Making brush for Mural Painting

The Kerala mural tradition lays much emphasis on drawings and bold, beautiful strokes are their notable features. Shown in the video is the making of a brush for painting murals.

The brush is made from eyyampullu, a variety of grass. For greater flexibility, the grass is sometimes boiled in milk and dried in the shade. Modern murals too are drawn using naturally derived colours and materials.

The paintings are done on dry fresco or dry wall. The surface is first given a rough plastering with lime and sand. Later a smooth plastering is given with lime, sand and cotton. The third stage is the application of lime or tender coconut water.

The Vasthuvidya Gurukulam in Pathanamthitta district and the Institute of mural painting in Guruvayoor are two institutions offering courses in traditional mural painting.