Kalamkari

Kalamkari (literally translated to art made with a Qalam or a pen) is an art that originated in the modern day states of Andhra pradesh and Telangana several hundred years ago. It involves multiple steps to prepare the fabric for painting and uses only natural dyes. The colors used in Kalamkari are earthy tones of reds, blues, greens, yellows, and browns. Women are depicted in shades of yellow, gods in blue, and demons in red and green.

There are two identifiable types of Kalamkari: Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam. In Machilipatnam(Peddana) style, Kalamkari designs are generally printed with hand carved blocks with intricate details. The Srikalahasti style includes Kalamkari designs inspired from Hindu mythology, that describe the scenes from the epics.