Spotlight on the Tanjore Style of Painting

 50

We are fifty posts old! The number brings with it a milestone and a lot of pride!  Our journey has only just begun and yet it seems right to pause for a moment and address this number. Hello FIFTY!

To see Aalayam evolve into something beyond a mere idea that Supriya and I shared brings much happiness. Personally, it is also a guilty pleasure! On many weekend nights, I silently peel myself away from my family and retreat into the quiet recesses of my study to work on a blog post. What joy it is too! I feel blessed to have a platform to express my artistic side!  Aalayam speaks to our love of writing as well and often our posts are wordy but if you linger long enough you will see that we write from our heart and consistently bring a lot of passionate energy into our posts. Supriya and I have a robust pipeline with all kinds of beautiful inspirations waiting to be shared and we hope you will stay with us as the next phase of Aalayam unravels.

 Fellow bloggers - thank you for letting us bounce ideas with you and for inspiring us, friends and family - thank you for cheering us from the sidelines and dear readers - thank you for propelling us on!

And because the golden 50 deserves a golden post - I will shine the spotlight on Tanjore paintings - an Indian art form with glittering gold! How about that?

An ethnic vignette brings in some traditional splendor to our home

A shopping stop  many years ago took me and my husband to a busy street full of art retailers in Chennai, India. We were novice art collectors back then but somehow we had set our heart on acquiring a Tanjore painting - that was our mission that sweltering afternoon. Baggage and weight restrictions implied we could only buy one maybe two art pieces and therefore the challenge was to pick  "the" perfect Tanjore painting among 1000s (yes, that street had several stores carrying atleast 100 paintings each!)

The central subject of the Tanjore painting is a Hindu God/Goddess. Since our acquisition did not have any religious motives, we went back and forth deciding on which deity would suit our decorative needs best. The discussion included the facial expression of the deity- a smile ranked higher than a somber expression (this was the extent of our art appreciation!) Also, in consideration were the finishes - classic or antique or embossed? Then came the colors - luckily, most paintings had the same vibrant color palette with subtle variations. Next, we talked about the frames -  the wood, the carvings, the color and so on. My husband wanted to know more about the artists and engaged in detailed discussions on what went into the creation of the paintings. Each piece was uniquely defined by the skill and artistry of the creator. Then we talked about the guilding technique. Six hours later 
 (I kid you not!) we found ourselves deeply immersed in the fascinating world of Tanjore paintings.  The shimmer and shine of the semi precious adornments mesmerized us as we browsed through several aisles worth of neatly stacked Tanjore paintings. Walking from one store to the next and then back to the first one, we channeled our combined enthusiasm towards finding "OUR"  Tanjore painting. That day is vividly etched in my memory! Eventually, we narrowed our choices down to two paintings. We wanted to bring them both home. But with a heavy heart and a big sigh I left Venkateshwara behind and brought home our Mahalakshmi.

Vibrant hues, shimmering embellishments, artistic details - THE TANJORE PAINTING!

She has been with us since! Life has demanded several moves of us  both for professional and personal reasons. Each move brings with it an annoying feeling of newness. However, the unfamiliarity of being in an unknown place dissipates the minute I hang my Tanjore paintings up. It feels like home again in an instant and such is the comfort that art work breeds. It is yours and it defines your space!

Another corner gets accesorized with art work -the ethnic kind!

Several sources trace this art form back to the 16th century (I know!!, that was a long time ago) and the art flourished under the patronage of the Nayakas of Madurai. If you hear the term Tanjavur Oviyam or Palagai Padam (plank painting)  just nod your head knowingly now - they are referring to Tanjore paintings, that's all!  For more on Tanjore paintings, over to Wiki.

 Since that trip to Chennai, we have added another Tanjore painting to our collection. This one a gift from our dear friends D and K  and depicts Krishna playfully serenading Radha on the Jhoola.  This painting reminds us of our friendship and the good times spent together. 

Krishna serenades Radha  playfully in this rendition and it comes to life in gold foil!

Let me end with this quote. "Decorating Golden Rule: Live with what you love" ~ Unknown
 …….and we live with our  beloved Tanjore paintings - they are tied to fond memories and our ethnic heritage and make our home OUR HOME.

Do you like our spotlight series? Then I urge you to spend a minute browsing through our archives- we have already featured Warli and Terracotta and more!

Next up - a travel feature. Any guesses on where we are going?
 
Cheers!
~Deepa

p.s: All images are from my home and are copyrighted by Aalayam

Diwali Inspirations - home decor ideas

Hinduism's biggest festival- the  festival of lights is almost here! Are you ready for Deepavali ? I am! 
 If you are not - no worries! I have some peachy ideas to get you going, so read on! 

A diwali vignette from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 Mom always celebrated Deepavali with much oomph!  Cleaning, cooking, shopping, decorating, religious worshipping - she went the whole nine yards, always! And so, with much fondness, I brought a montage of memories of firecrackers, clay oil lamps, new clothes, visiting relatives, home made sweets and my parents’ unique Diwali traditions to my married home and over the years I have created a tailored array of rituals to suit my own family.

