The Honey Gatherers: Tribal Traditions

A forest scene of tribespeople harvesting honey from wild beehives.

Organic Natural Pigments

• Green (for forest leaves and trees): Extracted from leaf powder or a mix of indigo and yellow pigments.

• Brown/Earth tones (for tree trunks and skin): Made from natural clay, red ochre, or tree bark.

• Yellow (for honey and sunlight): Sourced from turmeric or haritala.

• Black (for outlines and shadows): Obtained from lamp soot or burnt coconut shells.

• White (for detailing and bee wings): Produced from crushed conch shells.

• All pigments are mixed with natural tamarind seed gum, which acts as a binder and helps preserve the colors.

3. Brushes

• Handcrafted from fine animal hair (like squirrel or mongoose), fixed to bamboo sticks.

• Fine brushes are used for detailed work such as the bees, facial expressions, honeycombs, and forest textures.

4. Framing – Lashadandi Wood

• The painting is framed with Lashadandi wood, a rustic, eco-friendly hardwood that reflects the natural theme of the artwork.

• The wood is cut, cleaned, and sanded to retain its grainy, earthy look, then used as a frame that complements the tribal forest scene.

5. Adhesive (Binder)

• A thick, natural gum made by boiling tamarind seeds is used both to prepare the canvas and to mix with the pigments.