Hand-Painted Tanjore Painting Blouse Design – A Unique Traditional Bridal Blouse Idea
Introduce the beauty of Tanjore painting:
What is Tanjore Painting?
Tanjore painting is one of the most celebrated traditional art forms of South India, with a rich history dating back several centuries. The art flourished under the patronage of the Chola, Nayaka, and Maratha rulers of Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu. It is renowned for its vibrant colours, intricate detailing, and the use of 22-carat gold foil, which gives the paintings their distinctive royal appearance.
Traditionally, Tanjore paintings depict Hindu gods and goddesses, saints, and mythological scenes. Over time, the art form evolved, and during the British colonial period, subtle European influences began to appear in the composition, perspective, and decorative elements of some paintings. Despite these influences, Tanjore painting has retained its unique identity and continues to be admired for its timeless beauty.
About fifteen years ago, I created a Tanjore painting of Goddess Saraswati using the traditional technique with genuine gold foil. That experience inspired me to experiment with this magnificent art form on fabric. Instead of painting on a wooden panel, I wanted to transform a simple silk blouse into a wearable piece of art while preserving the elegance and grandeur of traditional Tanjore painting.
The current trend- Tanjore painting on fabric and sarees:
Nowadays, hand-painted Tanjore sarees and blouses have become increasingly popular among women who love traditional fashion. Their rich colours, intricate artwork, and golden detailing give them a luxurious and elegant appearance. Although this style has become a recent trend, I discovered this beautiful tred a few days ago. Most Tanjore paintings are created on silk sarees and silk blouses, as the natural sheen of silk beautifully complements the vibrant colours and traditional motifs. The combination of royal silk fabric and the grandeur of Tanjore art creates an outfit that is perfect for weddings, festivals, and other special occasions.
My try of Tanjore painting on a blouse:
As soon as I saw these beautiful Tanjore-painted blouses, I couldn’t resist trying one myself. I chose a traditional motif and hand-painted it on a silk blouse to create a unique designer blouse that perfectly complements a traditional silk saree.
Here is the blouse:
The handpainted blouse
Materials required for Tanjore painting on fabric:
- Silk blouse
- Fabric paints
- Gold liner
- Brushes
- Carbon paper
- Transfer paper
- Fabric medium
- Stones/Kundan
- Pearl beads
- Palette
Why I chose peacock design:
This blouse I designed for a Mysore silk saree. The saree has beautiful peacock motifs on the border. To match that I selected peacock motif. Not only for that, peacock is a traditnal design, and this will match many sarees. The below is with red color Mysore silk saree.
Matching with red color Mysore silk
And the below one is with Kanchi saree,
Tanjore painting on blouse
The closer view of the painting:
Tanjore painting
The closer view of the peacock
How to Take Care of a Hand-Painted Blouse:
Golden liners are used to paint the outline. So handwash is preferable. Mild detergent should be used. Always iron on backside.
