A painting of traditional style known as "Nirmal Paintings" named after Nirmal Town of Andhra Pradesh, India The paints are derived from natural ingredients like herbs and mud The Nakkash are a community of painters residing in the quaint Andhra town of Nirmal. For centuries, they have been making colorful works on canvas, known as Nirmal paintings. The themes of the Nirmal paintings are derived from the Indian epics, mythology and nature. The influence of Mughal miniature paintings has found its way in the Nirmal Paintings since the medieval period. The miniature works are done on soft white wood called Ponniki, which is hardened by smearing it with tamarind seed paste and covering it with fine muslin and pipe clay. The colors used are extracted from plants and minerals. Against a dark background, the paintings are highlighted in gold color derived from herbal juices. own file;dt.24.03.2009