Colors drive me insane. My passion to the craft of colors led me to the scene of painting .It is my passion to get more into the world of painting through different styles and ways and methods existing in different parts of the country. One such among my recent passion is to know more about “Mural Painting-A harmonious incorporation of colors.”
Few years back, Kozhikode association organized an art exhibition at Indian Embassy where I met my first mentor in drawing Mrs. Sherly Biju with her student Mrs. Reena Manikuttan as the chief coordinators of the exhibition .The gifted talents in them were well executed.
As a viewer ,I was deeply impressed at their mural art portrayed on sarees and canvas with paintings of dieties, peacocks ,feathers, pots, veena and many more beautifully pictured.
After an interaction with her, I understood that Reena Maam can support me in studying mural art and she promised me to help me to know more about the painting. After my exams, I began being with her whenever I was free as she was concerned about my passion. Mam’s enthusiasm to color combination and temple art diverted her passion to Mural Art.
Reena maam started her basics in Mural art from Mrs. Sherly Biju (HoD Art Department, Smart Indian School), and continued her further studies back in Kerala from Mrs. Kala Hariharan and Mrs.Gayathri. Her first mural painting depicts her hard work and sincerity to this profession.
Few works of ma’am about which I was fascinated are :
The main colors used are red (Vermilion Hue or Scarlet Lake), yellow (Permanent yellow medium) , green (Sap Green or Olive Green) , blue (Persian Blue) and black. Mam helped me understand that each mural painting has a different shading style depending on the image.
My first painting was of Lord Ganesha. The portrayal of a picture in mural is based on the Dhyana Slokas (meditative conceptualization). In olden times Mural Painting was done using natural colours but as its availability lessened, people have now chosen to use Acrylic paint. The picture was initially drawn on canvas sheet and further outlined using red acrylic paint. It was then highlighted with yellow and double highlighted in necessary areas. Then I began shading Kireedam (crown) using red colour in three layers. The shading method I adopted was the dot shading method. After competing it, I started with the ornaments, the body parts, and finally the eyes. Painting of the eyes is referred to as Unmelanam and Mizhithurakkal. After this I highlighted the painting in necessary areas using a blend of colours that finally produced coffee brown colour . After this, I outlined the picture very lightly using black paint. The picture was then completed.
Once we completely fall into the sequence of mural art, we cannot resist our mind from doing it. It attracts us more to it and so now, I am in the process of painting a picture of Lord Krishna where the pattern of painting is slightly different.
The way she listens to a customer to choose a correct picture according to their views and necessities and to portray it to make into a beautiful picture was really a great experience for me. The painting done after such a discussion always satisfies the mind of the customer. Her Sai Mural Facebook page really shows all her dedication and perfection to her work. She suggests every homemaker a better way to channelize their views through mural work which gives a relief from their stressful schedule and also a way of earning from home.
Reena Manikkuttan, an accomplished muralist hailing from Ayroor, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala is an expert in the field of art and equally in the field of agriculture. Her flat in Abbassiya is another inspiration to all who have a spirit in farming.
Her supporting family includes husband Mr.Manikuttan and two lovely sons Vishnu and Sai Krishna, who always supports her for the perfection in each and every work. Every women entrepreneur is developed with their great insight to their passion.
I hope all the success to Reena Ma’am to excel in all her future endeavor.