Tanjore Paintings ever green Paintings

Meet civil servant Sri M.Lokeswara Rao belongs to 1983 batch of Indian Forest Service(I.F.S.) who is practicing this ancient art Tanjore paintings for the past several years. When he was young he always sees and like the right of colors and glittering Tanjore paintings, he surprises how these colorful, glittering paintings were made. He determined to learn these paintings. He went to a teacher in Hyderabad and learnt the painting. After wards he developed different fine techniques by meeting people and surfing net. Now he is master in these paintings. Tanjore paintings are sought after paintings these days. Thanjore paintings basically signify paintings created using a style and technique, which originated in Thanjavur during the Maratha period in the 16th century.

He has done the big Tanjore painting Butter Krishna and Lakshmi sitting on lotus, other paintings in different sizes Unjal Krishna, Radha Krishna, Yashoda giving fruits to Krishna, Swing Krishna, Leaf Krishna Bhgavad Geeta, Krishna Geethopadesa. Saibaba etc. The most important famous cartoon movie character Alladin he has done in Tanjore style, “Alladin flying with Jasmine”. To give tribute to 70 years old famous cartoon character Tom and Jerry, he has painted “Tom and Jerry celebrating Christmas” in Tanjore style. At present he is working on four feet Balaji Tanjore painting.

He says Tanjore painting process is very laborious one need lots of patience, concentration and devotion. He does himself from preparation of board, fixing of stone, relief work, gold leaf fixing and finally painting. He says when he is doing paintings; he gets spiritual bliss and gets relief from stress.

A typical Thanjavur painting would consist of one main figure, a deity, with a well-rounded body and almond shaped eyes. This figure would be housed in an enclosure created by means of an arch, curtains etc. The painting would be made by the gilded and gem-set technique - a technique where gold leaves & sparkling stones are used to highlight certain aspects of the painting like ornaments, dresses etc. For outlines dark brown is usually used. Red is favoured for the background. Scholars say that a red background is the distinctive mark of Tanjore paintings, but green and blue are also sometimes used. Yellow is used for the Goddesses, Lord Vishnu, is coloured blue, and Lord Nataraja chalk white.

He is of opinion that this ancient art should be preserved and he wants to do these paintings till his last breath.