Many people travel to the state of Rajasthan because of the color. Carrying the reputation as India’s most vibrant and colorful regions, evidence of this is all around, in the textiles and the crafts of the people of the state. Markets are a fabulous venue for finding what ever it is one needs or wants, and the concierge at ones luxury hotels Rajasthan will have many options for one to choose from, and will often know the best spots to go for variety and for bargain shopping. One of the signature forms of the artisans of this region is the art of block printing on the materials such as shawls, scarves, and clothing. The blocks are finely carved works of art in and of themselves, a tradition that immigrated from Gujarat and then on through the other cities such as Jaipur, Pali and Barmer. Traditional techniques involve the use of dye made from vegetables, however today, many of the artists do use chemically produced dyes.
The popular designs for this printing are those of animals, figures, birds and goddesses and gods. This is an art form that requires attention to detail and accuracy and is known as one of the most arduous and time consuming forms of arts and crafts produced in the region. The material is spread out flat, and the ink is applied to the blocks. Enough ink must be on the blocks to allow the artist to make the continuous and interweaving patterns. The ink prints are then usually covered in a wax substance to protect the integrity of the design while the material is being dyed. The final stages involve the washing of the work, the sun drying of it, and then the ironing. Some of the printers coming to the city have brought with them techniques and designs, and floral block prints are now becoming a popular design as well, in the markets throughout the state of Rajasthan.
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