Pichwai Wall Plate by Master Artsian Kuldeepak Soni
SIZE: 8 inch (diameter)
MEDIUM: Natural Colours on Handmade plate
MAKING OF THE PLATE: The base plate is a cotton canvas pasted onto a moulded plate using tamarind paste. A mixture of chalk powder and multani mitti is applied, dried, and smoothened with stone for a polished canvas. To prevent insect damage we use crushed neem leaves. With multiple layers of coating, drying, and finishing, the complete plate-making process spans three full days.
NATURAL COLOURS: Pink, made by blending Sindoor (red) with white and binding it with tree gum, brings softness to the lotus. Krishna’s blue hands, derived from the indigo plant, emerge gracefully. A muted grey background derived from mixing black (burnt wood or soot) and white (limestone), contrasts with gold-yellow lotus leaves made by mixing yellow earth (pili mitti). Each color undergoes a meticulous elaborate process of sourcing natural materials, cleaning, crushing, mixing with water and adding adhesives.
Melody of the Lotus
Master artisan Kuldeepak Soni brings this vision to life, blending music and nature into a mesmerizing work of art. At first glance, the plate is adorned with delicate lotus blooms, but a closer look reveals something truly divine. Krishna’s blue hands emerging gracefully from one of them, holding a flute with effortless charm. A peacock feather rests against the flute, adding to the sacred presence.
What makes this piece magical is the way Krishna’s music transforms the lotus stems. They bend, flutter, and sway as if lost in the rhythm, celebrating his divine melody. It captures a moment of harmony, where music, nature, and devotion come together in perfect balance.