persian, Bahmani Sultans which is why this metal craft has a major influence on Persian art. BidrḤiware incorporates distinct characteristics and emphasizes the unique procedures of the local artisans of inlay on black metal with silver or gold inlays.

“nothing is more real than a line, a color, a surface.” Said Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg. He and several other artists around the world as associated with what we call the “Abstract art movement”. A modern art trend, Abstract art is focused on simplification rather than realistic representation of the world. Style, and not subject is the focal point of an abstract art. It represents the spirit of modern times when the artist was freed from the demands of patrons and elites. With the coming of photography, painting was no longer responsible for being true to reality, being a medium of capturing the real world. This technological change was accompanied by social and political transformations- with the World War ending and the long-established institutions giving way to a whole new world, people experienced anxiety, uncertainty, hope, and a vast array of strong emotions, each of which was then expressed in the brush strokes of Abstract artists.

In a world where work and life balance are getting tough and time for your personal growth and spiritual upliftment is difficult to find, the best way to feel positive is by creating spaces for yourself that are welcoming, optimistic, and full of lively energy. In Indian culture, for centuries people have been establishing icons of gods and goddesses, auspicious symbols, and sacred objects in their homes as powerful spiritual home decor. A spiritual decor piece could be an icon of a deity, an ancient symbol, Vaastu, and Feng shui pieces- basically, any decorative item that has a venerated value.

It was last summer, the month of May when I first encountered the magnificent Brass Tree. My manager asked me to write a product description for it as it was a popular product and had garnered significant interest, almost as if it were the Deigo Maradona of home decor items or the Pani Puri of Brass Items- always in demand. Seeing its images made me curious and smitten at the same time. It looked regal.

Upon entering the brass factory in Aligarh, I found a structure that was in no way fitting my definition of a “factory”. With an uneven mud floor, a makeshift roof supported by steel pillars, walls painted with a thick layer of soot and dust on which hang the bags and clothes of the artists, and a portable stove on which the Kaarigars (craftsmens) were making their tea, the space looked more like a hastily developed village than a factory.

As Navaratri arrives, every devotee observing the nine nights of the goddess begins preparing to welcome and worship Durga and her various forms. From brass, copper, bronze, stone, and wood statues to paintings of the great goddess in her different aspects, Navaratri highlights the ways in which Hindu culture remembers and celebrates Devi. Going back to the ancient period, when the divinity of the goddess was represented through powerful symbols and simple iconography, Indian art has a plethora of ways in which Devi is commemorated. Looking at a few gems from Indian paintings, this article memorializes how Indian art traditions honor Hindu goddesses.

India has a diverse and vibrant cultural heritage. The essential aspect is that we, the people of India, have maintained that tradition alive. In our current lives, we may still see remnants of our rich cultural heritage. We take pride in our ancestry. Painting is also an important aspect of our culture. There are several painting styles that originated in India and have legends related to them. One such painting style is Phad painting (Chitra).

Here, we’ll talk about the spiritual meaning of marble/stone rocks. Mostly, these marble /stone rocks say a lot about how solid, stable, or firm we are in life. When these meanings relate to our real life, they will help us grow. Sometimes, we may fail to see the great message of hope that these things bring to us. Rocks can warn or tell us about our good traits. Let’s find out more about these meanings.

The earliest recorded instance of metal being used in artwork dates back to the 4th century CE. Ancient texts like the Vishnudharmottara Purana document the practice of creating gold pigments for painting, a tradition that persisted over centuries, as evidenced by later works such as the Shilpratna and Manasollasa. These texts describe a meticulous processes of gold-coated paintings and even polishing it with boar tusks to achieve their characteristic sheen. Read More!

Wall tapestry gives a textural detail to the walls and add a rustic touch to the space. Tapestries are one of the easiest yet innovative ways to decorate a bare wall in a fashion that instantly arrests attention. While we aren’t suggesting that you turn your living room or your bedroom into a museum of tapestries, but textile arts, vintage fabrics, and even colourful textiles are perfect for hanging over the sofa or behind the bed. It adds colour, volume, and pattern to a space.

Mughal paintings have always caught the attention of art lovers because of its perfect blend of Indian, Persian and Islamic Styles. While there have been other Indian schools of miniaturist art predating Mughal miniatures and new schools that have thrived after the demise of the Mughal dynasty, the Mughal period was a landmark in the art history of the Indian subcontinent and is one of the two most recognized schools of Indian miniature art. The easy portability of miniatures enabled them to be easily traded from early times and gave them exposure all over the world. It was influenced liberally by the existing Indian Rajput school.

