For a big kolam it is quite simple to draw.
What we have to do in this type of kolam when the dot grid is 15 or more is to mark the centre of the dot grid - the central dot in the central row.
Draw the design around this dot to get the pattern at the centre.
Also referred to as the grape kolam or drakshai kolam because it can also be considered to represent a bunch of grapes
New Year kolam designs with dots | Big Pongal kolam with dots | chukkala muggulu 15 to 8
A common kolam during
Margali that may also be considered to represent grapes.
For a change instead of filling with colours as we usually do for festivals like Dhanurmasam and Sankranti I have followed the technique adopted in rangoli designs for Diwali so that we get a blend of what is modern and traditional.
Using a cotton bud draw flower designs after placing bullets. It is easy due to the patterns in this kolam.
This technique may be difficult on a cement floor, relatively easy on tiles, may not be possible on mud floor
The centre is marked - it is the central dot in the row with 15 dots. The design is drawn around it.
The next few images show the steps for drawing the patterns outside this central pattern.
The base of the grape basket if we may call it is on the row where one edge of the petal of the flower is as we can see in the flower below and ends in second petal as seen in the next pic. Between any two baskets there are three dots. These will be used to connect the flower to the baskets.
Chukki rangoli 15 to 8 in progress
Though fifteen to eight dots are used this relatively easy pattern can be tried for Dhanurmasam muggulu simple with dots. Let us remember we cannot beat Nature, so we have to join it (borrowed from a popular saying).
Where else can be look for lots of patterns to fit into the dot patterns but Mother Nature (grapes in this case). We only have to observe, not just see to get ideas and inspiration for our muggulu rangoli. Patterns are available in plenty in Nature - the important factor being they are free and there are not copyrights.
The traditional kolam differs from the art of portrait rangoli in one parameter. In kolam we have to only draw a pattern similar to what we observe in nature. The exact or near perfect replica is not needed. Our representation of the pattern should fit into the dot pattern to convey what we are trying to draw.
Adding of colours similar to what is found in nature may increase the understanding of what we are trying to convey. The result, the message may sometimes be cryptic adding to the beauty of what we portray.
It is like poetic licence - what the poet says only he or she is actually trying to convey. Others only guess and interpret their own ways. Different interpretations give many perspectives to a poem or art. Anyways as I often repeat, all art forms are beautiful in their own way.
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