Kalighat Painting
Kalighat in Kolkata, West Bengal, is famous as a seat of Hindu pilgrimage. Kalighat also happens to be the place of origin of a noted form of Indian painting – the Kalighat Painting. This particular form of painting has its roots in the cultural upheavals of nineteenth century colonial Bengal. Primarily, the scroll-painters and the potters who had migrated from rural Bengal and settled in and around the temple, practiced this sort of painting. They used watercolours and painted on mill papers. Brushes were made from squirrel and calf hair. The cheap pigments were applied in transparent tones in contrast to traditional Indian tempera or opaque colours With shaded contours and articulated gesture and movement, the figures attained a plaque-like effect on a neutral unpainted ground. The style is characterized by formal and linear economy, expressive gestures, and quality brushwork and flawless rhythmic strokes. It was only in the twentieth century that this art started getting the attention and appreciation that it deserves. This largely led to Kalighat Paintings coming into the limelight.
Mural Painting
A mural painting is a piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. There are many different styles and techniques. The best-known is , which uses water-soluble paints with a damp lime wash, a rapid use of the resulting mixture over a large surface, and often in parts (but with a sense of the whole). The colours lighten as they dry. Murals today are painted in a variety of ways, using oil or water-based media. This trend continued through 2000's with street art gaining more recognition from art institutions worldwide. The latter technique can yield fade-resistant custom tiles which are suitable for long term exterior exposure.
