What is the feature of Thangka paintings?

 

Thangka paintings:

Thangka paintings are spiritual pieces of art used for worship in monasteries. The traditional Tibetan meditation frames are known as thangkas. They are mainly images of gods and other religious entities painted on cotton or linen, and they frequently depict spiritual or historical events. Making a thangka and staring at one are both seen as kinds of meditation, just like with mandalas. To lose oneself in a thangka is the idea, not to express oneself. Historically, they have never been purchased or sold. You can buy these original Thangka paintings online. 

Features Of Thangka Paintings:

Thangka has traditionally been recognized as the jewels of the Tibetan people due to their particular ethnic quality, deep religious connotations, and distinctive creative style. Though there are many different styles and materials for thangkas, canvas and paper are the most common. Additionally, there are applique thangkas made of embroidered, brocade, tapestry, and other materials. Some were even exquisitely embellished with gold beads. The thangka painting is the wonder of Tibetan culture, having influenced people for more than thousands of years. There are online platforms that have Thangka paintings for sale. 

• The contents of a thangka range widely. Tibetan history and ethnic customs are reflected in both numerous Buddha and art. A strict composition, rich, diversified, balanced, and primarily based on line drawing are all characteristics of thangkas.

• Thangkas are bright in color. There are four major types of the Thangka. Wide range of species, including needlework, tapestry, decal, pearl thangka, and others in addition to printed thangka and thangka paintings.

• Stitches with colored silk and thangkas are embroidered. It is possible to embroider the scenes, people, flowers, feathers, pavilions, and more. 

• A type of "Duixiu" is a brocade thangka.

• A colorful stain that has been carved into a variety of characters and images and pasted on fabric is an applique thangka.

• In Tibet, thangkas are typically the focal point of Buddhist religious rituals. Before being transported, they are mounted on a brace and rolled between two sticks. Some enormous ones are designed to be unfurled annually during festivals. A thangka that took fifteen months to complete was one hundred fifteen feet broad, forty-eight feet high, and weighed more than three tonnes.

• Thangka consists of painted or embroidered picture panels, over which a textile is mounted unlikely other flat oil and acrylic paintings.

• Thangkas generally hung in temples or homes. It usually had embroidered edges.

Four main types of Thangkas:

Abroiderd thangkas, applique Thangkas, Lacquered Thangkas, Precious bead Thangkas. If you want to purchase antique Tibetan thangkas, search for a good online platform or an antique shop.

Thangka images have 11 categories: 

• mandalas, 

• Tsokshing (Assembly Trees),

• Tathagata Buddhas, 

• Patriarchs,

• Avalokiteshvara

• Buddha-Mother and female Bodhisattvas

• tutelary deities, 

• dharma-protecting deities,

• Arhats. and 

• wrathful deities

• Bodhisattvas. 

History of Tibetan Thangka art :

The Tibetan Thangka is a Nepalese art form that was allegedly transferred to Tibet in the 7th century by a princess Bhrikuti OF Nepal, the wife of Songstan Gampo and the daughter of King Lichchavi.

Although the art form was born in Nepal, it most likely arrived considerably later than the 7th century.

Buddhism was originally introduced to Tibet as a court religion in the seventh century. The reform of Buddhist rites did not, however, win widespread acceptance until the early eleventh century, when Tibetan Buddhist professors went to India to study at the great monasteries and well-known Buddhist teachers were invited to Tibet. 

However, Tibet's art, which flourished from the early fourteenth to the early fifteenth centuries, was more influential than Nepal's art during the eighth through the twelfth centuries. Tibet's art was greatly influenced by Nepalese art from the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries. The Tibetans used aspects from China, India, and Nepal to create their distinctive style starting in the fifteenth century.

Making  A Thangka:

Making the Thangka is a very long and hard-working process. It takes several months to complete a Thangka painting. You can find an antique Tibetan Thangka for sale in museums or on online platforms.

Picking the canvas: The canvas is typically white, neither too thick nor too hard to prevent the paint from peeling and wrinkle-cracking. Pure white poplin or cotton fabric with a fine texture makes for the best canvas. Only two pieces of canvas can be used to put together some of the larger tangka pieces.

Secured the canvas: The canvas is secured by sewing it to a wooden frame. The canvas should be tightly fastened to a fine wooden frame. The frame should then be firmly fastened to a strong rope using a strong rope.

Adhesive and smoothing: As a base color, the adhesive is applied to the canvas and dried in the fresh air. The lime paste is also applied in a thin layer after this. After the lime paste is also dried, the frame is put on a table or plank or a smooth surface and rubbed until the cloth on the canvas is out of sight with a piece of glass, a boulder, or a shell.

Accurate direction: after this canvas’s direction is adjusted horizontally and vertically. 

Draw the lines: Draw the primary positioning lines, including the sidelines, two diagonal lines, the centre vertical lines, and any other shapes you want to define.

Draw the sketch: Using charcoal to draw the sketch of buddha is called a "white painting" and after that ink is used to draw ink lines and called a "black painting".

Paint: The relevant colors are added to the various scenes in the image in accordance with the various scenes. Just one color at a time, lightly first, dark second. When decorating Buddha statues, draw the lotus pond first, then the decorations, and lastly, the Buddha's body. Start with a light color when drawing a backdrop, followed by a dark one.

Outlining: After all these "Gold paintings" are done to the painting. "Gold painting"  is the use of gold color to draw the patterns.

Drawing of the face: Drawing the face is the last part of the painting. It is the most important part of the whole procedure. Whether the painting is good or bad depends upon the face of the painting. Traditionally, choosing a good day to draw the face is a must.

CONCLUSION:

The traditional Tibetan meditation frames are known as thangkas. They are mainly images of gods and other religious entities painted on cotton or linen. There are four major types of Thangka, including needlework, tapestry, decal, pearl Thangka, and more.