Rajasthan Gemstone Painting

Rajasthanis have formulated their unique styles of painting using the resources easily available in the state. Gemstone painting is a 200 year old art form developed in Rajasthan which emphasizes the usage of colors derived from natural gemstones to create vivid and colorful designs. This art form uses the precious stones and their blazing hues as a natural palette.

This style of painting is aided by the fact that the state of Rajasthan is a natural repository of precious and semiprecious stones. Jaipur is especially renowned for this form of art and painting. Beautiful Rajasthani women, deities and Mughal court scenes are the main themes of Rajasthani Gemstone Paintings.

Agate, Amethysts, Blood-stones, Blue and yellow sapphires, Carnelian, Citrine, Crystal, Emerald, Garnet, Jade, Jasper, Lapis-lazuli, Malachite, Pearl, Peridot, Ruby and Tourmaline are mainly used in such an art form.

These gemstones are grounded and powdered, finely or coarsely to suit the needs of the painting and the artist in question. Now the artist painstakingly places the powdered gems on an acrylic sheet, a marble slab or a glass surface and creates marvelous scenes and designs. The meticulous precision and skill of these artisans cannot but be admired and applauded. The colors never fade out as they are the hues naturally occurring in these jewels and the paintings sparkle and glisten ad infinitum.

Sometimes water colors provide the outline to these paintings, thus setting off the kaleidoscopic hues of these gemstones. The gemstone paintings of the region are heavily in demand all over the world.

Last Updated on 01 December 2011