Pithora Paintings

The technique of Pithora Paintings

As stated above the colors of Pithora Paintings is prepared by mixing pigments with milk and liquor prepared from the auspicious Mahuda tree. However slowly the Pithora painters (or Lakharas, as they are called) are gravitating towards the fabric colors available in markets. Traditionally the brushes were prepared from chewing the ends of a bamboo sticks or a twig, but now the Rathwas and Bhils have started using modern brushes. The main colors used are yellow, indigo, orange, green, vermilion, red, ultramarine, black and silver

The Brushstrokes are bold and swift and some critics feel that little importance is given to detailing, but to most art connoisseurs it's the organic whole that makes this art for such a treat for the eyes

The themes of Pithora Paintings

The main theme of Pithora Paintings is the marriage of the deity Pithoro with Pithori . All around the divine couple all representatives of the universe are drawn-so we have the sun, the moon, stars, animals and plants dotting the paintings. Horses occupy a special place in the Pitora world for they are considered sacred. In fact most Pitora Paintings are easily identifiable because of the distinctive representation of horses. Cows, Bulls and minor deities also find place in this menagerie. One shouldn't forget that the philosophy of all tribal art is a very simple one that of seeing oneself as a part of the universe and Pithora Paintings ably projects that philosophy.

Pithora Paintings in the Modern World

Like most tribal arts of India Pithora paintings too have caught the fancy of art lovers around the world. However the true proponents of this exotic art fear that rampant commercialization will lead to trivializing the ritual that is called Pithora Paintings, but the art lover in us can hopefully assure them that their art of sanctity will get its due respect.