The Journey of a Tanjore Painting
Tanjore paintings, when they originated, were made directly on wood, bark, palm-leaf or cloth. Originally natural pigments such as vegetable dyes and minerals were used. Today acrylic colors are the preferred medium.
A protective coating of natural resin was applied to preserve the art, when it first originated. Today, the paintings are encased in glass or acrylic sheet and duly framed in teak wood.
Tanjore art is unlike any other artform in the world, because it combines the painter's skill with the craft of "inlay" of rubies, emeralds and other semi-precious stones. It takes more than six to eight weeks to produce a single painting.
Step 1
"Preparing the Board"
The preparation of the board is done on an auspicious day. A thin white cotton cloth is stretched and pasted on the board with glue and allowed to dry. Applying four to five coats of chalk powder paste and smoothening the surface gives a soft wall-like finish to the board. This process is called Priming.
Drawing or carbon tracing the board theme on to the prepared board is the next stage. This ia gain done on an auspicious date and time. In the past, it was begin on a new moon and completed on a full moon day.
Step 2
"Maggu" Work
With a fine brush, a semi viscous mixture of chalk powder and gum paste, known as "Maggu", is evenly applied on sections that are meant to acquire a relief or 2D effect, such as the temple or palace domes, pillars, clothes of deities and jewelry.
Step 3
"Inlay"
Precious and semi-precious gems and stones such as, ruby, emerald, pearls and mirrors are carefully stuck on the jeweled areas such as the crown, the ornaments, the pedastal etc. This process of "inlay" or "relief" is always from the periphery to the center.
Step 4
"Gold Leafing"
24-carat Gold leaf is then cut into thin strips and pressed over the "maggu" to get the gilded effect. Thin black lines highlight the ornament designs that are etched in gold.
Wherever the precious stones are embedded, the gold leaf is now carefully cut and removed to display the stones with the inlay effect.
Step 5
"Painting"
All the figures of birds, animals and humans are now painted. Little ornate designs on garlands and acessories in the painting are drawn with intricate detail. The background color of the board is also added at this stage.
The faces of the deities are painted last. With deep concentration, the artist gives the final touch to the eyes, which then brings the painting to life, offers a prayer to bestow the owner of the painting with all auspiciousness and blessings.
After this, the painting is now ready to be framed.
