The Art of Wasli Making: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Traditional Paper

For practicing fine lines initially, any type of good quality, smooth drawing paper can be used, such as tracing paper, watercolor paper, rice paper, cartridge sheet, etc. After you master the art of lines, then you can draw your final drawing on the “Wasli” or “Rice Paper” used in Traditional Indian Miniature Painting.

Wasli Preparation Introduction

Wasli is a type of handmade paper for painting Miniatures. It has archival qualities, such as being durable and acid-free paper. Wasli made by sticking layers of rice paper is mainly used for handwritten and painted manuscripts. That prepared from paper made from bamboo and cotton mix was used for painting miniatures. Two or more layers of paper and/or cloth are stuck in layers together using homemade glue called “lai,” which is made from All-Purpose Flour or Maida, Arrowroot, or whole wheat flour. In olden days, they used to mix a poison called ‘Neela Thootha’ (copper sulfate) to keep the insects at bay and increase the life of Wasli made from ‘Lai.’ Nowadays, gluten is removed from the all-purpose flour or maida during the process of making ‘lai’ for pasting sheets.

Note: Lai made from All-Purpose flour or Maida is better.

Process of making Wasli

Preparation of 'LAI'

1. In a bowl, add 1 cup of Maida or All-Purpose Flour.

2. Make a dough like atta using water (room temperature).

3. Take a cooking utensil with a little water in it.

4. Now take the prepared dough, press, squeeze, and stretch it in the water until you get a smooth milky extract.

5. Repeat the process until you are left with a rubbery, leathery dough...discard this as this is Gluten...if left, it would attract insects, thus reducing the shelf life of the Wasli paper made using this glue.

6. Cook the smooth milky extract on low flame, stirring continuously to avoid any lumps and prevent it from sticking to the base of the pan.

7. Cook until it changes color (greyish) and appears translucent. Let it bubble until it reaches a one or two-string consistency. To check the consistency, take a drop of the mixture between your thumb and index finger and press to check the string consistency.

8. Switch off the flame. Strain the mixture without stirring or pressing through a sieve.

9. Cool completely.

Making Wasli

Clean the work surface, such as a board or floor.

Material Required

1. A clean white drawing sheet

2. Soft muslin or ‘mulmul’ cloth

3. Handmade or rice paper sheets for layering

4. A flat brush for applying lai

5. A little lukewarm water

6. Prepared lai

Pasting Method

1. Place the handmade paper sheets adjacent to one another.

2. On the first paper, apply an even coat of lai using a flat brush, keep aside.

3. On the second paper, first apply water and then a thinner coat of lai.

4. Keep aside for around ten minutes.

5. Then place the sheet one over the other aligning the corners.

6. Ensure that they are evenly stuck together.

7. Place the plain drawing sheet over the layered Wasli. Lightly burnish or rub with the soft muslin cloth carefully moving from one end to another to remove any air bubbles that may have been trapped in between.

8. Set aside to dry completely.

Conclusion

The method of making paper in Indian traditional painting is extremely important. Properly made Wasli enhances the quality of the painting and ensures its longevity.

In upcoming articles, we will also share a video of this method, allowing you to understand it even better. Through this, we can keep this unique art alive and enjoy its beauty.