Design Resource
Mukha Shilpa Assam
Traditional Art of Mask Making
by
Stage 3
Colouring of the mask is the most awaited process and brings the masks to life.
The colours used are organic and naturally occurring and obtained from plants and minerals listed below.
• Indigo,
• Gerua mati(yellow ochre),
• Hengul (vermillion),
• Haital (yellow arsenic),
• Lamp black.
Preparation of these colours is an elaborate process which is known to take as long as a seven days. The colours are mixed with Gondh gum or gum from the seeds of Bhel (golden apple) fruit, to make a paste that would stick better on the surface of the mask. The masks then created are either sold to be used for decorative purposes, ritualistic or for performances.
