Rustic Trail

At Rustic Trail we undertake orders and also stock framed Tanjore paintings. Using as many traditional methods we start from scratch making the boards and coating them the traditional way. Our paintings are all done here in the US with supplies from India and also local materials. These paintings are great as gifts and last a lifetime. Do contact us for any custom orders, it would be a pleasure, as we enjoy the process as much as you will the end product!

Tanjore paintings, a traditional South Indian art form that originated around the 16 th century AD in The town of Thanjavur under the patronage of the Nayaks dynasty. Using Hindu gods as their main theme these gilded paintings were elaborately depicted on wooden boards, made mainly of jackfruit wood. There is a detailed process that goes into the making of these pieces of art. The boards are first pasted with cloth, which is then repeatedly coated with a liquid paste of Arabic gum and chalk powder. Once this is dry a basic sketch of the subject is made on the board. Originally precious stones like rubies, emeralds, sapphires were used to adorn the paintings. That has now been replaced win semi precious stones sourced from Rajasthan. An embossed, 3D effect on the jewellery, clothing and background is achieved using a paste of Arabic gum, chalk powder and water in required quantities. Cone work has replaced traditional method for intricate patterns on the subject. The stoned are carved out from under the chalk coating once dry and this gives an engraved effect. 22k gold foil is delicately pasted on the required areas and then cut to expose the gemstones. As a final step the subjects are painted and the art work is framed using teak wood frames or sometimes using ornate frames. Baby Krishna with his cherubic looks is a favorite with artists though other gods are popularily used.