Usta Art Making Process
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MDF is cut and smoothened for a base of Usta art.
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Designs are hand-drawn or stencil is used on MDF surface.
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Chemical putty is used to emboss the design.
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Design after applying putty.
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White colour is applied as a base colour.
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Golden yellow colour is applied before applying gold foil.
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24-carat gold foil is used to highlight the embossing.
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Gold embossing.
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Black colour is used to outline the design.
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Colouring in process.
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Red colour is used to fill the design gap.
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The finished Usta art product.
The word Usta is derived from the Persian word ‘Ustad’. Ustad the word itself describe the excellence of a person in particular art. Usta is a professional caste of artists residing in Bikaner the city of Rajasthan, India. Mughal Emperors brought this art of golden painting and embossing to India from Iran. The art was on glorious heights in the 16th – 17th century.
Artist Mohammad Yasin Usta son of Usta artist Ahmed Bakhar Ji Usta. He learned the Usta art form from his uncle Shoukat Ji, father and forefathers. His ancestors practised Usta art for a long time in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Many different techniques are combined to make this unique art of Usta. Gold emboss work or Sunehri Munawwati Nakkashi work is completed in many stages. Surface Selection, Surface Preparation, Drawing / Template Pasting, Design Tracing, Base Colouring / aka "Akhbara", Embossing, Laying Yellow base coat for gold foil and Gold Leaf work are the steps followed while making Usta art.
For more details:
https://www.dsource.in/resource/usta-art
