Painting information:
Folded Palmleaves
Canvas -
4 layers of cotton cloth are taken and are used. Tamarind seed is prepared to form glue which binds the cotton together. On top of this a conch is rubbed with water to create the white colour. This white colour is then applied white a special glue (resin from a tree here in India). The white color and glue mixture are applied to the surface of the prepared canvas. Clove oil is used as a natural insect repellent.
Natural colors, mostly from earth, stone, flour and minerals are used to create the paints. These substances are all from India are mostly oil based but a small amount is acrylic. When the painting is completed it is steamed for 21-25 days (mostly 21 days) to set the colour, the longevity of the ground and to preserve the paintings. These paintings can sustain for 200-300 years depending on the care given. One must be mindful of moisture and smoke which creates the irreversible damage.
Silk -
The raw material silk comes from Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.
A very thin layer of the gum is applied to the silk to assist the colours in binding.
The colours used here are prepared by a Buddhist Monastery in Thailand. These colours are prepared over decades of years in the same manner that medicines may be prepared over hundreds of years which strengthens the potency and brilliance of the colour. The medium for these colours is water. Application of the paints on silk is the same as canvas. Some natural medicated oils are used in the steaming process which protects and preserves the paintings.
Palm Leaves -
This is challenging process that is dependent on a number of variables.
The raw leave is collected for the centre line of the leaf. There are two lines of the leaves that are used. The leaves are placed in mud for a lengthy period of time. They are brought out and cleaned before being set to dry. Neem leaf juice and clove oil are added to a medicated kasayam. The leaves are soaked in this mixture and placed in the ground for a lengthy period of time.
They are brought out and then, only in winter, the leaves are placed in an area that allows for the evening dew to be absorbed by each leave. Each morning the leaves are brought down to receive the tender sunlight. As evening approaches, the leaves are taken back to receive the moist dew once again. This process takes the entire winter season.
Once completed, the leaves are stitched together according to the interest of size and then they are cut down accordingly for the project.
When the work is done they are again steamed to preserve the painting. Each painting is a masterpiece that can stay up to 7 generations (700-800 years). Only the stitching needs to be replaced during this period.
