The Story of a Tanjore Painting

The Art Behind Tanjore Painting

The making of a Tanjore painting is not just an art process — it’s a journey of devotion and patience. Every stage, from board preparation to framing, reflects the artist’s reverence and craftsmanship. It is a celebration of tradition, beauty, and spirituality that continues to shine through the centuries.

1. Preparing the Board

Every masterpiece starts with a strong foundation. A smooth wooden plank, often made of teak or plywood, is carefully chosen. Over it, a piece of cotton cloth is pasted using a thin layer of adhesive. Once dried, a special chalk paste made from limestone and Arabic gum is spread evenly on the surface. After several coats and careful drying, the board is rubbed with fine emery paper until it feels smooth like marble — ready to receive the artist’s imagination.

2. Sketching the Base Design

With a sharpened pencil, the artist gently sketches the outline of the divine figure — perhaps Lord Krishna playing his flute or Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus. Each line is drawn with devotion and precision, for this sketch will guide every step that follows. The figures are balanced with graceful proportions, reflecting both spirituality and symmetry.

3. Embedding Stones and Relief Work

Next comes the stage that brings life and texture. Tiny semi-precious stones and beads are embedded at key points — on crowns, jewelry, or ornaments — to mark where light will dance later. Over this, the artist uses chalk paste once more to create relief work, raising patterns and contours that give the painting its distinctive 3D appearance. The surface slowly transforms into a landscape of sacred relief — rich, ornate, and full of promise.

4. Base Fill and Design Fill

Once the raised work is dry, the artist begins to fill the base with earthy tones. The background — usually deep red, green, or blue — is painted to contrast beautifully with the golden highlights to come. The design areas, such as the garments, ornaments, and architecture, are carefully filled with intricate colors, each symbolizing meaning — red for power, green for prosperity, blue for divinity.

5. Applying the Gold Foil

This is the most magical moment. Thin sheets of 24-carat gold foil are delicately placed over the relief areas using a light adhesive. The artist smooths the foil gently with cotton, revealing the contours beneath. When the excess foil is brushed away, the painting glows with divine brilliance. The gold, unbroken and luminous, catches every flicker of light, making the deities appear celestial.

6. The Final Painting

With the gold work complete, the artist moves on to the painting of the faces, hands, and expressions. Using natural pigments and fine brushes, divine features are carefully brought to life — serene eyes, gentle smiles, graceful gestures. The surrounding motifs — flowers, pillars, and thrones — are detailed with loving care. Every stroke is a prayer, every hue a hymn.

7. Framing the Masterpiece

Finally, the painting is mounted on a rich wooden frame — often carved and polished to match the regal theme. Once framed, the artwork stands complete — a Tanjore painting, glowing with gold, faith, and heritage. What began as a simple board has now become a sacred treasure, ready to adorn a temple or a home altar.