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Deviousness `anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
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Sta.sh
A further question is, do you usually design patterns before you start drawing with the paste, or do you improvise right on the skin?
Compliments to your brother on his presentation of your work, by the way - he really knows what he's doing with light!
I use the henna easiest to get in Mauritius, it's available in every supermarket or small shop, and is a ready-mixed paste already in a cone and ready for use. You can see it here: [link] . It's just so much easier to find than the powder form, for me. However, there is no right or wrong henna to use for application to the hands. If you can find the paste, that's great; many of my friends use the powder, and all you have to do is mix it into a paste with either simple water, or tea, or add a few drops of lemon juice (a slightly acidic medium brings out the dye better). Some people I know crush the leaves from the tree themselves. Some brands are paler than others, unfortunately you have to try them to know.
No, I don't draw a pattern out on paper first. I can't do a design on a flat surface because I work with the curves on a hand (when I try to put the paper version onto the hand it just can never come out the same)... but that doesn't have to mean that this is how you should proceed. Sometimes I use other people's provided patterns and just adapt it to what I'm doing. It doesn't matter what you're practising on, really. Some learners use actual henna paste on a small flat mirror, that way you can wash it off easily. But you can just as easily use a thick pen on paper. Whatever works for you.