Accessory Design Inspired from Raja Ravi Varma Painting
THE CONCEPT
Ravi Varma’s works are held to be among the best examples of the fusion of European techniques with a purely Indian sensibility. While continuing the tradition and aesthetics of Indian art, his paintings employed the latest European academic art techniques of the day. In particular, his depictions of Hindu deities and episodes from the epics and Puranas have received profound acceptance from the public and are found, often as objects of worship, across the length and breadth of India. Ravi Varma continues to be an important figure for modern and contemporary Indian artists.
WHY I CHOSE RAVI VARMA?
Main subject of Ravi Varma’s paintings are Indian women and the characters that are embedded in Indian mythology(God and Goddesses). He has always showcased the beauty of Indian culture specifically the South Indian culture through his paintings. His works show people from different backgrounds in his paintings which enabled in depicting the various fabrics used for women’s fashion in India. His paintings brought in light onto the usage of royal silks to simplest cottons, styles of drapes, types of jewelry i.e. from gold to most graceful flowers. His paintings also put subtle styling aspects in the lime light such as hair, bindi, bangles, anklets etc.
KERALA ROYAL LADY
This is a painting by Raja Ravi Varma of a kerala royal lady. I thought of choosing this painting of ravi varma for my recreation as It clearly has importance for fashion elements in it like the necklace, nose ring, bangles, ear rings and the saree. According to my research on the painting, The necklace look similar to palakka, nagapadam and adiyal designs, the earrings look similar to thoda earrings, traditional indian round earrings. The nose ring also is a unique style. The saree is draped normally without a blouse which also shows an evolution of fashion in clothes. So this can be a perfect look to recreate and represent women’s fashion in the time.
FINAL IMAGES OF THE PROTOTYPE
Materials used - Natural Clay, Acrylic Paint, Thread, Pearls.
Recreated Painting of Kerala Royal Lady by Ravi Varma
Material used - Water Colour.