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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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