Batik Painting of Goddess of Abundance ......

A fabulous piece of interpretive tribal art with measurements of 2.3 feet x 3.3 feet....

Female figures are shown bound by different geometric lines, beautiful in their simplicity of design. The portrayal of the weapon and the flower - two simple object which convey a lot. A woman can be Lakshmi, the goddess of bounty, or she can be Durga (Mahisasura mardini), the killer of evil, when the situation calls. She is shakti personified, the embodiment of power, is what the artist is trying to convey. The black spear and the red lotus have tantrik connotations. Other than colour symbolism, dye colours have been used in contrast judiciously, making this batik work come across as a most harmoniously balanced and aesthetically sound composition.

The technique of batik is a demanding one and requires unpresidented skill. Beginning with a plain white piece of cotton... the final design must be conceived before the picture is begun. The batik artist works intimately with color; if he wishes parts of his design to be light yellow, for example, all these parts must be waxed at the same time before any subsequent dyeing. He cannot isolate one part of his design and complete it before moving on to the others as an artist in oils or watercolor may; he must create his design in stages, each of which encompasses the whole picture..... The basic process of batik while simple creates a masterpiece in the hands of the seasoned painter. It consists of permeating an area of fabric with hot wax so that the wax resists the penetration of dye. Just another exotic treasure from Artisan Tribal Gems..... (b335)