Leaf Painting is the process of painting with dyed leaves. Leaf paintings are beautiful paintings, which are made on leaves of trees. They depict wonderful craftsmanship and excellence. There are many artists that have been doing this kind of work for years. These beautiful leaf paintings can be used to enhance the decor of our houses.

The art of leaf paintings originated in the southern India (Kerala). It’s one of the oldest forms of art, which shows the creativity and perfection of the artists. Though now only a few artists throughout the world are left who practice this leaf art. This art form deriving from Japan, China or India, it has also become popular in Vietnam. Every leaf painting is unique and quite different from the others because of the leaves' veins, the forms and the colors before or after dying. 

Original natural matured leaves are plucked from peepal tree and these leaves are to be in natural well water for a period of one month. During this period of one month the green portion or chlorophyll of the leaves are decayed off and getting the Skelton. These Skelton are dried and artists do hand paintings on that Skelton.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

Tantra is an esoteric pagan tradition in Hinduism, which includes extensive use of the mantra or symbolic speech and mandala, symbolic diagrams, to attain enlightenment. The mother goddess is of vital importance in the tradition of Tantra. Hindu Tantric rituals include things like meditation on cremation grounds and corpses, ritualistic use of wine, meat and sexual intercourse. These worldly means will help in unifying the soul with the supreme power. Tantra art exists in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain forms. Tantra in its various art forms exists in South Asia, China, Japan, Tibet, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia and Mongolia. According to tantric principles, there is a total parallelism between the microcosm of physical reality and the macrocosm of the universe, the revelation of these dynamic forces in the human body is said to lead to the comprehension of universal reality. 

Tantra is that Asian body of beliefs and practices which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy of the Godhead that creates and maintains that universe. Tantra Paintings are a study of the analogy between the physical body (microcosm) and the universe (macrocosm). The philosophy behind these paintings is same as that of the Tantric philosophy– meditation and disciplined bodily behavior can equip with the power to control the outer world. Tantra tradition is an integral part of Hinduism and it includes usage of mantra. Tantra paintings are quite unique in the sense that the theme and images are very contrasting in nature. The tantric paintings are abstract and are normally very complex. Tantra paintings are known to be obscure.

Tantric paintings abound in abstract, multivalent and oblique images. The obscurity of these paintings can be attributed on them being meditations on paintings. When a Tantra painting is worshipped it becomes the symbolic representation of the deity and it abounds in energy. Every such painting is the dwelling place of the deity who is being represented. The best part about tantra art paintings is the spiritual aura surrounding them. It is not just a form of art. It’s a form of meditation and manifestation of supreme power.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

Christmas day or we can say that Christmas is legendry traditional cultural holiday, always every year celebrated on 25th December in memory of Lord Jesus Christ as a birth. Christian religion is widespread contains millions followers and comparison to world this is at first. Christmas day is most dominant festival of Christianity and impact is in whole world. According to Christianity thought that Jesus Christ was born on this day and therefore in memory celebrating every year. Though the real historical date of the birth of Jesus is unknown, the church declared that his birthday mass {Christ’s mass} would be celebrated on 25th December. 

 Who was Jesus Christ?

By this concept found that firstly Christianity founded by Jesus Christ which is known as simple man deity, Christianity was founded on the life and teachings of a Jew named Jesus Christ. The English word “Jesus” comes from the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, a common name which means “savior” and “Christ” is a title and it comes from the Greek form of the Hebrew Messiah, meaning “anointed one”. Since the time of the earliest Christians, “Christ” has been used both as a surname and as a name that stands alone.

Santa Claus is simply known as to bring gifts to the homes of good children who never do whole year any sin, any naughty and always listen and care his parent’s teachings and thoughts as they want; that type of Children put in category of good. And therefore on this based parent always give elucidation (teaching) about Santa Claus that if he will never do any naughty then, you would get gifts by Santa on Christmas day once in a year. Santa is referred as to bring gifts at the late evening or at mid-night of Christmas Eve (24th December). The original Santa's image was created by a political cartoonist and illustrator by the name of Thomas Nast. Other countries changed the icon somewhat to suit their own customs and culture.

