The common misunderstanding is that it takes a needle and colored thread that pierce through the fabric to generate imagery. Rogan defies this logic: the rod "pre-manipulates" the strand of color in the air to create intended motifs before it hits the fabric; the fingers under the fabric help shape the final form into the fabric. In this sense, there is a dialogue between the two hands.
Rogan art is produced by boiling castor oil for about two days and then adding vegetable pigments and a binding agent; the resulting paint is thick and shiny. The cloth that is painted or printed on is usually a dark color, which makes the intense colors stand out.
In Rogan painting, elaborate designs are produced freehand, by trailing thread-like strands of paint off of a stick. The majority of the time, half of a design is painted, then the cloth is folded in half, transferring a mirror image to the other half of the fabric. Yellow, blue and red is the most frequently used colors. In ancient times Persian alphabets were used as calligraphic motifs. Traditionally in India, floral and geometrical motifs are used in Rogan art. Rogan art is very well known for its Tree of life and happiness concept work. These motifs evoke a once-sublime culture and its understanding of beauty.
It is only when one witness the time, agility, and the utmost control required to draw a simple flower, that one begins to understand the virtuosity behind these highly intricate pieces such as the tree of life. "No drawings, no planning. It comes from the heart, to head, to hands."
Buy Rogan art stoles directly from the artisans. With every purchase of Rogan art stoles of yours, you empower an artisan.