Art Therapy...

My name is Kavita Gandhi and I created KavitaKriti (Creations by Kavita).

My speciality is Indian luxury hand painted silk scarves. Through KavitaKriti my hope is to create awe-inspiring silk scarves with an honest reflection of my Indian roots. Growing up I was surrounded by Indian textiles and embroideries and always marveled at the craftsmanship of what I saw. KavitaKriti is an avenue for me to pay homage to these wonderful art forms and represent them to you in my own way.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Paisleys and Mandalas

paisley, mandala, hand painted silk scarf, kavitakriti, indian silk scarves
Art Poster from two hand painted silk scarves by KavitaKriti on Etsy
hand painted silk scarf, indian silk scarves, kavitakriti, paisley
Paisleys are the most common motif used in Indian textile design. A google search on "What is a Paisley" gave me the following definition-


pais·ley/ˈpāzlē/

Noun:
A distinctive intricate pattern of curved, feather-shaped figures based on a pine-cone design from India: "a paisley silk tie".

In this fun paisley silk georgette scarf I incorporated paisleys in different colors. A set of paisleys border either ends of the scarf. I left the center of the scarf white so that there was a good balance of color and white space.

mandala, hand painted silk scarf, indian silk scarves, kavitakriti
Mandalas are used heavily in henna and mehndi designs. A google search on "What is a Mandala" gave me the following definition-


man·da·la/ˈmandələ/

Noun:
  1. A geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.
  2. Such a symbol in a dream, representing the dreamer's search for completeness.

In this vivid mandala silk georgette scarf, different mandalas in different colors border both ends of the scarf. Once again the center of the scarf is left white to retain balance between color and white space.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Pink and Orange: perfect Indian colors

Hand painted silk scarf, KavitaKriti, ooak ethnic scarf, indian silk scarves, bohemian gypsy scarf
KavitaKriti, indian color palette

Pink and Orange are quintessential Indian colors in my opinion.

Pink represents romance, love, fidelity, friendship and honor. Orange represents fire, lust, vigor, excitement, adventure and attraction. A typical Bollywood movie isn't it? Also the perfect color for spring... the season for L O V E. In this lovely handmade silk scarf, a pink monochromatic color scheme is accentuated with a red-orange contrast border.





The perfect colors to pair with this scarf? For a more subtle look, choose a hue from this analogous color scheme.
KavitaKriti, indian color palette
For a little oomph, pair the scarf with a hue from this triadic color scheme.
KavitaKriti, indian color palette

Friday, April 20, 2012

Complementary color scheme case study


handpainted silk scarf, ooak ethnic scarves, bohemian gypsy scarf, kavitakriti, indian silk scarveshand painted silk scarf, indian color palette, kavitakriti, complementary color scheme

Complementary color schemes use hues directly opposite each other on the color wheel. In this silk scarf, the basic colors are derived from the hues - red and green.

Contrasting colors tend to be sharp and vibrant, especially when they are used at full saturation. However I think the complementary color scheme works well in this scarf because each dominant hue is supported with a corresponding tone for balance.  Also, white is always an excellent color choice for creating a harmonious color palette.

Because of the bold colors in this scheme, I would play it safe and pair the scarf with hues from the complementary color scheme.