Phad painting is a scroll painting depicting folk deities, heroic tales, and religious stories which originated over 700 years ago in Rajasthan. It is primarily associated with the Joshi community. It was traditionally used as a storytelling medium for religious epics like Pabuji ki Phad and Devnarayan ki Phad. Phad painting ais often used in performances by storytellers (Bhopas).
The artist prepares a long piece of cloth or canvas by soaking it in starch. Outlines are drawn with natural black dye, and colors are filled in bright, earthy tones. Faces and figures are painted in profile, with bold outlines and expressive details. Finished scrolls are carried for performances and storytelling.
The materials used are starched canvas or cloth as the base, natural colors (orange, green, blue, yellow, and black) applied with the help of brushes made of animal hair or bamboo sticks.
Phad painting is known for its sequential composition depicting scenes like chapters in a story, the use of earthy and bright tones with bold outlines and the depiction of figures with large expressive eyes.