Christmas Eve is celebrated before Christmas day means on 24th December as in memory of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. It is significantly (culturally) main celebration for most of the western world.Santa Claus is known by many names such as- Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and simply name is Santa Claus. In different countries he is considered by different names but most significant is Santa Claus which wide-spread.

Many stories are being told in regards of the legend of Santa Claus. Once is that- A young man (pastor) namely Nicholas had got a fortune (wealth) after his parents died when he was still in his teens. He loved the Lord and also cared deeply for the poor and good children and for them he always brought gifts, money and other useful items to the houses of the poor and this whole process he was completed at night secretly as not to draw attention to him, as he was not wanted any glory.

On this day peoples decorated homes, shops or any other place especially Church well-decorated. Christmas tree is a dominant role on this day as its features are- “Tree contains candies and cakes hanging with ribbon and whole decorated with colorful ribbons ornaments, glistening garland, blinking lights, colorful balls, green leafs etc”. The Christmas tree is a German tradition was stared as early as 700 A.D. and in the 1800s the heritage of Christmas tree was widespread in Germany. Today its impact is present in whole world. Christmas tree is an important part on this day and also recognized as symbol of this Christian Festival.

Finally, Christmas day is very popular biggest festival among world always celebrated on 25th December and on its based paintings, portraits, lantern are creating. We have collection of Lanterns, unique paintings, books, decoration products and store of many more items for Christmas are available at reasonable price. This all items are perfect for this Christmas as for decoration. For more contact us Visit- Art of Legend India.

Happy Christmas day!

Batik painting is an ancient and beautiful art form. Batik paintings are a unique form of art in which various figures and patterns are drawn on pieces of fabrics. These paintings originated in Indonesia. Indonesia encouraged the art of batik and with its popularity and success in the western markets; batik became a part of Indonesia. The word ‘Batik’, which has been derived from the word ‘Ambatik’, is Indonesian in its origin. The original word basically meant dots on clothes and Batik refers to the wax-resist dye technique that is used in textiles. The art of Batik painting is considered to be more than a 1000 years old. This Batik Art form flourished internationally with specific ethnic specialties, in color, process of dyeing, application of wax etc. Batik art work is widely used in Java (Indonesia) and India. India has a rich tradition in Batik paintings and exquisite works of Batik art can be procured from different parts of India. Batik painted fabrics are also very durable. Batik paintings portray a huge array of themes which include religious themes as well as abstract patterns. 

Batik is very often considered a craft like ceramic, pottery or even needle work. Although it is a household word all over the world, batik is still often overlooked by art critics who do not consider it an art form. There are several countries known for their batik creations. Batik paintings are very brilliant and catchy in colors depicting Hindu Gods, nature, animals or natural scenes. Batik art is a popular fabric painting that prevalent in several countries of Asia and Africa. It’s an ancient art that involves applying wax resist and natural colored dyes to fabric, usually cotton or silk.

The making of a Batik Painting is an intricate and time consuming process which involves three integral stages. There are also some sub-processes that include waxing, dyeing and de-waxing. Batik artists use dyes as color is an integral part of batik art work. A batik artist needs to have a good sense of colors and patterns. To create an attractive and beautiful Batik painting, the batik artist works intimately with color, applying multiple layers of wax and dye to the fabric. 

Each piece of Batik artwork has a unique feel due to the endless combinations of dye colorings, wax affects and fabric types. The technique of Batik painting involves great precision and concentration. The first step includes giving the cotton cloth a thorough washing and to remove the starch. The cloth is then dried, ironed and stretched on a wooden frame. The second step includes making a rough charcoal sketch which serves as a guide for the painting. The design develops gradually with each coat of waxing. The third process includes the application of the wax that is a protective agent in the dyeing process. The wax is a melted mixture of paraffin, resin and yellow beeswax and is poured into a brass shaped pen called Tjanting. The Tjanting is a brass pen shaped is like a small cup with single or double spout. This pen is used in coloring the negative way by filling the space where the painter does not want the color to appear. The process is quite tedious and has to be done with care. Thus for each and every different color to be used on the fabric the painter has to use the Tjanting pen and the protective wax ink.

