Soot and black ash are obtained by burning larch wood and birch bark. Painters use finely powdered gold. As paint it is known as cold gilt. Special techniques developed by Newars in Nepal are used to grind the gold. It is then mixed with roasted wheat glue or hide glue as a binder.
Gold is very workable when used in very thin layers.
It has the beauty and shine of solid gold. All pigments are mixed with warm size solution until it is the thickness of buttermilk. Most shading is done by using dark colors over a lighter base. Light color paints are applied last, as are the deities that are rendered in white. Painting a thangka begins with the sky.