Kolam by Sudha Balaji

This blog post may have answers to 1) How to draw rangoli with dots 2) How to draw muggulu with dots.  One of the bigger rangoli created by me. Dot pattern is 15 to 1 . Number of dots decreases viz. ( 15,13,9,7,5,3,1) Though it is with 15 dots it is relatively easy to draw.   The patterns below the neck (that represent the wings! are drawn first on the four sides.   The beauty of this kolam lies in the symmetry of the patterns.   One of the advantages or creating rangoli designs is that the result may be a unique rangoli.   Actually, I thought of drawing butterflies and flowers but changed the theme to birds and flowers.   Floral patterns are congruous with pakshi or titli (occasionally I use other languages too to describe the patterns to make it easy for those who are familiar with the terms in their mother tongue).                 Floral designs at the corners for this beautiful chukki rangoli...

Traditionally double line kolam is drawn with white rangoli powder- Take two pinches of white kolam podi on the index finger and the middle finger.  Push with the thumb.   One line falls outside the index finger. The other line falls inside the index finger.   It is easy to fill colours in kolangal drawn with this technique.   A demonstration is shown in the photo below The lines should be discrete, separate.   When you practice for the first time you may not get two distinct lines but only a thick line.   The more you practice ,  this technique comes with ease.   It is a very beautiful traditional method.   In a very short time we can create a lot of big designs.  I remember creating a double stroke kolam for Pongal at the entrance .   The size was 3 to 4 feet in radius.  I could do it in 15 to 20 minutes.  Later adding colours took some time.   I do it alone because the art of...

  This is a huge elephant kolam (excuse the pun !!) with 21 by 1 dots.   One of the favourites for Sankranthi muggulu or Pongal kolam.  It is not very time consuming since the patterns repeat.  Once we know how to draw one of the elephants (of the herd !!) it is easy to draw the other elephants.   The patterns at the centre and those at the dots remaining at the four corners can be drawn according to our wish.   This is also suitable for New Year rangoli design if you are looking for big kolam I presume that someone who comes in search of grand kolam may have a long experience in drawing rangoli the traditional way.  So, the steps are in the reverse order :) I have shown only the white muggu.  We can add colour as we please.  That is the liberty we have in kolam art.  Elephants need not be grey; they can be filled with any bright colour. If you are looking for chukki rangoli big size, big pulli kolam designs with steps or big ...

Pinnal kolam images for Margazhi | Pongal  First kolam  with 7 to 1 dots This kolam is quite small and easy and in a couple of steps in the images below This is a beautiful kolam that can be drawn with 5,7,9,11 dots etc.  The bigger the dot pattern the concentration required is more. Here the dot pattern is 5 dots - 3 rows, 4,3,2,1 If rangoli colours are of good quality ( should not be floury ) we can draw the lines directly , to try something unique This kolam has a combination of two fractals.  In the first image we can see the first fractal being used.  The dot pattern is 9 to 1 I get my rangoli colours from Koradi near Nagpur.  Another beautiful kolam . A non standard dot grid is used .  The dot pattern is 9 dots 4 rows then 4 dots - 2 rows then 2 dots one row Add colours and free hand patterns to enhance the beauty This is not a classical pinnal kolam,  a design I created .  The principle is the same,...

The first design above is a traditional muggu for the Dhanurmasa decoration.   During the time between December 15 and January 15 it is a season for muggu with beautiful and colourful muggu adorning the entrances of many homes.  Since my mother lived in Vizianagaram ,  I am aware of it and fortunately learnt a lot from her just by watching her.   Coming to the muggu I call it traditional because of the classical step like formation on all four sides.  After drawing the steps on four sides I have connected the inclined lines in a single stroke , we need steady hands that come with practice to do that.   After all the more we practice the closer we get to perfection.  The rest of the muggu is all about free hand decorations like spirals and more lines and these are according to our imagination.  We should choose patterns that may blend well with the main design. Dhanurmasam rangoli designs Traditional rangoli without chuk...

Chukki rangoli are very popular for Bhogi , Sankranti festivals.  This beautiful 13 by 7 dots kolam for the festival. Tip:  Connect the dots for the curved lines in a single stretch.  Then the kolam looks more beautiful.      It is all in the mind when we do it confidently the result is awesome!! This post includes designs drawn for social media accounts as also a few free hand designs drawn by me at dawn.  I draw every day during Dhanrumasam at the break of dawn like many others (this is the tradition followed by many ladies in southern part of India).  Invariably it is a rangoli sans dots with colours.   I have added an image for those drawn outside in the courtyard and the light is dull, it proves that it was drawn at dawn:) For New Year and Sankranthi I prefer a pulli kolam.  Pongal is a time for celebration, joy.  Whenever we have festivals and festivities, we bring out our joy and happiness through various ...