A personal journey from hand-drawn sketches on handmade paper to animating history with artificial intelligence.
There is something profoundly beautiful about the traditional art styles of Sri Lanka. The intricate patterns, the flowing lines—they tell a story that is centuries old.
For years, I have been obsessed with these unique Sri Lankan motifs. I found myself constantly drawn to patterns like the liyawel (traditional cane or vine creepers) and the distinct four-petal flower designs found in ancient temple paintings and carvings. This obsession eventually led me to pick up a pen and try to replicate that magic myself.
The Analog Beginning: Pen, Paint, and Paper
Long before “AI” became a thing, I started a project to create notebooks for my doodles. So I thought why not sell those. Once of the design I did was this Kandian dancers. I created a line art drawing featuring traditional Kandian dancers surrounded by these swirling Kandyan era patterns.
The process was deeply tactile and satisfying. I took my original line art, scanned it, and printed it onto textured handmade paper. Using fine Micron pens for detailed line work and acrylic paints for vibrant colour, I brought the drawings to life physically. These pieces became covers for handmade notebooks I created. I was so enamoured with the designs—and thankfully, others were too, as I even sold a few.
For a long time, that was the finished product: a tangible, beautiful piece of stationery.
The Digital Awakening: A “Harry Potter” Moment
Fast forward to today. We are living through a massive shift in creative tools. AI has entered the market, and I began wondering: Could I bring my hand-drawn creations to life in a new way?
I had tried using AI tools in the past to animate my sketches, but honestly, I failed. The technology wasn’t there yet. But recently, looking at the advancements in generative AI, it felt like the perfect time to try again—to create that “Harry Potter” style magic where pictures move on the page.
I started small. I tested a simple sketch to see if the current tools could handle my art style. The results were amazing. It was time to revisit my Kandyan dancers.
The Workflow: Collaborating with AI
This is the educational part of the journey—how to take a static drawing and make it move. It wasn’t a one-click process; it required trial and error across different platforms.
Step 1: Enhancing the Base Image (Gemini vs. Grok)
My first goal was to take my scanned drawing and create a high-quality, “photo-realistic” version of it (but still retaining the art feel, not an actual photograph).
- I initially tried Grok. While powerful, it didn’t quite capture the aesthetic I was looking for in the static image.
- I switched to Gemini. With a few prompt adjustments, Gemini did an excellent job of interpreting my line art and coloring, giving me the perfect high-resolution base image to work with.
Step 2: Bringing it to Life (Grok)
Once I had the perfect static image from Gemini, I needed animation. For video generation, I went back to Grok (they currently offer a very generous daily allowance for video creation for pro users, which is great for experimentation).
- The Challenge of Over-Animation: My initial vision was grandiose. I wanted the liyawel swirls and the flower petals to glow and pulse with light. However, in execution, it was too much. The animation became distracting and unsettling.
- The Solution: I scaled back. I decided to focus the animation solely on the dancers, letting the intricate background remain static. This created a much better focal point.
Serendipity in the Prompt: The Happy Accident
Working with AI is sometimes like collaborating with an unpredictable partner.
My original drawing only featured male dancers. However, during one of my video generation prompts, the AI interpreted the request differently and morphed the figures into female dancers.
It was like a gift from heaven. I hadn’t intended to draw female dancers, but the result was stunning. I didn’t even have to lift a pen. I embraced this “mistake” and ended up creating a separate video clip featuring the female dancers as well.
The Final Result: Art in Your Pocket
Cultural Context: A Note on Kandyan Dance
Before you download the wallpaper, it is valuable to understand the deep history behind the art.
The figures in my drawing are inspired by Kandian Dance (Udarata Natum), the most prominent classical dance form of Sri Lanka.
Originating in the central hill country of Kandy, this dance form is highly sophisticated and energetic.
Historically, it is linked to ancient rituals known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which were performed by Indian shamans to cure a king of a mysterious illness. Over centuries, these ritualistic movements evolved into the spectacular performance art we see today.
Kandyan dance is characterized by dynamic bodily movements, complex rhythms beat out on the traditional Geta Beraya (drum), and, most notably, the elaborate costume of the male dancer. The most striking feature is the Ves Tattuwa, the magnificent silver headgear that symbolizes the sun’s rays, traditionally worn only after a dancer completes years of rigorous training and a special graduation ceremony (Ves Mangalya).
