The Procedure

The creation of this painting involves a lot of dedication and several stages of meticulous work of art. The first and foremost step being the preparation of a board (wooden plank) for the painting. The paintings are done on unbleached cloth (treated with chalk powder and glue) fixed to a wooden board. Next, an appropriate drawing is traced on the treated board. This step is followed by ornamental work where semi-precious stones and glass pieces are stuck to form garlands, jewels, etc. The traced outline is then painted with a combination of chalk powder and gum arabica to create a three dimensional effect. It is in the detail-oriented decoration of the Gods and Goddesses that the creativity of an artist is demonstrated. Gold foils are then used lavishly to add to the opulence of these paintings. Finally, dyes are used to add vibrant colors to the figures in the paintings. A beautiful frame is then selected to accentuate the beauty of the painting.

Since precious stones and gold sheets are used in Tanjore paintings, the glass version of the painting has come into picture. In these glass painting the normal oil paints are used to get the same feel of the original tanjore paintings.