Naturally artistic

A member of the Hastakala Samiti,Shanti Devi has given demonstrations about the art of Mithila painting all over the world,including places like France,Austria,New Zealand and Canada. Her works have also been published in several children’s books.

The workshop,which had an open entry,was organised by SPICMACAY and Indiaart at Kala Chhaya at Patrakarnagar. Shanti Devi,while explaining that the Madhubani art form is over 600 years old,reveals that all her ancestors also did the same art form. “Even today,my entire family,including my children do Madhubani painting,” she adds.

At the event,the artist also shared some really interesting aspects of the art with the spellbound audience. “We use cow-dung for Madhubani painting because it adds a shine to the colour. We usually mix cow-dung and glue to the paints,” she says. “Interestingly,” she adds,“the glue that we use is made from rock salt.” The importance of the glue is that it binds the paint to the special handmade Madhubani paper. “The glue available in the market is usually too weak – when mixed with water,instead of diluting,it loses its properties,” she says.

She also gave instructions on how to make Madhubani colours. “To get the colour red,crush yellow mustard seeds,then add sindoor. One can get the colour orange from the parijaat flower – the petals are white,but the stem of the flower which is orange,is where we get the colour from,” she elaborates.

But in today’s world,where everything natural seems to be losing its value,will Madhubani shift to some of the colours easily available in the market? Her answer comes quick. “No,” she says emphatically,“We can never use flimsy and ultimately fading commercial paints.”