The Art of Pattachitra

Considering the medium, the paintings of Odisha can be divided into three categories, i.e; painting on cloth or canvas is known as 'Patta Chitra’, paintings on walls is called 'Bhitti Chitra' and painting on palm leaf where art is engraved with a sharply pointed slender piece of metal, namely 'Lekhani’, is called 'TalaPatra Chitra' or 'Pothi Chitra’. Pattachitra represents a vigorous style of dexterous play of bold lines and bright hues which is quite captivating to the eyes. This article will demonstrate a brief idea of making of a Pattachitra. Here we go!

Step -1: Preparation of Canvas

The process of painting Pattachitra begins with the preparation of canvas. Traditionally, cotton canvas was used, but now most of the Chitrakaras (Artists of Odisha) use silk cloths since they are much softer than the cotton.

• First of all, the cloth is dipped in a solution of crushed tamarind seeds and water for 4-5 days.
• The cloth is then sun dried.
• After being dried, both side of the cloth is layered with a paste of chalk powder, tamarind and gum.
• It is again sun dried.
• After drying completely, Khaddar stone is rubbed on it to make the canvas smoothened.
• Thereafter a specific kind of smooth stone is rubbed on it to make the canvas shine.

Step -2: Preparation of colours

The artists create a variety of colors from natural elements though now-a-days synthetic primary colors are used to produce a set of secondary and tertiary colors.

• White colour is prepared by grinding mollusc and conch shells.
• A stone called Haritala is used for yellow.
• Blue is prepared from indigo extract.
• Black is obtained by burning the coconut shells or from the lamp black.
• Red oxide stone is used for red color

Step 3: Borders are drawn along the four sides of the canvas.

Bordering a canvas gives a perfect look to the entire art. Border may contain two or three lines according to their size. Later the border too acquire a colorful appearance though the detailed work of the artist.

Step 4: Outlines of the figures are drawn with pencil.

The typical name of the procedure is called 'Tipanā' (ଟିପଣା), which implies the the process of making a well-defined skeletal sketch on the canvas.

Step 5 : Then starts the play of hues.

Coloring the Pattachitra accommodates various steps.

• First step is 'Hingula Banaka’(ହିଙ୍ଗୁଳା ବନକ), which means filling with red since traditionally red is used for the background of Pattachitra. This step alludes the filling colours to the background, anyway.
• Secondly 'Luga Pindha' (ଲୁଗା ପିନ୍ଧା), i.e; coloring the attire, is done.The body colors are then added followed by coloring of attires.
• Then comes 'Gahana Lagi' (ଗହଣା ଲାଗି). It involves the coloring of ornaments in chrome yellow shade. Artist paints some of the ornaments with whitish yellow to render pearl-studded appearance and the other with yellow for gold.

Step 6: Detailing process.

During detailing process, first thick outlines are drawn, namely 'Mota Kala' (ମୋଟା କଳା) and then finer detailings are done, called 'Saru Kala’(ସରୁ କଳା).

Step 7: The final step is 'Gahana Kuta' (ଗହଣା କୁଟା).

It involves finer detailing on the ornaments. Artist of earlier time used gold foil during the procedure. One can use fluorescent color to add the fine decorative features to the Pattachitra. (Photo courtesy: Prateek Pattanaik – Medium: https://medium.com › @pattaprateek)

Here ends the step-by-step demonstrations on how to make a Pattachitra. This Pattachitra, portraying the scenario of Krishna-Leela, is prepared by the artist from an artshop of Bhubaneswar (Odisha) who has put forth the details of this entire process of Pattachitra making.

Tips💡

If you are a beginner, you need not to be worried for the above method of preparation of colors. You can simply buy synthetic colors available at market and can get different shades of colors by mixing those primary colors with each other, i.e; combination of red and white gives pink.