How did you think of making paintings from jute rope?Varsha Rishi 
I have tried my hand at various forms of paintings and calligraphy. I took to jute painting 10 years ago when I discovered it while shopping for curtain cloth. I bought a cream-coloured cloth and a jute rope, then painted the rope green and stitched it on to the cloth like a tree. It looked wonderful, so I decided to do this on canvas as well.
How has the response been?
Astounding. I didn’t know my hobby would find so many takers. Besides individual orders, I now get bulk orders of 15-20 paintings every month from building contractors who want to sell furnished homes.
How much investment is required?
Jute painting is not expensive at all. I invest between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per painting, which includes framing charges. One just needs canvas, oil, gold paint, brushes, glue and jute rope. However, it’s a time-consuming process. First, the canvas has to be painted, which takes nearly two days to dry. Then the rope is fixed on it, which takes about a week.
How much do the paintings cost?
There are no fixed charges as the size, effort and time involved determine the price. However, I retain a minimum 50% margin. My paintings cost Rs 3,000-10,000.
Do you customise the paintings?
Yes. I usually paint trees, but if someone comes up with specific requirements like lord Ganesha or horses, I do them too.
What are your future plans?
I plan to open a boutique to sell my work. I also want to make paintings from aluminium foil and newspaper clippings.
