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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
103 Method of painting :
The primed cloth depending upon the size of the picture, is either pasted on the ground which is smooth or hung from the ceiling with the help of large bamboos. The work starts from the top and is worked out going down gradually. In the case of large Pichhwais of Nathadwara, which are invariably 6' x 4' or 8' X 10' or even larger, the proportions of figures, landscape details and architecture are very important. The subjects of the Vaishnava Pichhwais are such that the composition is usually centralised. The main object of the theme is the centre and the rest of the scene is equally divided on either side. For this purpose, the painters have a unique technique of thread dusting. i.e. (soot-zadna) First the centre of the cloth is fixed by dividing it by two diagonals. The rest of the painting is done in proportion to its size. In case of smaller works only one painter can mark the measurements. In case of large cloth two persons are needed to hold the thread at one corner. The thread is smeared with black or brown powder (or rubbed over chalk stick), the thread picks up some quantity of colour. It is then lifted with left hand and its one end is put at a given point. Then it is stretched toward, another point, length wise or bredth wise. The thread is then gently plucked by the right hand like a bow string and left. The string drops down making a straight line on the cloth or paper. This method is then used where ever distance is to be measured and straight lines are to be drawn.
Traditional painter at work
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