Types of Thankas include:
Regular (multicoloured) Thanka, Black Thanka,
Gold Thanka and Red Thanka.
Black Thankas (Thang nag) have a background that
is completely black and the work is almost intirely
in gold. Black Thankas generally depict the wrathful
deities.
Gold Thankas (Ser thang) are not painted from an aesthetic
point of view, but purely to earn merit of the patron
due to the large amount of gold used.
Red Thanka (Dmar thang) are particularly used for
peaceful deities. They are principally of the long
live deities, Amitayus for example. The red background
symbolise the colour of the body of the deity.
The eight processes of Thankas
1. Sketching
2. Colouring
3. Detailing
4. Outlining
5. Dry shading
6. Gold burnishing
7. Gold outlining
8. Opening the eyes
Canvas
Before any of this can take place a high quality
canvas (ras gshi) is required.
 This
canvas has to undergo a certain process. The fabric
is fixed to the frame tight. A glue is boiled and
some gesso or chalk (powder) is added until a milky
substance is achieved. This than have to stand for
a night and if the substance is consistent it is ready
for use. Its has to be reheated and applied to the
fabric with a brush.
It is dried flat in the sun and after it get put
on a smooth wooden board. Then the surface again made
a little wet with a fabric and is rubbed with a smooth
stone to make the surface of the canvas waterproof
and smooth. After this they check if the canvas is
waterproof and they repeat it up to 6 times if necessary.
This process is very important to get a well balanced
panting. If the amount of glue in the canvas and the
paint is correct the thanka appears matt, soft and
natural; firm but not stiff. It is also smooth to
touch and light to hold.
If the glue is to much overall the thanka will appear
very hard shiny and dark.
The canvas feels hard like sandpaper and it effect
the application of the paint. If the glue is insufficient
the appearance will be soft but also blurred and furry,
and friction due to sketching and erasing also have
effect on the canvas. Once a satisfactory canvas is
obtained the creative process may proceed.
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