Once this is done, the artist can use the required color to dye that area. When that area has been adequately colored and dried, the fabric can be gently washed. This process of waxing, dyeing and de-waxing can be repeated multiple times till the entire batik design or fabric has been completed. Ideally, this process should begin with light colors and end with dark colors.After, the artist completes this process for each and every color that he has used; he can wash the waxed piece in boiling water. This process can be repeated often till the entire wax has been removed from the fabric. This can be followed by application of colors or dyes to the painting using a brush. In case of very large areas, the cloth is removed from the frame and dipped in a basin of dye.

The final stage includes the removal of wax residue and the fixing of colors, immersing the cloth into boiling water with a small amount of detergent. The cloth is then rinsed in cold water. The complete painting is then dipped in a diluted solution of sulphuric acid to give the colors permanency. This art form is three-dimensional and has features of depth and texture making the entire fabric an attractive piece of art. Batik art is unique in its kind, everywhere applicable in almost every place, from classic to modern. Batik wall hangings are a hot favorite with art lovers and are produced in India, Indonesia and West Africa. Traditionally, in Batik paintings, indigo, dark brown and white colors are used, which represent the three major Hindu Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

The Bengal School of paintings was a style of art that flourished in India during the British Raj in the early 20th century. This school has always been respected for being one of the earliest art movements in the country. But now, it is getting its due recognition in the art market as well. Prices of paintings from the old Bengal school have multiplied almost four times from last year. The proverb 'old is gold' stands true for Bengal school of paintings which have suddenly become dearer than gold. And experts say that the upswing in these prices is here to stay, at least for the coming two years. 

The art of the Bengal school was the seminal movement in modern Indian painting. It was founded, circa 1907, by Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951), a nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, in rejection of the artistic styles of the West in favor of the traditions of India, China and Japan. Tagore painted a number of works influenced by Mughal art, as opposed to the materialism of the West. Abanindranath Tagore's best-known painting, “Bharat Mata” (Mother India), depicted a young woman, portrayed with four arms in the manner of Hindu deities, holding objects symbolic of India's national aspirations. Chief among Abanindranath’s followers was Nandalal Bose (1882-1966). The life story of Abanindranath Tagore will remain incomplete if the contribution of Gaganendranath, his elder brother, to the success that has crowned Abanindranath’s efforts remains unmentioned. In the pursuit of his creative work and in the building up of the “Indian Society of Oriental Art” in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Gaganendranath rendered invaluable help. His other brother, Samarendanath, was also, in an indirect way, responsible for the success of Abanindranath’s mission. 

The 19th century was seen as a kind of cultural awakening for Bengal. A group of Bengal artists gave birth to a new traditional painting style after copying the painting of Mugal, Rajput and Ajanta etc. and created a Renaissance under the guidance and direction of Avindernath Tagore. The various protest movements, formation of societies and associations, religious reform movements, coming of new styles in Bengali literature, political consciousness, and very interestingly art too. This very movement gave birth to painters like Abanindranath Tagore, who went on to establish what is known as the Bengal School of Art. Contemporary Indian art has travelled a long way since the days of Raja Ravi Varma, Abanindranath Tagore and his followers and even Amrita Sher-Gil. Almost every artist of note began with one kind of representational or figurative art or the other tinged with impressionism, expressionism or post-expressionism. 

Britishers could not developed western art of painting in India. It came to an end with Raja Ravi Verma by the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century. But F.B. Havell brought new style of paintings in India. He was the principal of Madras School of Art in 1884 to 1896 and later transferred to Calcutta. He attempted to reform the teaching methods at the Calcutta School of Art by encouraging students to imitate Mughal miniature paintings. Many people condemned and criticized Mr. Havell but he proved his greatness by not following the dirty politics of Britishers. Being a Britisher, he said that forceful method of introducing western art was wrong because there can be only a little change in the basic style of an art and total change is not possible. In 1907, Mr. Havell and Gajendra Nath Thakur found the Indian society of oriental art whose aim was to encourage traditional paintings and progress artists, there were 30 Britishers and 5 Indians in this organization and the director was Lord Kitchenar. 

