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Sunday, March 1, 2015

17th BNB Challenge: The Art Form of Kolam March 1




What is a kolam?
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.oZx0TJVt.dpuf
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.sgOj8hfo.dpuf
Divya Narasimhan is the sponsor of the 17th BNB Challenge:  The Art of Kolam.  When I first saw this inspiration piece, I thought how on earth can I use these colors and design as an inspiration to create something of my own.  I didn't know what a Kolam was and the color combinations were not anything that I use.  After doing some reading, I started noticing Kolams and once I used the colors in on my jewelry piece I found joy and happiness in them.

A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. In South India, it is widely practiced by female Hindu family members in front of their houses. There are different types of Kolams.  When I read that they are similar to Celtic knots that was when I got the idea that I could do this. I could relate to Celtic knots and now to Kolams.
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet. - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet. - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet. - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet.
- See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf

Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf

 

Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet. - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf

Bay Moon Design's  Kolam "Happiness"

Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet. - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.fXTuXU3P.dpuf

What is a kolam?
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.a1Ry9bD2.dpuf
Types of Kolam 
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet.

Inspiration
For this challenge I have made an inspiration collage of different south Indian (particularly Tamil) kolams so that I can provide a variety of forms, textures and colors for you. Shown in the Inspiration Picture are sikku kolam (lamps), geometric pulli kolam, freehand peacocks and the border which is a combination of nelli (squiggly lines) on red ochre paste. The image background refers to Sand - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.sgOj8hfo.dpuf
What is a kolam?
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.a1Ry9bD2.dpuf
What is a kolam?
Kolams (Pronounce Koh' Lum) are designs drawn in front of houses or inside infront of Altars to Invite people and positive energy (Gods, Goddesses) in. In olden days they made out of rice powder to feed insects and rodents as a way to in promote co-existence and harmony.
Kolam designs are based on the simple yet fundamental Elements of design. Dots are first arranged in a grid like pattern, and are connected with lines to form shapes.  Colors and textures are used to bring about a 3D look and feel. The outlines are always white; sometimes they are left plain or adorned with Kavi (red ochre paint) or filled with colors -Tertradic color schemes (4 four bright colors) are followed; Black color is generally not used - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.a1Ry9bD2.dpuf
Types of Kolam 
Pulli Kolam (designs based on dots, Kambi kolam (designs based on lines), Maa kolam (curve lines drawn with rice flour paste), Sikku kolam (knots created on a dotted grid but without joining the dots - very similar to celtic knots), Kavi/semman kolam (drawn in red ochre color), and fancy kolams drawn with flowers, food grains, rock salt etc. The people in the southern Indian make it differently than their northern counterparts, where its is always drawn with color and is called Rangoli and it looks like a carpet.

Inspiration
For this challenge I have made an inspiration collage of different south Indian (particularly Tamil) kolams so that I can provide a variety of forms, textures and colors for you. Shown in the Inspiration Picture are sikku kolam (lamps), geometric pulli kolam, freehand peacocks and the border which is a combination of nelli (squiggly lines) on red ochre paste. The image background refers to Sand - See more at: http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/2015/01/bnb-international-challenge-17-kolam.html#sthash.a1Ry9bD2.dpuf
I created an embossed and patinated Celtic knot component to meet this challenge. My handmade artisan Indian inspired Kolam pendant can be used to brighten a jewelry design. This embossed and patinated pendant began with a 34mm natural brass circle. There is one hole at the top. If you would like additional holes just convo me. I embossed it with a Celtic pattern and patinated the metal. The patina metal has been buffed to reveal some of the raw brass of the design. I used patinas of hot pink blue combination and yellow and green combination. Both sides has been sealed to protect the finish. The reverse side of this unique focal has the same colors and the raised parts buffed to reveal the raw brass. 

Take a look at what everyone created for this challenge.  Some folks made pieces of jewelry and others made beads like I did.  My handmade component is called "Happiness".  Voting takes place here https://www.facebook.com/BeadPeepsBNBpublicVote .
 Stop by and vote for your favorite in each category.  You can place your vote from March 1 to March 7.  Thanks Divya for the challenge!

1 comment:

  1. I also noticed the relationship to Celtic knots. But now, understanding the grid conceptbehind the Kolam I feel I can use that concept even when I'm not particularly inspired. Your bead really captures the bright happy colors of the Kolam

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