MADHUBANI ART AND PAINTING

INTRODUCTION
Madhubani paintings are among the most famous paintings in the world. This popular art of
theMithilaregion expresses the creativity and sensitivity of its people. Like any folk art, it also
shows the psychology of the society to which it belongs; it reflects the morals, values and
customs of the region in a veryinteresting way. This age-old art is achieved by the use of fingers,
twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks,using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized
by eye-catching geometrical patterns. These paintings are predominantly made by the women
of the Mithila region and thus it signifies a great deal in a male-dominatedsociety. The art of
Madhubani paintings is a traditional fashion of paintings developed in the Mithila region, inthe
villages of Jitwarpur and Ranti, near the city of Madhubani. Literally, the word Madhubani
means "honeyforest".

HISTORY
A 2500-year-old folk art, the history of Madhubani paintings is said to date back to the time of
Ramayana, when king Janaka asked an artist to capture his daughter Sita’s wedding to prince
Rama. These paintings were usually created by women on walls and floors of homes during
festivals, ceremonies or special occasions. Having originated in the Mithila region in Bihar, this
form of painting, also known as Mithila art, has been in practice in areas around Bihar and
Nepal.

PROCESS OF PAINTING
The art of madhubani requires a practice and skill. In older days making of madhubani artwork
required simple raw materials, which are easily located in the village such as bamboo sticks,
cotton. Firstly the cotton is wrapped around a bamboo stick to serve as a brush. Then the brush
is dipped in colors and applied on to the fabric. The outline was done with double lines. The
gaps between the two lines are filled with cross or straight lines. In those days vegetable colors
were used to make the madhubani painting.

But in the current scenario the madhubani artist uses the colors, which are easily available in
market, and this makes the work easy for them. Initially the making of madhubani start by
choosing the figure and on the canvas the figure is drawn by free hand. Main characteristics of
all the Madhubani paintings are double line border, decorative floral patterns, abstract figures of
deities and bulging eyes the figures. Once the figure is completed. The bright colors are chosen
and paint is then filled inside the figure and glittering paints are used to paint the zari or borders
of the figure. Then the outlines will be given to the figure later. Usually borders are given to the
madhubani painting; borders will be of double line filled with either paint or patterns.

Once the painting is completed it is then fixed in between the Two-dimensional frame. The
jharoka is made in such a way that the Madubani painting, which is done on the paper or
canvas, has to be fixed between the jharoka and this is how the jharoka with madhubani
painting gets complete.
COLORS USED IN MADHUBANI PAINTING

Madhubani painting is famous for it naturality and uniqueness. Traditionally this painting was
crafeted using natural colour. All colours was extracted from plant leave, flowers, fruits and
other parts of plants. This way artist was giving madhubani art uniqueness and naturality. In this
article I will tell you some tips to extract natural colour from plants.

Yellow Colour
Yellow colour was extracted from turmeric. It is easily available and was used to fill yellow
colour in Madhubani paintings. Apart from turmeric, yellow colour was also extracted from
merigold flower. This way the yelow colour was extraced. Apart from these two ways, some of
artists was also using different metod to extract yellow colour.

Green Colour

To make dark green colour, artists using green leave of plants. Sqeezing leave and extracting
colour is the simple process to make this colour. To make this colour stable and permanent, glue
is also mixed. This colour give a unique shining to mithila painting. Green colour is more vibrant
and is used to craft border and ineer part of painting.

Black Colour

Black colour is extracting wood coal powder. Some artist using lamp black to make black colour
for this painting, Black colour is used to draw border and outline of mithila painting. Artists use
it to make base for this painting.

White Colour

Rice powder are traditionally used as white colour in Madhubani painting. This colour is natural
and is easily available in kitchen. Soaking it in glue and use as white colour makes this colour
permanent and reliable. As lots of painting has white background, still this colur makes a unique
presence painting.

Indigo Flower

Indigo flowers are used to extract indigo colour for Madhubani paintings. Indigo flower is found
in Madhubani and its surroundings. Indigo dye was traditionally extracted from this plant. It is
among the oldest method of extracting natural dye. Ancient era, India was the largest supplier
of Indigo dye.

Red Colour

Red rose flowers are used to extract red colour. Apart from rose, some other red flowers are
used to extract red colour.
Blue Colour

Butterfly blue pea flower is used to extract blue colour for madhubani paintings.

Apart from these colours, there are lots of techniques to extract natural colour for madhubani
paintings.

Tagged What are the characteristic of Madhubani painting, What is special about Madhubani
painting, Why are the Colours used in Madhubani so special.

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