The Crafting Process
Thangka production process
1.
Making the Base
First, the designer needs to follow the rituals of Tibetan Buddhism and the tradition of thangka painting to make a lot of sketches on the bottom layer. This step is the foundation of the entire work and determines the structure, character form and expression of the final work.
2.
Cloisonné Wiring
This is the core step in the cloisonné craft. Using extremely fine copper or gold wire, the artist manually bends and cuts each strand according to the lines of the original drawing. The strands are then glued or soldered to the baseboard. This process requires immense patience and precision, as each strand represents the outline and detail of the painting, forming the three-dimensional lines of the thangka.
3.
Enameling
In the area of the lines completed by filigree, the artist fills in enamel glazes of different colors. These glazes are usually mineral pigments, and the thickness of the glaze needs to be precisely controlled to ensure that the color is uniform and smooth after firing.
4.
Mounting
The last step is framing and putting it into the frame.