About Abhishek Joshi and his contributions to Phad Painting:
I have been painting since 1984. I have dedicated myself exclusively for the Phad Painting industry and my experience have contributed to the society in many ways as below:
The History of Mewar State which is the biggest one painting with natural colours on hand made canvas. The size of this painting is 280 sq ft.
Save Girl Child - This painting is a great combination of phad and modern art style.
Abhigyan Shakuntlam - Based on the play written by great poet Kalidas.
The Battle of Haldi Ghati - The battle between Maharana Pratap and Akbar.
The Phad Painting on the Song - Sare Jahan se achha.. Hindosta hamara.
Sayongita and Prithviraj Chouhan - Love story.
Hada Queen - Bravery of the queen.
Dhola-Maroo - Love story,
The Traditional Subjects:
1. The phad painting on the folk God Pabuji and Devnarayan.
2. The lord Rama and the lord Krishna.
3. The phad painting on nine Goddesses etc.
The method of phad preperation and material used are: The phad painting is completely handmade painting and made of natural colours. It is depicted on the canvas which is handmade cotton cloth and malt is used to keep it straight. The Hakik stone is also rubbed on this canvas for shining and finishing.
Phad painting was started in 10th century by our ancestors well known "Shahpura Joshi family" and till now our family is engaged continously with this painting style. Phad painting style is very special genre of Mewar (Rajasthan) painting. In which the folk gods and godesses are depicted with pictures, The pictures are read with music and described in detail with folk songs. At present phad paintings are being prepared on several subjects eg. life of legends, festivals, functions, events and contemporary subjects.
The colours are prepared with mercury mixed natural stones. The mercury stone is crushed for six months on grinding stone. Before using these colours gum and white mushli are mixed and after that they are used on canvas.