Decorating my home for Diwali is a huge part of that tradition. A round or two of autumnal cleaning usually precedes the decorating. Rummaging through boxes of stored away Diwali décor items often yields re-usable items. A few new items are added each year but the design is always built around the core elements– lights, flowers, rangoli and thorans. I am very tradition-centric. For me the focus rests on light, divine blessings and good-will.

Another diwali depiction from my home. Brass urli from Overstock. Pic by Uj.

 I love the festive glow rendered by the dazzling brilliance of the tiny tea lights. There is something about a home filled with light – the cheeriness lets me reflect on all the blessings that life has bestowed upon us! I love the positive energy that the Diwali diyas radiate!And of course the symbolism of bedecking our homes with rows of light to mark the victory of good over bad is uniquely ours!

Lights :

Diwali shopping (!) and my quest for pretty tea light holders begins at least a month ahead of time. With so many options it is rather challenging to not get carried away. This year, I picked these beautiful sparkly tea light holders from Pier one and I will use them as my focal décor element.  The row of lights displayed on my intricate foyer table emanates an inviting aura - one that is hard to ignore!

Row of lights from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 But if you prefer the doctrinal earthen diyas, then here’s a couple of beautiful options. 

Earthen diyas paired with fresh flowers for an eye-catching arrangement! Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 I bought mine at the local Indian grocery store but if you are an online shopper then craftsvilla is a great resource!

Traditional terracotta lamps in bright festive colors. A corner form my home. Pic by Uj

 And if all else fails, there’s always the traditional silver or brass lamp! Silver lamps are a long-established feature of pooja rooms especially in South Indian households. Diwali is a great time to bring out these ancestral wares and  blend them into your decor.

The unfailing silver lamp! Photo by Uj, my better half

Thorans:

Thorans are a great way to ring in some festive cheer. Traditionally, thorans are used to dress an entryway but with a little out-of-the –box thinking you can find other ways to use these ethnic valances. In the past, I have used mine to decorate a pooja table or mantap for an instantaneous festive face-lift!

Mango leaf thoran and a mini-carnation wreath on my front door for understated festive elegance. Photo by Uj

 Flowers:
 If you can buy one thing and one thing only this festive season then the hands down winner is fresh flowers – bouquets, garlands, loose flowers or even a few petals can add a magical elegance to your décor. Float them in an urli, hang them on doorsteps, include them in your rangoli .....you can take your decorations to a whole new level with fresh flowers!

Fresh flowers in an urli, image from my home. Pic by Uj, my better half.

 Check out fancy florists and their multitude of options for fresh flower garlands. Excellent customer service, beautiful garlands and timely delivery made it a great shopping experience for me.  However, the pricey overnight shipping cost is a downer !

Image from my home. Garlands from Fancy Florist. Pic by Uj.

Rangoli:

Kolam or the unique folk art of drawing on the floors is a great way to decorate and invoke the Lord’s blessings. My inspiration for rangoli this year came from her website. These rhinestone (kundan) rangolis are drop dead gorgeous and of course I had to try my hand at it! I made smaller ones with  shiny card paper and stickable rhinestones. These work great as tealight mats, as wall art or as floor art! My piece de resistance, if you will...

Rhinestone rangoli: Inspiration from here, made by moi. Materials from Hobby Lobby. Photo by Uj,my better half

Now, if you are short on time then how about a simple no-fuss traditional rangoli border on a wooden platform or chowki? Let your native artistry come out! Consider adding some color to your rangoli for some extra energy!

Image from my home. Traditional rangoli on a wooden platform. The kalamkari rug from World market adds to the drama.

Gifts:  

Gifting has been a Diwali tradition for long. Dry fruits, home made sweets, diyas  - the options for gourmet gifts are plenty. Here is a great goody bag gift, if you are planning to host a Diwali party. I love these cute little colorful elephants! I ordered mine from here and they even came gift wrapped!

Image from my home. Pic credits: Uj, my better half

 I recommend that you bookmark this anyway, since these beautiful colorful elephants make a great gift no matter what the occasion!

And lastly, bring out those sparklers! Nothing says Diwali quite like the firecrackers. Every Diwali, memories of squabbling with my younger brother over the division of firecrackers into two equal piles, years ago, fills my heart with warm emotions! I am sure you all have your own fond Diwali memories as well..

Image from my home. pic credits:Uj

 So, dear reader, are you inspired yet?  I hope to  encourage you to have your best Diwali yet!
Do not let the monotony of every day life get in the way of  your celebration- after all Diwali is here only once every year....

Aalayam wishes  you all a beautiful Deepavali ! For more posts from this festive season - go here, here and here!

Cheers!

Deepa 

A gentle reminder that all images are copyrighted. Please do credit Aalayam and link back to us  if you use any images.  Usage of images without crediting is strictly prohitibed!