Sketchbook

1.C. Designing a Mehendi Henna Tattoo

Naseem Chaudry Creating a Mehendi Tattoo, photo, Cliff Winter 2008

Background:

Mehendi body tattooing in India is a traditional artform that has been common throughout most of the society. This form of ‘tattoo’ is an impermanent design stained on the skin with henna, a natural reddish-brown dye taken from a local plant. It has existed for centuries in India, as well as the Middle East, Asia and parts of Africa. It is used at celebrations like weddings, births, and other special occasions which are traditionally associated with transcendence and transformation. It is traditional for the bride, before the wedding ceremony, to be surrounded by her female family and friends who make and apply the henna in intricate designs. Often the groom’s name is hidden in the handiwork and he must find it before any post-nuptials can continue. The bride takes care of her henna because she is not expected to do housework until the henna wears off.

Indian designs encompass the feet and hands and may extend up the arms and legs. The designs themselves are characterized by ornate lines, flowers, leaves, paisley patterns, teardrops and occasionally human figures.

www. Mehindiworld.com

(Time: 1.5 hrs.)

Materials

Sketchbook paper
Pencil

Check out the Mehendi Henna Tattoo Picture Gallery (click here)

To check out more Mehendi designs, go to the following sites:

http://www.mehendiworld.com/moredesigns.htm

http://fatmamehendi.com/mehendibridal.html

http://magicalmehendi.ecrater.com

http://mehendiart.com/mehendi.html

For more information and sites google: “Mehendi Tattoo Designs”

You will be designing two henna tattoos. The first one will be a traditional Mehendi based design that you would like applied to your feet/ankles and hands/arms.

The second one would be a design for another person: choose a friend, boy/girlfriend, mother or father, grandmother, rock star, biker or banker. (This tattoo can be more modern, incorporating invented or borrowed images and symbols. It may also be on another area of the body.)

For both tattoos, decide what the special occasion would be (birthday, graduation, wedding, birth, coming of age: independence, etc.).

The Process:

Take a look at the examples of traditional Mehendi designs to begin to get ideas about what you would like.

Ask yourself:

4 Questions

1. What is the occasion?

2. Who is the tattoo for? What would suit his/her character the most?

3. Where is the tattoo going to be applied?

4. What size will you make the design? (Size needs to ‘fit’ or be proportionate to the area being tattooed.)

Design your tattoos:

1. Your Tattoo:

Type your answers to the 4 questions above in the edit box. You can open it by clicking in the "Note Section" at the bottom of this page. (Click only after you have finished the questions for 2. Tattoo Design for Someone Else.) Label it “My Mehendi Tattoo Design.

- Trace your hand and arm on a sheet of paper and the same with your foot and ankle

- Fill it in with the Mehendi design you would like to have applied.

2. Tattoo You Design For Someone Else:

Answer the 4 questions above, in the edit box, regarding the tattoo you are designing for someone else. Label it “Tattoo Design For (name/ relationship).” Explain why you decided on this design for this person

- Draw the area of the body the tattoo will appear on (real life size).

- Draw the tattoo design you have decided upon on the body area you’ve just sketched.

How to Submit Your Work:

When you are done, take a picture of each of your tattoo designs with a digital camera or scan them onto your computer. Compress the picture to less than 100 KB and save it as "Mehendi Tattoo" and "Tattoo for Someone Else." You will then need to go to the upload box below and browse for the file containing a picture of your sketch ("Indian Art Sketch"). Select the file and then upload it by clicking on the button. After you are done uploading the 2 tattoo designs and answering the 4 Questions (for each design) in the edit box, click on and then click on the following screen.

Evaluation Criteria:

Must See:

Mehendi Tattoo design (hand & arm or foot & leg)

Tattoo Design for Someone (identify place on body)

4 Questions answered for each tattoo design (edit box)

Student will demonstrate:

An understanding of some of the technical & design considerations necessary for successful tattoo design by: (1. Your Tattoo) · answering the questions fully	/ 2
· designing an attractive, well proportioned tattoo suiting yourself	/ 3
- An understanding of Mehendi Henna Tattoo design by designing a tattoo using traditional motifs	/ 4
An understanding of some of the technical & design considerations necessary for successful tattoo design by: (2. Tattoo You Design For Someone Else) - answering the questions fully	/ 2
· designing an attractive, well proportioned tattoo suiting a person/ client of your choosing	/ 3
· explaining why you chose this design for this person	/ 1

Total:/ 15

Refreshing Education & Winter © 2008