Pretty patterns

Unique hobbies

K  Kusum was always fascinated by the world of ‘rangoli’ patterns, but it wasn’t until a year ago that she took baby steps into the mesmerising space of line drawings. 

While it is common to find ‘rangoli’ designs in front of house entrances in South India, Kusum took the art a step further by designing them on other mediums like ceramic, canvas and more.

Her introduction to the art began at home, where a ‘tulasi katte’, considered sacred, was honoured with ‘rangoli’ designs. 

“My mother, Devaki Murthy, would do ‘tulasi puja’ and draw ‘rangoli’ in front of the ‘tulasi brindavana’. I loved to observe women drawing these beautiful designs, but I didn’t draw a single line till a year back. As my mother now suffers from osteoporosis, she passed on the ritual and I was asked to continue the tradition.” Kusum cannot fathom what happened, but she felt a creative surge and drew a pattern immediately. 

“In the beginning, I would draw these designs and the next day, splash water on them, wipe them out and draw the next one. After a few days, my mother started observing my patterns and was surprised by the creativity. She advised me to copy them down onto a notebook to use as reference later.” 

Within some time, Kusum realised that she had collected around 400 designs. “I was thankful to my mother for encouraging me, but at the time I wasn’t yet sure what to do with them.”

After a while, Kusum’s aunt Parimala suggested that these patterns shouldn’t be restricted to the floor and could be replicated on other surfaces. 

“She told me that these designs need not be restricted to ‘puja’ purposes and they had a wider scope. I slowly started using them in art and craft and it looked nice.” Kusum saw the possibility of these patterns being replicated on jewellery, saris, ‘mehendi’ decorations, 

‘kundan’ art, ‘lehengas’, ceramic, mirrors, M R P boards, invitation cards and other fancy items. 
 
“My aunt advised that I should trace them neatly on drawing sheets with the help of geometrical instruments and keep them safely. I was thrilled.” 

“I did these designs on vases and canvas. On canvas, I did ‘kundan’ work which looked very colourful and attractive. They could be used as showpieces. It was a lot of fun to make these, as the colours made them more interesting. The vases were also a creative outburst,” she says. 

Compared to the floor, it is more difficult to work with ‘rangoli’ patterns on such mediums, Kusum points out. “I got my designs together and I asked a store to replicate them on ceramic tiles too. 

The possibilities were unlimited!”
Kusum collated her drawings and got ‘Lines Divine’ — a book under the banner of Prism Books Pvt Ltd — published. “My family supported and encouraged me. They highlighted that my patterns were very different from other ‘rangoli’ patterns.” About her patterns, she says that she doesn’t use the dot-to-dot methodology, which is commonly used in making ‘rangoli’ patterns. 

“‘Rangoli’ is made by drawing dots first and then connecting them, but all my patterns are free-flowing images, done freehand. I do not plan any of my images in advance and they aren’t copied from anywhere,” says Kusum proudly. 

She says that the feedback she has received for her ‘rangoli’-inspired craft works is priceless and she will continue to add to her collection.

(K Kusum can be contacted on 22455811)