Tools and Raw Materials

Design Resource

Paintings of Thanjavur

Art of Painting with Gemstone

Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Shruti K. and Vijay G.

Tools and Raw Materials

Thanjavur painting is the richest craft of traditional India. The products are done by using the best quality raw materials and tools. The colors are painted using water colors to give the painting an elegant look. The painting is done on the base of the wooden Planck. To focus certain features of the painting natural golden stones are used to give the painting more lusters. Both traditional and modern types of painting are made according to the artisan’s imagination.

• Below are the tools and raw materials used:

Scissor: Used for cutting gold leaf to size.

Brush (anil vaal brush): Squirrel tail hair brush made by the artisan according to required thickness. Basic brush of different sizes are also used which are available in the market.

Colors: Poster colors and opaque water colors are used for painting.

Teak Wood: It is used to make the frame for the painting.

Glass: Glass is placed over painting to cover the painting.

Gold Leaf: A thin film of flattened gold used in the painting.

Chalk Powder: Chalk is used to make the paste, which is applied in the design.

Nunga Passe (gum): Gum from Palm tree locally called as nung passé is used to paste the gold leaf.

Emery Sheet: This sheet is used to smoothen the board after applying the chalk powder.

Gada Cloth: Gada is the cotton fabric which pasted on the wooden plank.

Palagai (wooden plank): It is used as a base for the painting.