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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