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MAKING OF A TANJORE PAINTING
 Tanjore
painting is an exquisite art form, developed under
the Chola dynasty. The Tanjore school of paintings
dates back to the 16th century, however, only
a few existing paintings belong to that period.
Most of the paintings that exist today are not
even a hundred years old. These paintings are
known for their colors, intricate workmanship
and splendor. They have this touch of aristocracy
and a feel of the past because of their dazzling
embellishments. The material used for making these
paintings, namely, gold foils, pearls, semi-precious
stones and ornate dresses make them most sought
after, in places using traditional themes for
interiors. Tanjore Art paintings adoring any wall
enrich the ambience & add elegance & charm.
This highly complicated art involves several
processes; the board on which the work is done
has to be first prepared by the artist, the board
is built to last without losing its appearance.
Waterproof and anti-termite plywood is used for
the board, onto which the lining material is stuck.
A paste made of chalk powder and fevicol (tamarind
paste was used previously) is applied on the board,
Copper Sulphate is then added as a disinfectant.
Once that dries it is smoothened using sand paper,
and then the board is ready to be worked on.
 The
required sketch is traced on the board with pencil
and then the embossing takes place, this is done
to give the 3d effect. The material used for embossing
is a paste of chalk powder, raw limestone, Arabic
gum and water. The necessary areas are projected
using the brush and paste. In 4-5 hours, the skeletal
work is ready. Next comes the ornamental work;
semi-precious stones and glass pieces are stuck
to form garlands, jewels, etc.
It is in the detail-oriented decoration of the
Gods and Goddesses that the creativity of an artist
is demonstrated. Gold foils are used lavishly
to add to the opulence of these paintings. Finally,
dyes are used to add vibrant colors to the figures
in the paintings. Previously vegetable dyes were
used but now poster colours are being used as
a substitute. A beautiful frame made of teakwood
is then selected to compliment the painting.
Author : M Mekala
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