The orientation in the artistic outlook of Abanindranath created a new awakening in India and brought about a revival of the Indian Art which for centuries lay decadent and hidden from the public view. Bengal school was the primary school for development of Indian art in India. Its influence in India declined with the spread of modernist ideas in the 1920. However Bengal continues to produce some of the best artists of modern India. Among them the best known artists of present day Bengal are Ganesh Pyne, Nirmal Dutta, Nilima Dutta, Jahar Dasgupta, Sudeep Roy, Devajyoti Ray and Paresh Maiti. Sanat Chatterjee is one of the last living pioneers of Bengal School of art. All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

Glass painting is a kind of drawing painted on the inside surface of transparent glass, executed with oil, watercolor and gum on glass sheets. Glass paintings are also known as reverse glass paintings. It is a traditional and ancient art of India. These paintings are found in Thanjavur (Tanjore, Tamil Nadu), Kerala and Maharashtra. They are excellent decorative wall paintings. The art of glass painting appeared in India in the late 18th and early 19th century, it was a traditional and ancient art of India.. Europe was well acquainted with the glass painting technique from the middle ages. The Chinese artists learnt the art from Europe. The flourishing trade relations between East India Company and China brought this art to India. 

The process of painting glass is not too difficult. An engraving is laid down on the back of the glass. The designs are outlined. Thereafter, special glass paints are applied. These paints are water or gum arabic based. They are fired onto the glass using a kiln. The heat of the kiln ensures that they permanently bond with the glass. Since glass paintings are painted on the reverse, they are also called reverse glass paintings. Glass paintings were noted for their sheer brilliance, stunning clarity and use of rich colors.

By the 17th century, Glass Paintings started spreading to different countries across the world. In the early 18th century, it touched the Indian shores when it showed its splendor in the western part of the country, especially in Gujarat state. The Indian version of glass paintings saw the domination of bright colors, portraits of God, ornamental nature, women and mythological figures. In these paintings, popular stories, epic themes, icons etc. are also depicted. 

These paintings also show the wonderful craftsmanship of the artisans and beauty with enriched colors and mystical luminosity. The glass was imported in India from Britain and Belgium. India had a rich tradition of producing glass till the 16th century. However, the art became inferior in course of time. Till today, in some parts of India especially in Gujarat and South India glass paintings are still produced carrying the both popular and folk art traditions. Glass paintings of Bihar are very different in form and sometimes in theme as well. These are larger pictures, usually with religious themes and are characterized by their fine line work and vibrant colours. Glass paintings of Bengal can be identified by the distinctive type of figures and costumes and by the muted pastel shades that are used.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

Marble paintings are miniature paintings, which are made on exquisite variety of marble. Marble is a natural stone with immense beauty and is available in a variety of colors, some of which are particularly used to impart a natural and rugged look to the artifacts. As the name suggests, marble is the main base on which the painting is made. Different thicknesses and sizes of marbles can be used depending upon the final product being considered; therefore it has always been a popular medium for creative artists. Created with immense perfection and beauty, marble paintings encompass traditional as well as contemporary styles. The remarkable marble paintings are extensively used for decoration of interiors and exteriors. These paintings are produced by using water and oil paints. Excellent craftsmanship and talent is portrayed in almost each and every marble painting. Meticulous efforts and endless patience turn a simple white colored marble into a rich artifact of immense cultural value and monetary value. 

The themes of marble paintings revolve around the Bhakti cult of India especially around Lord Krishna with Radha. Other themes such as Mughal emperors and queens, jewelry, Indian musical instruments, pots, vases, statues, floral designs, royal palaces etc. are also depicted in marble paintings. Many of marble paintings show Lord Krishna and Radha wooing each other with beautiful love expressions. These paintings are known for the aesthetic depiction of various love acts of the divine couple. The decorative marble paintings are perfect showpieces for enhancing appeal of the interiors as well as the exteriors. Marble paintings are available with or without gold and are made on marble of different sizes and thickness. Marble paintings on tiles are quite popular. 

