Colour Making Process: Extracting Gum from Wood Apple

Swarna Chitrakar

Banglanatak
Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Patachitra artists not only extract the colours naturally, but also the gum. The gum from wood apple works as a natural adhesive and helps to retain the colour for a longer period of time.

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Details

Title: Colour Making Process: Extracting Gum from Wood Apple
Creator: Swarna Chitrakar
Date Created: 2018
Location: Paschim Medinipur
Subject Keywords: Crafts, Patachitra, Scroll Painting, Craftspersons, Artists, Bengal, Geographical Indication, Natural Colours
Rights: Banglanatak.com
About the craft: Patachitra of Bengal is a tradition of visual storytelling. Stories are painted on long scrolls by the painters known as Chitrakars who gradually unfurl them while singing the stories. Patachitra is known for its bold colours, lines and strokes. The songs are called Pater Gaan. One of the fascinating aspects of Patachitra is the use of natural colours derived from local sources like fruits and flowers. The Patuas paint and sing on various themes like mythological tales, historical and contemporary themes and social issues.