Rajasthan has carved a niche for itself in the arena of painting. ajasthan's fascinating miniature paintings are renowned the world over.

Minature Painting

From the 16th century onwards, various schools of painting flourished in Rajasthan - the Mewar School, Bundi - Kota Kalam, Bikaner, Jaipur, Marwar and Kishangarh Schools. Each school having an inimitable and distinctive style.

These medieval miniature paintings vividly render hills, valleys. gardens, palaces, court scenes, deserts and religious processions. Themes from Ramayana, Krishna Lila, Choura Panchasika, Ragamala series and the Gita Govinda were commonly used. The colours used by the artists were made from minerals, vegetables, precious stones, conch shells, pure gold and silver. And it took as long as several months to prepare the colours. It is believed that miniature paintings were being made in Rajasthan in the early 16th century and later on the artists were employed by the Mughal court.

Rajput miniatures which flourished under princely patronage are being reproduced even today, by descendants of the original craftsmen. Although several innovations have taken place in the paintings, their classical element and aura continues.

Families engaged in miniature paintings survive in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Kishangarh and continue to paint fine works of art on hand - made paper.

MURALSAll over Rajasthan, one can see brightly coloured murals. These murals, done in the folk art style, depict processions, battles and folk deities. The murals in the palaces of Bikaner, Udaipur and Bundi are classical works of art and have been rendered in the miniature style.

The frescoes of Shekhawati are world renowned and the region is popularly termed as an 'Open-Air Art Gallery.

Phad Paintings

Phad paintings, depicting the life of Pabuji a local hero, now deified are predominantly red and green coloured long scrolls carried by the Bhopas. They are unfurled by these itinerant balladeers of Rajasthan, who, narrate in song the legend of Pabuji on auspicious occasions to the accompaniment of the folk instrument 'Ravanhatta.

Made by the Joshis of Shahpur, near Bhilwara, Phads are now also available in smaller panels portraying single incidents or characters from the epic.

Pichwai Paintings

The Pichwais are cloth paintings hung in temples. These Pichwais depicting Lord Krishna, as Shrinathji in different moods, are hung behind his image in the temple and changed according to the season. Done in dark rich hues on rough hand-spun cloth, they have deep religious roots and are devotionally rendered by the painters. Today, Pichwais are being painted in Udaipur and Nathdwara.

Mandana

It is the folk craft of decorating houses. Red sand and chalk powder are used to make designs on floorsand walls. This art is quite popular in the rural areas of Rajasthan. Different types of square, rectangular and floral designs are made, suiting the particular season or festival. Several Mandana motifs have started appearing on block-printed textiles also.