Historically, the art of Tibetan wood painting was used to decorate furniture and walls of houses. This art uses vibrant colours and is rooted in Buddhist tradition; infact, you'll find that the paintings often use the Eight Auspicious Symbols and the Five Offerings of Buddhism.
Kyumbur, the form of painting that has been revived in Norbulingka gives a stunning 3D effect.
The Master (an artist with several years of experience) first creates the design on tracing paper. Once traced onto the wood, another highly experienced artist outlines this design using a paint syringe - this is an art in itself, because not only does this process need a a rock-steady hand, but the artist must also be able to push out a consistent flow of paint from the syringe for a clear and smooth outline! Once the outline has completely dried, other artists fill in the drawing using striking colours to complete the box.
We met Norbulingka's Wood Painting Master during our visit & were lucky to see him create a new design!