In India, the divine origin of painting is narrated in the Mahabharata, which speaks about Nara and Narayana who were meditating in penance in the Badari grove. Indra chose this moment to send a group of celestial damsels to disturb their asceticism. Undaunted, Narayana took a fresh mango leaf and, with its juice on its thigh, sketched a beautiful form of a nymph. This sketch gave birth to Urvashi, whose superior grace and perfection put to shame all the damsels. Later Narayana passed the skill on to Visvakarma, who spread the knowledge in the world. This is how art is said to have been passed on from the deities to the upcoming generation of humans. Nonetheless, no art form can persist if legendary artists don’t carry it with them. It is skilful painters, who keep our rich traditions and legacy alive. Some of these were able to leave a mark on the world with their unique sense and renditions of painting. While India produced hundreds of artists, we shall read about a few of them, who changed the dynamics of paintings in India.

Miniature Art is an art genre that entails intricate brushwork, great expertise in craftsmanship and the mastery of many different techniques. As such, one painting will represent the work of specialists in several fields—not only what we usually consider as “art” (composition, colour and so forth) but also the creation of the painting surface itself and the many natural pigments, as well as each of the many steps between the initial sketch and the finished masterpiece. These paintings originated not as independent pieces but rather as narratives or illustrations for manuscripts or books. The tradition bloomed primarily as a means to reveal the Divine. It gained momentum with the revival of Vaishnavism and the growth of the Bhakti Movement in the 18th century. Devotional literature like Gita Govinda, Bhagvat Purana and Surasagara became the source of inspiration for the Indian artists. Even the paintings commissioned by the Hindu princely courts were an act of respecting the sacred scripts and religious epics. Eventually, there was some external influence as well. Here are some of the most prevalent miniature artforms that have survived the test of time.

There’s more to golden art than jewellery. Venture south to the Tanjore district in Tamil Nadu and witness the splendid ‘Tanjore Paintings’. Thanjavur is known for being home to some of the most famous historic structures in Tamil Nadu, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Brihadeeswarar Temple. But this dormant town in the state’s centre has much more to offer than just architectural marvels. In fact, for anyone with an interest in South Indian art, music and dance forms, Thanjavur is nothing short of a pilgrimage and thoroughly deserves the title of being ‘South India’s Cradle of Arts’. Tanjore painting is a popular form of artwork that originated in Southern India. These paintings have been popular from the 16th century and have evolved under the reign of the Chola emperors and are famous for its use of gold. When the Marathas invaded Tanjore in Tamil Nadu many painters and artists migrated here and under their rule, this art form flourished. This form of painting is distinguished by its use of gold and semi-precious or precious stones which is used to accentuate the design. Each painting tells a story, usually revolving around Hindu gods, Goddesses or Saints. In olden days, Tanjore paintings were placed in dark temple shrines by emperors. In a dim place, the gold used to enhance the painting.

"Fiction in Mughal miniatures...are widely considered the couriers of realism in Indian art... the art is as appropriate a vehicle of fiction as the literature. Art does not always have tales to tell but is also not without them. The miniature art inclines to be realistic but even in portraying the real it often takes recourse to fiction... Realism, whether in art or literature, is not fiction's antithesis. On the contrary, it is as much an aspect of fiction as that of the realistic art... the fiction that evolved in early Indian miniatures is incidental to its source material, that is, the texts, which it illustrated... Mughal art continued with the text-based fiction illustrating...Persian classics..., the Ramayana, Mahabharata..and many others..."

"The art of painting is often made to face a question: Is it an instrument that calibrates past... whether art is different from history or is only one of its alternative sources...haunt the minds of art critics and as often the conference halls of academic institutions... our mind is always keen to discover in art, whatever its genre, the world that it realizes through its senses or by its intellect and other faculties... Mughal art better reveals the world of Mughal days than do written histories or literary annals... (Indian) miniature art (is) both imaginative and realistic, but it is not imaginative in the sense in which are some of the abstract or symbolic art modes that seek to transform a materially 'existent' into an abstract symbol... The truth of an Indian miniature stands midway, somewhere in between the 'real' and the 'unreal', or imagined, and it is in this dilemma that it discovers its uniqueness..."

"At first the available colors are ground on a stone slab (by rubbing or grounding) to bring them in a powder form. Some artists use mortar and pestle of a very hard quality stone. Then that color is dissolved in water along with some gum and then filtered. The filtration process is continued till the color becomes totally earth or sand free. Thereafter water is removed and the color is dried and kept in form of balls. When required, the desired color along with some dry gum is dissolved slowly in water with the help of finger or thumb.'

The Mughal miniature is known for setting a vast and intricate story within a very small frame. This means that the subjects- human, natural, and architectural elements with all their details were drawn with precision. Everything, from a line to shading of the subjects was to be done with a steady hand because the miniature would be effective only if all the visual components were sharp and clear. To draw a perfect miniature, the artist had to pick the perfect brush. "In Sanskrit the word Tulika is used for brushes. The artists in their ordinary language call it Kalam. It is worthwhile noting here that the different styles of paintings are also called as Kalam, viz. - Bundi Kalam, Kangra Kalam, Shah Kalam, etc. Kalams of different thicknesses are chiefly prepared for different types of works and from different types of bristles. The thick or medium size Kalam is required to fill colors in the painting."