In this section, we will discuss about the materials needed to make Tanjore Paintings. This could very well be the welcome kit for beginners
We have already discussed in our previous blogs how Tanjore Paintings are made in general using this Step by step illustration of Tanjore painting. To make it more useful for the users, we are adding this article so that you can try making Tanjore Paintings yourself. We believe that this will serve as a starting point for beginners.
- Plywood
- Canvas
- Jaipur Stones - Sizes and shapes as needed
- Arabic gum
- Chalk Powder for muck preparation
- 22 carat Gold foil
- Poster Colors
- Brush Set
Best Practices
We just saw the Materials needed for making Tanjore Paintings which is enough for knowledge purpose. But if you want to make authentic Tanjore Paintings, you need to also know the best practices need to be followed for the longevity of the painting you intend to make.
Following table provides you just that. We have classified the best practices and the quality of materials that need to be avoided
| Materials | Best Practices | Don’t use | |
| 1 | Plywood |
| Regular non-waterproof plywood, MDF, Hardboards to be completely avoided |
| 2 | Canvas | Cotton cloth | Make sure that there is no mix of synthetic material |
| 3 | Jaipur Stones | Glass stones | Don’t use plastic stones meant for fabric materials |
| 4 | Arabic gum | Use high quality crystals meant for Tanjore Paintings | Powder form of Arabic gum is not preferable as they might contain impurities |
| 5 | Chalk Powder | Use high grade French chalk powder meant for Tanjore Paintings | If it is not pure white, try to avoid it as calcium content could be less |
| 6 | Gold foil | Buy 22 Carat Gold Foil from authentic suppliers who are trust worthy | Avoid synthetic foil which would fade after sometime. Some vendors supply synthetic gold foil claiming to be real Gold foil |
| 7 | Poster Colors | Camlin Poster colour is preferable | Avoid Oil colours or fabric colours for the skin of Gods/ Goddesses |
| 8 | Brush Set | Buy art brushes meant for Tanjore paintings | Avoid synthetic bristles that are hard and makes the drawing tough |
- If you wish to buy any of the authentic materials, you can place order through the link: Buy Tanjore Painting Materials onlineOnce the painting is made, it could be framed with a regular teak wood frame or a Chettinad type frame. Some might want acrylic frame that have golden strip to make it look modern. You can also order frames from us - Buy Wooden Frames
- And finally, if you want to know the tips, tricks and secrets of making a masterpiece Tanjore Painting, Sign Up using the below button and get periodic updates and videos on our Free online Tanjore Painting learning videos and articles. Even better, you will also get discount coupons which you could use for purchasing the materials