Kinnala Art is a relatively unknown and ancient Indian art form dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. It comes from a village called Kinhal in the Koppal district of Karnataka, India.
Kinnal art form is a dying avocation with only 25 families in Kinhal village practicing the art of Kinnala. The lack of financial support, adequate training and economic viability is the reason that for the next generation of Kinnala artist families families looking for alternative reluctant to carry on this centuries’ old tradition.
1. Customers can place orders directly through WhatsApp using buttons provided by the integration.
2. Send a message to the seller on WhatsApp introducing yourself and specifying the product you're interested in purchasing.
3. Be clear and provide as much detail as possible about the product you want (size, color, quantity, etc.).
4. Ask if the product is available and confirm the price, including any additional charges like shipping fees or taxes.
5. Inquire about the accepted payment methods. Some sellers might prefer bank transfers, mobile payment apps, or specific online payment gateways.
Entirely handmade, the process of creating the Kinnal idol is very laborious. The wood used to make the toys is lightweight and soft used from a particular tree called “Ponki Marra” a tree that used to grow in and around the region in abundance. But now in short supply, the artisans have to scour the nearby forests to secure the precious wood now. First, the artist makes a rough sketch of the character on the wood and chisels to create an initial model. The next step is to apply a mixture of tamarind and pebble paste. The idol is now left to dry.
Once the rough idol is dry, the artist works on creating finer details and shapes. The size of the artefacts varies as per the orders received by the customers. In instances where the idol is large, the artist works on different components separately and then joins them together using a mixture made from brown tamarind seeds, wood powder and thin jute strands.
A paste of pebble powder and liquid gum is used as an adhesive for embossing patterns including jewellery, on the idols. Layers of cloth soaked in tamarind paste are applied to coat the figure. Post completion of the process, the idol is covered in white paint made using chalk powder after which colours made of natural materials are applied. Reds, green, blue, and yellow are common colours used in Kinnal arts.
In some artefacts, the artist uses a rare technique where they replace the use of fabric with fine beaten zinc mixed with herbs to apply onto the wood to produce a shiny shade of gold colour. A time-consuming and expensive process, this technique is practised only by a few families.
