Art and crafts of North-East

Northeast India is the home of a large number of tribes and sub-tribes. They have a vigorous craft tradition and every tribe excels in craftsmanship: this excellence manifests itself in the various products its member’s produces. The main art and crafts of each state of Northeast India are given below:

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh has a vibrant craft tradition and every tribe excels at craftsmanship and their excellence manifests itself in the various products its member’s produces. The ambit of crafts includes- carpet making, masks, painted wood vessels, bamboo and cane crafts, weaving, woodcarvings, jewellery and other miscellaneous crafts. This includes- hand made pottery, brass cutting, silver works etc. they also make numerous articles with goat hair, ivory, boar’s tusks, beads of agate, and other stones as well as of brass and glass.

Assam

Assam is predominantly agricultural and her people have excelled in a rich variety of arts and crafts. The panorama encompasses handloom weaving, cane and bamboo works, sitalpith, brass and bell metal works, ivory, wood-work, sholapith, pottery and fiber craft. Handloom weaving comprises the culture of endi, muga and mulberry silk.

Manipur

Manipur has contributed to the richness and variety of Indian culture with its peculiar blend of tribal traditions and Vaishnavism. Of the numerous colourful crafts of Manipur, special mention may be made of their textiles, strong bell metal bowls, cane and bamboo and mats made of spongy reeds. Manipur is also well known for its gold and gold plated jewellery- earrings, necklace, armlets and bracelets. Beautiful dolls and toys of straw and clay are also made in Manipur.

Meghalaya

Meghalaya is known for various art and crafts. Cane and bamboo holds a prime place. Artistic textile weaving and woodcarving is practiced in Garo hills. Silk weaving of Endi silk is very famous. Carpet weaving, ornaments, musical instruments are other especialities. But the unique craft of this state is Pineapple fiber articles a in which fiber from its leaves is utilized for making various types of nets, bags and purses. Meghalaya is culturally very rich in the area of dance and music. The different types of dances are Nohkjot, Mastieh, Shad wait, Shadynti etc.

Mizoram

There are a number of craftsman and skilled artisans among the mizos. Their significant crafts include- weaving, bamboo and cane craft, pipes, jewellery and musical instruments. Weaving is an integral part of Mizo culture. Bamboo and cane works are equally of importance in Mizoram.

Bamboo Work

Tripura

Tripura has a large population of tribals, thus has a tradition of different kinds of crafts. Handloom is the most important craft of the state. The main feature of Tripura handloom is vertical and horizontal stripes with scattered embroidery in different colours. It is followed by cane and bamboo craft. Popular handicraft items are bamboo screens, lamp stands, tablemats, sitalpati, woodcarving, silver ornaments and other crafts that are practiced. Simplicity is the hallmark of brass and bell metal articles provided in Tripura.

Wood Carvings

Struggle of artists: Artists often find time management challenging because they are so passionate about their work. They can easily get lost in their art and forget the outside world. This can lead to them missing deadlines or not having enough time to complete a project.

There are a few things that artists can do to overcome this challenge. First, they can try to set realistic goals for themselves and their art. This will help them to stay on track and not get lost in their work. Second, they can set aside specific times to work on their art and marketing, and business efforts and stick to those schedules. This will help them be more productive and ensure they use their time wisely. Finally, they can reach out to others for help when feeling overwhelmed. This can provide them with support and accountability to help them stay on track.

Some of the common challenges they faced by artists are:

1. Finding aspirations

2. Keeping up with the talent

3. Self-trust

4. No-response

5. No sale plans

Why artists face struggle?

The creative process is often riddled with self-doubt and insecurities, which can take a toll on the emotional well-being of struggling artists. The constant fear of not being good enough or having their work criticized can lead to anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy.

As an artist myself,

The time I spend creating my art pieces and sketches is one that I value the most. It’s the moment when I am on cloud nine, when my heart and mind are filled with serene thoughts and I have a little smile on my face. Whatever art we make, it comes from within ourselves. Art one of the things that keeps me determined to reach the end and achieve perfection in my work. My love for art keeps me tied to the chair allowing me to get up only when I have finished what I started. We do not add colors to a picture, we play with colors and with them we forget all our sorrows making it our happy place. This is why we are able to maintain patience and complete something beautiful at the end of the day. To worshio and thank my this blessed skill of art I always keep a copy of my sketches with me reminding myself how grateful I am to have this ability to create something beautiful.