The practice of Pattachitra began with the Mahapatra chitrakars, an artisan community of Odisha who were inspired by the Jagannath Temple. The artists use natural colours. The colour white comes from conch-shell powder, the yellow from the haritala stone, red from red oxide stone, black from lamp soot, blue from indigo, and green from leaves. The artist's scroll is first treated with a white powder, made of chalk and glue from tamarind seeds. Once the painting is ready, the colours are sealed with lacquer for a glossy finish. Some Pattachitra paintings are also painted on palm leaves and handmade paper.