Are you fond of henna and have your hands painted with those gorgeous henna designs?...Indian, Arabic, Tribal, Moroccan...My friend Shakuntala taught me how to paint those henna designs one summer. She made me practice endlessly on paper and only when designs "simply floated" in my head, she allowed me to graduate onto the hand. Thereafter, everyone in my building became the victims!! I would plead with them to lend their hands for practicing a design. This was followed with some bridal mehendi practice sessions..
While practicing those henna designs, I realized I could actually draw...until then, drawing and painting was just not my cup of tea...I could now fill up sheets of paper drawing those swirls, flowers, stems, leaves... intricate designs reminding me of those gorgeous jalli work found in havelli's...Alas, I no longer paint henna designs, though I do use the concept in my paintings sometimes...
This weekend while spring cleaning my home, I found some spare candles and my old Mehendi art book! I was now all excited to paint some henna designs on the candles. Couple of minutes later, I realized, I am so out of practice! My new goal for the next couple of months is to perfect my henna painting...
Until then, my first take on painting a simple henna design on a candle...
Ingredients:
Mehendi or a henna cone or make your own. I make my own..., Candles, Mod Podge (i love it!), a painting brush and some glue and some jewelry stones...and yes a toothpick...
I made my henna mixing - tea water + lemon juice. Noticed when i made the henna with only water, the henna did'nt come out dark..
Paint your design, very similar to how you paint henna on your hand...let it dry...
Glue in your jewelry...this is where you need those precious toothpicks...
Paint Mod Podge on the dried design gently, as if you painting a canvas...let it dry and lo behold! it dries to an absolutley translucent finish, giving it a lustre...and most importantly is a fabulous holdfast...I simply love Mod Podge (PS - watch out for some more mod podge DIY stuff...)
Ohhh lala...the finished product...
Did you like it? Adious until next week...
~Anpu
