Paintings that evoke a rich past

Dubai resident does meenakari paintings on glass, and teaches the art to those interested


The picture gazing down at you reminds you of many things. It takes you back to the opulence of the Indian past where things were worth a second look only if they were gilt-edged. It reminds you of miniature Mughal paintings known for their mind-boggling attention to detail. And it holds a wee bit of a resemblance to traditional Tanjore paintings too. The picture in point is a meenakari painting on glass by Ritika Mirchandani.

A mother of two with a penchant for all things artistic, Ritika got back to her first love – craft – when she realised that time was hanging heavy on her hands. "I learnt this style of craft in India but I was taught to do it on wood. I put the same technique to use on glass and the results have been immensely satisfying. The picture acquires a brightness all its own owing to the canvas it is painted upon," she says.

For the past year and a half she has been teaching women and children of all ages. The only prequalification to learn is, in her words, "tons of patience".

No picture is complete without its frame. "I encourage students to learn how to make a jharoka that looks perfect as a frame for these meenakari paintings." Made from quick drying ceramic it takes a minimum of four classes to finish a medium-size jharoka.

"But you can opt for any size you like or even translate your skill to create picture frames that rest on your table." You can make a jharoka in any number of designs and I teach them to put down all variations on one piece itself so that they can experiment on their own after their mandatory four classes are over," says Ritika.