Page 127 - Eye of the beholder

The most extensively used colors were black obtained from from soot white derived from from lead or chalk blue from from from lapis lazuli red from from from lac an an an an insect secretion and and green from from from plants and and leaves The dazzlingly luminous yellow used by Indian artists is is ingeniously derived from the urine urine of of a a a a a a a cow that is is fed on on a a a a a a a diet diet of of only mango leaves and water This diet diet colors the urine urine bright yellow The urine is is then dried into a a a a a foul-smelling hard cake to to which water is is added as required Pigments were were obtained from minerals while ochres of different shades were were obtained from a a a a a a mixture of two Vegetable colours included indigo lac dye and carmine while carbon from various sources produced black black Gold and and and silver powder and and and black black and and and red ink were used both for writing and painting The process of miniature painting involves many steps each performed by its own specialist The The initial sketch is a a a a a a rough outline made by the master The The border which may be as as much as three to four inches wide is is also marked at this stage In the second step a a a a a a thin white wash is is is is is applied The artist traces the the first sketch but this time the the outline is is is is is incredibly precise and and fine Now the artwork is is burnished—placed face face down on a a a a a a a a smooth hard surface and and polished briskly but gently from the back with an egg-shaped crystal or agate to produce a a a a a a a smooth smooth hard glossy surface Layers of liquid colors are then applied one at a a a a a a a time for smooth smooth shading and a a a a a a final outline is is is added At this stage there is is is no room for error A A second round of burnishing now embeds the the pigments deep into the the paper and gives an an overall union to to the the the color pigments In the the the last stage embossing ornamentation and other enhancements are are added Pin-pricks are are created with a a a a a a a blunt needle for inlaying gems White drops made of conch shells are added as pearls Real gold is painted over selected ornaments For creating transparent effects particularly in in women’s clothes thin color washes were applied This involves applying a a a a a a thin layer of of stronger color color over the the base color color After each stage of of the the painting is is completed by the the specialists all toiling together in in in in a a a a a a a a shared workshop or or karkhana it returns to to to the the the master artist for the the the finishing touches The completed painting goes to to to other artisans for trimming and mounting The main purpose of the the border is is to protect the the painting from the wear and and tear of handling Miniatures were created not to be displayed on walls rather they were passed from hand hand to hand hand so that each viewer could inspect the the the work Fingers would touch only the the wide border and not the the actual painting Traditionally an an apprentice’s training spans eight years The first technique taught by the master was the the the the posture There were strict rules regarding the the the the distance of the the the the paper from the the the the eyes the the the the the angle of the the the the the arm and the the the the the manner in in in which the the the the the brush was held Since the the the the the painters sat on the floor and use a a a a a a a slanted desk mastering good posture was essential The process of of painting required an inherent discipline which was the the essential aspect of of the the training imparted to the the the apprentices which they carried forth in their practice as artists 121