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How to make a thangka
For the end-result of a thangka, many steps are involved. From the preparation of the cotton screen up to the final application of gold, the painting tasks are traditionally divided among several painting helpers: first, the cotton fabric is framed, starched and polished. Then we apply the background color and line out the deity's form. Once the traditional forms of the deity and its environment are drawn, we color through many traditional techniques like brush strokes (lomdang) , punctuation (sedding), etc. As to give the thangka its living appearance, the master artist will do the facial expression and the last application of gold painting.
Principles for the price of a thangka
The price of a thangka is very much dependent on the amount of work that went into making it, as well as its size and materials used. Quality work demands quality material and the time of its completion.
For example, the wheel of life (picture to the left), is a very detailed picture and can be done in a large or small frame. However, its the hours of labor and the amount of color and gold that went into completing this work that are to guide us in stating its price that is to cover the cost of its making.
1. The elaborate style
Thus the price range for an elaborate thangka with many deities and much details like the example of the 'wheel of life' or '1000 arm Chenrezig', ranges from around $700 to around $1000. These kind of thangkas cannot be painted smaller than 1'x7" or 30cm x 18cm.
2.The simple style
A thangka that features merely one deity and does not contain many details (see Arya Tara picture to the right), demands less hours of work and less material.
For example, we can name the lowest price of $350 for a standard size thangka (16" x 21"/ 14cm x 55cm). These kind of less ornamented thangkas can be painted from postcard size to whatever size you prefer.
Additional costs:
We charge a fixed price for brocade framing of $100.
Shipment and handling the finished thangka will come to about $50, dependent on the country of destination.
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