[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Mediaeval Sinhalese Art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908) › c19.14 # Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.14 Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c19.14 - **Language:** English ### [c19.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.14) The brushes used for flat colouring of small spaces are made of cats’ or squirrels’ hair, and are small and delicate. Larger brushes are made from the frayed ærial roots of \*veṭakeyiya\*, a species of \*Pandanus\*. Long stiff brushes for drawing fine lines are made from the awns of the \*teli taṇa\* grass (\*Aristida adscensionis\*). The \*teli taṇa\* grass and the brush (\*teli kāra\*) are so-called from the resemblance to the snout of the \*teli\* fish. The \*teli taṇa\* brushes are very easily and rapidly made; the grass spike is wetted, and the awns stripped off between the finger and thumb nail, shaken down to a level and tied on a pointed stick; the longest awns form the fine point of the brush. Graphite pencils were unknown, but actual lead pencils were used—but very sparingly, however, as the painter relied almost entirely, perhaps altogether, on his brush. - [Previous: c19.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.13) - [Next: c19.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.15) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.coomaraswamy-1908.c19.14) · Pramāṇa