Shekhawati Wall Plate by Master Bhairunlal Swarankar and Nand Kishore Swarankar
SIZE: 11 inch (diameter)
MEDIUM: Natural Colours on Handmade plate
MAKING OF THE PLATE: The base plate is a cotton canvas pasted onto a moulded plate using tamarind paste. A mixture of chalk powder and multani mitti is applied, dried, and smoothened with stone for a polished canvas. To prevent insect damage we use crushed neem leaves. With multiple layers of coating, drying, and finishing, the complete plate-making process spans three full days.
NATURAL COLOURS: This Shekhawati wall plate features a Safeda (Lime White) background from calcium carbonate. The floral tree is painted in Geru (Red Ochre) from iron oxide and Malachite Green from copper carbonate. The yellow flower centers and border details use Hartal (Orpiment Yellow). The parrots are also in Malachite Green, with Kaajal (Lamp Black) outlines from soot. The red border uses Geru, while the golden strokes likely mix Geru + Hartal for depth.Each color undergoes a meticulous elaborate process of sourcing natural materials, cleaning, crushing, mixing with water and adding adhesives.
Vanaspati: The Silent Guardian of Life
In the havelis of Shekhawati, the Tree of Life, Vanaspati is a testament to nature’s harmony. Its sprawling branches cradle parrots and other birds, who return at dusk and greet the dawn with melodious calls. Through delicate brushstrokes, President Awardee Bhairunlal Swarnkar Ji captures this symphony, weaving life’s deep ties to the tree.
Beyond its beauty, Vanaspati symbolizes survival, the very breath of life. It nurtures and protects without seeking anything in return, a silent guardian of existence. Shekhawati’s frescoes tell a timeless story of balance, reverence, and gratitude. Standing before them, one feels its quiet strength, a powerful reminder that without trees, life itself cannot flourish.
