Like other ancient art works, the traditional Buddhist Paintings (Plates15A&B) applied earth colors and organic colors. The traditional paintings in Indian Sub-continent like other places depended on natural mineral and organic colors. The brilliance of color remained same even after centuries. Traditional cultures used color symbolism and abstract metaphors to convey their philosophy and feelings. 

Natural color such as ochers and iron oxides are being used from the prehistoric period. Pigments and paint grinding equipment believed to be between 350,000 and 400,000 years old. Until the Industrial Revolution the use of color remained limited to earth or mineral colors and organic colors found indigenously. Some colors were costly or impossible to mix with the range of pigments that were available. Blue or purple colors considered favourite to royalty because of their expensiveness. Pigments from unusual sources such as botanical materials, animal waste, insects, and molluscs were harvested and traded over long distances. Traditionally many of these colors were extracted from natural ingredients (fruits, vegetable, flowers, etc.). In most cases such colors extracts and the processes remained highly confidential. Most of these colors are sensitive to sunlight exposure. Colors bleach and fade under strong light exposure.

Plate 16.A. The Café Terrace , Van Gogh 1888	16.B. Piet Mondrian

Source: 16.A. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh; May 21, 2012
16. B. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Mondrian; May 21, 2012
The above modern paintings are examples of application of chemical pigments. The chemical color pigments have given wide range of color choices. The brightness of colors and luminosity has indeed helped us to create greater range of hues and combination of colors. Thus the chemical pigments have wide range of application from household consumer products to rituals to ceremonial events (Plate17). The colors have created interesting medium of visual communication in the applied field not just for decoration.

Plate17. Indian Rangoli (ceremonial design pattern)