While undertaking the marble painting, first of all the marble base is prepared by coating the marble with a neutral color and sponged a couple of times for attaining the right effect. The painter then draws the images with great specificity. This procedure is then followed by adding color and at times gold dust, gold leaves, jewels and lacquer too. The colors used in marble painting are made out of natural vegetables and mineral dyes. The use of gold and precious stones is optional and depends upon the manufacturer or the buyer if the marble painting is made according to the order. The use of lacquer adds a permanent finish to the marble painting and enhances its life value.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend india.

Ragamala Paintings are a series of illustrative paintings from medieval India based on Ragamala or the 'Garland of Ragas'. The concept of illustrating musical modes in pictorial form as Ragamala paintings is a unique expression of Indian writers and artists. A Ragamala painting is the ultimate example of the correlation among the arts. ‘Ragamala' literally means ‘A Garland of Melodies'. The rich tradition of Indian Classical music is structured on the foundation of ragas.

A raga is a melodic mode, which literally means ‘to color', and is also defined as a permutation and combination of notes or frequencies illustrated by melodic movements. It is believed that these melodies are capable of producing a pleasant sensation, mood or an emotion in the listener. Some Indians ragas are prescribed a time of day or a season. There are six principal ragas - Bhairava, Dipika, Sri, Malkaunsa, Megha and Hindola and these are meant to be sung during the six seasons of the year; summer, monsoon, autumn, early winter, winter and spring. 

Ragamala paintings are visual interpretations of Indian musical modes previously envisioned in divine or human form by musicians and poets. They showed most frequently romantic or devotional situations in a somewhat stereotyped and aristocratic setting. These paintings were created in albums containing most often thirty six or forty two folios, organized in a system of families. Each family is headed by a male (Raga) and contains five or six females (Raginis), sometimes also several Ragaputras (Sons), even Ragaputris (daughters) and wives of sons.

All known surviving examples of this art were painted in the 16th through 19th centuries in Rajasthan, in central India, in the Deccan, in the Ganges-Jamuna plains or in the Pahari region. Only a very small number of paintings are actually dated and signed. Most can be placed with a high degree of certainty into particularly periods and localities, the origins of others are more disputed, and finally a large number yield very few reliable clues to their province. 

Many paintings are inscribed with their title or even a poem, which renders a verbal interpretation of the theme more or less closely related to the painted version. Ragamala paintings thus appear to stand at a crossroad of Indian music, poetry and miniature painting. It labels its individual paintings with the names of musical modes.Both the musical and the poetic beginnings of Ragamalas are many centuries older than the painted versions. 

The introduction of paper and a blooming of miniature painting in many parts of India among Jains, Hindus and Muslim alike brought with it the first illustrations of Ragamala poems or prayers formulas, probably between 1450 and 1550. A growing demand for copies of them, in the prevailing local fashion, developed during the next three years. The painters of Ragamalas, like their patrons, were associated with this subject only on the periphery of their existence. Most of them were skilled craftsmen working more or less expertly in many subjects, but they lacked the learned quality of many of their patrons and poets, whose verse they illustrated in accordance with previous paintings of the subject. Their expertise lay entirely in the field of paintings, while their literary and musical knowledge was at best perfunctory. 

Of the hundreds or even thousands of ragas known in music, only a fraction was used in Ragamala paintings. The most frequently used were in one or several iconographies throughout the centuries in which this art form was practiced. Some these iconographies underwent regional or periodical changes, especially if the literary source material for them was scarce or unknown. 

The Ragamala paintings also depicted the themes like the hero and heroine in various situations such as dancing, singing, the heroine waiting for her lover and later angry with him. These paintings mainly sketch the `Rasa` or flavour of a particular raga. The Ragamala artists of the Deccani schools were mainly guided by the Persian or Urdu text versions available during that period. The earliest Ragamala paintings are from the Deccan. They were probably painted for Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur, who was an authority on painting and a fine artist and illuminator himself .

Sangeeta Ratnakara is an important 12th century CE treatise on the classification of Indian Ragas, which for the first time mentions the presiding deity of each raga. From the 14th century onwards, they were described in short verses in Sanskrit, for Dhyana, 'contemplation', and later depicted in a series of paintings, called the Ragamala paintings. Some of the best available works of Ragamala are from the 16th and 17th centuries, when the form flourished under royal patronage.All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.