Business Ideas

Temple Rubbings is an art business for non artists. It is said to have started in 300 BC to express words and feelings in the ancient days. Then later came the printing press business. The kings had their rules, announcements and messages carved in stone by artisans. These were later rubbed with colors like wax and dye to form parchments.

Batik is the traditional rubbings found in many asian countries which have religious relics and comments carved. But Batik is used more for clothes colored in wax. The design is made and then dipped in dye to make patterns. The areas covered in wax will not be colord, so when you open the whole peice of cloth, you can see the full affect. 

 

The most common carving materials are stones and metals. But you can get creative with things likes, sports medals, tree barks, leaves and architectural items. There is a big market today for churches and courtyard reliefs. The skilfull rubbings and beautiful frames are widely popular and you can claim certificate of originality on such items.

 

Graveyards are the biggest hits at any time of the year in any place. The designs and wordings remind us of the past and live forever. Temple rubbings and gravestone rubbings are closely related. Impressions of oriental designs are classified as temple rubbings, while gravestone rubbings are from markers and tombs. The two terms are often used as synonyms.

 

Survivors of the dead, historial descendants and other special projects are the biggest buyers. Some carvings have information about their family and include photographs too. These are important because they can withstand the high and low of time for the future generations. People attach a lot of emotions and feelings to them and they carry a big price too. 

 

To begin the art of temple or gravestone rubbings, you need:

 

1. Dry sponge, foam plastic or blackboard eraser

2. Soft brush

3. Fabric or paper to place the design 

4. A rubbing marker like the lumber crayon, or just normal crayons

5. Tape and twine to hold the fabric

6. A comfortable kneeling pad

 

Best to start using butcher paper for rubbing if you are a beginner. Its cheap and you can buy in bulk for your practice. Later you can move on to some interesting and cool fabrics. Marbel paper is the favorite luxury fabric for some. You could also try using wallpaper or make your own custom made fabric. The point to note is that your fabric and the frame should match eatch other. A light color and dark color always complement each other. Like red fabric and black frame. 

 

 

As a marker you can make the applicator too and use a soft flat pad for best results. One way of doing this is to make a circle from plywood, then stick a powder puff to one side and fix your handle on the other and finish with thick rubber cover. The foam should be tied on the handle side, so you ar left a smooth curving suraface for the rubbing. This is a basic tool to make yourself. You can dip this in burnt umbra or stain. 

 

Your final rubbings depend on many factors such as - rubbing pressure applied, size, shape, staining color used, fabric type and pad used. You will have to work with different combinations to learn them all.   

 

Coming to the frame, they can again be bought from the shelf or custom made. If you are not going cove it with glass, to protect the rubbings, spray some Gloss Finish. This is basically used for protection and you can pick this up at any crafts and art shop. But good and premium rubbings are always covered with glass. You can even display your finished peices.

 

The first thing to make a temple rubbing is to choose a subject or theme. Start on a nice sunny day by cleaning the surface with a brush or sponge. If there are stains or spots use Vinegar and rub it after it dries. Do not overrub it, it will deteriorate the quality of your rubbing. Get rid of all moss before you begin your actual work. 

 

To continue, put the fabric that you have chosen over the design and tape it. Make sure the fabric is big enough to tape it or tie it. Next get your crayons ready abd rub over the raised portions of the design using the flat side. Start from the centre and work yourway outward all round the area, until you get a clear design.   

 

 

After thats done, start working from the outside towards the centre putting more pressure. Keep doing this until you ge the color and pattern that you finally want to have. Watch your rubbings as you do them, so you know if you have to make any changes. Use colors and correct any mistakes before you finally untape or untie it. Once the fabric is moved, you cannot do anything and thats you rubbing. 

 

 

However some really good 'rubbers' and professionals move the fabric during the rubbing process. So they use a base color and then finish rubbing. They move the fabric a bit and then redo with other colors and this gives a 3D impression and the whole pattern is uplifted. It looks really classy and only experienced people can get it right.

 

Every country and local councils have their own rules, restrictions and regulations about public, cultural, religious and private properties. So before you even think of any rubbing activity, its best to check the political and family issues about the property. This way you will be cautious and save yourself from going through a mess later. 

 

You cannot fix a price for your work and then start working, it does not work that way. The price depends on the quality of the final work, presentation and subject you have chosen. As mentioned earlier glass covered frames with some interesting fabric and great combination of colors sold in a art gallery or museum will perhaps fetch you a good deal.

 

Tips to remember-

 

1. Customise your marketing tools to appeal to the customers you are targetting. 

 

2. If you travel overseas, you may come across plenty of avenue and opportunities to make and grow your business. But never forget your local home town business.

 

3. Choose one type of rubbings and just focus on that. You may just want to do epitaphs and you can get a variety in them too and show your creativity through your wordings.   

 

 

If you look at the ancient times, the people who did the markings and rubbings were neither trained nor professionals. Some of them were even illiterates who did not understand what they were marking or writing, it just meant designs and patterns for them. You can see some errors in them too, even today. But there are some stones which are priceless and bear a lot of value due to their uniqueness.

 

 

BUSINESS SOURCES

 

THE KELSEY CO.,Box 941, Meriden, CT 06450, 203/235-1695.

Printing and related materials and equipment; type, paper,

presses, wood and linoleum blocks, etc.,Old, reliable company.

 

DICK BLICK CENTRAL, Box 1267, Galesburg, IL 61407-1267,

800/477-8192. Wholesale art, sign, ceramic, sculpture

supplies. Old, reliable company.

 

EL DO PLASTICS, INC.,Box 451, El Dorado, AR 71730,

800/643-1556. Magnetic sign & engraver supplies; has sponge

rubber pads (called Davis Daubers). reliable company.

 

MEYERS PUBLISHING CO.,2135 Summer St.,Stamford, CT 06945,

203/356-1745. Publishes ART BUSINESS NEWS, trade magazine

for art and picture frame dealers.

 

FABRIC FINDERS, 125 Wold Rd.,Albany, NY 12205.

Wholesale fabrics (first quality and seconds).

 

JAPS, 126 7th Ave.,Hopkins, NM 55343. Picture framing

supplies; offers framing gide for $3; free catalog.

 

PICTURE ART INDUSTRIES, 2566 Stirling Rd.,Hollywood,

FL 33020, 305/921-6664. Wholesale framed pictures featuring

lithograph prints under glass; over 1,000 pieces.

 

COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, INC.,5266 Barfield Rd.,Atlanta,

GA 30328, 404/256-9800. Publishes ART MATERIAL TRADE NEWS,

"The Journal of all art, craft, engineering and drafting

supplies"

 

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.,31 East 2nd St.,Mineola, NY 11051.

Discount books, clip art, stencils, etc.

 

QUILL CORPORATION, 100 Schelter Rd.,Lincolnshire, IL

60917-4700, 312/634-4800. Office supplies.

 

SWEDCO, Box 29, Mooresville, NC 28115. 3 line rubber stamps

and business cards.