Thangka is a traditional scroll painting depicting Buddhist deities, spiritual scenes, mandalas, and narratives from Buddha’s life. It serves as a medium for meditation and teaching. Thangka paintings have their roots in Tibetan Buddhism and flourished in Sikkim around the 8th century CE with the spread of Buddhist teachings in the region.
The artist prepares the canvas using stretched cotton or silk, coated with a mixture of chalk powder and glue. The outline is meticulously drawn using proportional grids to maintain precision. Colors derived from minerals and plants are applied, starting with lighter shades and progressing to darker ones. Details like gold embellishments are added for ornamentation and depth. The brushes used are made of animal fur.
