Mastering the Techniques of Phad Painting: A Step-by-Step Guide

A well-known fact we have witnessed throughout history is that any art and craft can flourish under great patrons of such talents. Artists need both moral and financial support to enhance their craftsmanship. As Rajasthan is the land of royals, various arts and crafts have grown under the patronage of different kings. Phad Painting is one such art form that originated in Rajasthan in the 14th century.

Only a few artists are practicing and retaining the tradition of Phad art. However, they have been successful in popularizing this remarkable artwork in the present time. So, in this post, we will learn the techniques of Phad painting in a step-by-step guide.

What is Phad Painting?

Phad is a word that belongs to the local Rajasthani dialect, meaning a folded cloth or canvas used to create Phad paintings. It means Phad artists make this specific kind of painting on a long piece of cloth that they can fold at times. However, Some artists also use canvas for this painting.

Phad paintings depict a particular story of Gods and Goddesses that complement the dance and song performed by traveling folk singers. From this point of view, Phad arts act as moving temples that associate a tale of the Gods. This is the reason a Phad painting is always carried by priests or their wives.

A priest is the Bopa of the Rabri community who travels from one village to the other performing songs and dances, and his wife is the Bopi. They use the Phad paintings as visual aids to narrate religious stories while singing folk songs and playing the Ravanhatta, a two-musical stringed instrument.

The main focus of the Bopa performance is the tales of Pabuji and Devnarayan (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). Besides, they also include the Ramayana, Hanuman Chalisa, and other mythological stories in their performance.

Origin of Phad Painting:

The most significant name associated with Phad painting is the Pabuji. He was a Rajput Rathore leader, and locals used to worship him as the Ascetic Deity of the Sand Desert. So, the Phad paintings of Pabuji narrate the stories related to his deeds and life. This legendary person is believed to have lived in the 14th century.

The birth story of Pabuji takes us to the Kulu village of Rajasthan. There was a man named Dhadal Rathore in the village who was the father of four children, and one of them was Pabuji. He fought several battles for the sake of truth throughout his life. Pabuji was believed to have received a black horse as a gift from the local Goddess, Dhadal Rathore. The horse stayed with him forever during his fight for the truth. The Phad artists depict the courageous deeds and love stories of Pabuji with Princess Pulvati in their beautiful paintings.

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Techniques of Phad Paintings:

Phad painting is a customary form of scroll image originating from the northern state of Rajasthan in India. This type of painting depicts epic stories and tales related to folk Gods and Goddesses. We have narrated a step-by-step guide to the technique of Phad painting below:

Materials required in Phad paintings:

· Cloth or canvas: Traditional Phad artists create art on long scrolls of cloth or canvas. Before starting painting, they harden the cloth by using tamarind seed powder and Arabic gum.

· Brushes: Artists use different sizes of brushes for drawing the outlines, filling spaces, and detailing.

· Natural dyes or acrylic colors: Traditional Phad artists use natural colors derived from tree leaves, rice powder, turmeric, vermilion, etc. However, contemporary artists use acrylic paints, which are durable and easily available.

· Water bowls: For cleaning brushes, a water bowl is required.

· Color Palette: A conch shell palette with parts is used for mixing colors.

· Pencil, ruler, compass, and eraser: Artists create the basic sketch using a pencil and take accurate measurements using the ruler and compass.

· Gold or silver paint: Phad paintings are known for vibrant colors and gold and silver highlights.

Steps to follow in Phad paintings:

· Select your theme: Phad paintings usually illustrate epic tales and folklore. So your first step is to select a story or motif you would like to paint. Then do some research on what kind of details and symbolism will match your chosen design.

· Get your canvas ready: In case you are not using the traditional scrolls, attach the canvas or cloth to a frame. Otherwise, attach a cloth backing to the top and bottom of the cloth so that you can roll it.

· Draw the layout: Phad paintings have a precise design, with the major topic in the center surrounded by smaller elements and motifs. So, first, sketch the design using a pencil.

· Color the background: Generally, Phad paintings come with a red, yellow, or green background. So, first, dye the canvas or cloth using acrylic paint and let it dry to get the canvas with your preferred background color.

· Prepare your shades: Combine the colors to get your desired shades for different design components. Traditional Phad artists prefer naturally obtained dyes, but acrylic paints are a realistic option.

· Begin with drawing the shapes: Phad paintings are characterized by their bold, detailed outlines. Draw the main characters and various other elements of your design using black ink.

· Fill different parts with colors: Phad paintings are known for their vibrant and contrasting shades.

So, fill up the various sections of the design layout with appropriate colors. Use the suitable size of brushes for coloring and detail.

· Add details: Intricate detailing is the prime feature of traditional Phad paintings. So, once the background colors dry out, add elaborate details to the portrait. This is where an artist showcases his creative and artistic talents.

· Highlight with gold/silver paint: Highlighting with gold or silver paint gives a glimmer of classiness to the Phad art pieces.

· Let it dry: Once you complete your painting, make sure it is dried properly.

· Safeguard your painting: Every piece of Phad painting is exclusive for the artist’s precious time and skillful effort behind its creation. So, it is of utmost importance to shield your creation. For the scroll Phad paintings, provide a provision for hanging them, and for the framed paintings, give a protective coating to preserve them.

Conclusion

Phad paintings are attractive and detailed artwork from Rajasthan. It requires adequate practice to master this art. It’s again a modest concept to learn traditional Phad paintings to acquire a deeper understanding of the technique and its sophistication.