Studio RaMuHa

Monkey Mask Diaries, Part 4: The Masks are Monkeying. 

The monkey masks finally had their big reveal. Kids and adults wore them at our Golu, my son helped stage a short play with Vali and Sugriva, and the garden filled with color. Here’s the finale and what I learned along the way.

Monkey Mask Diaries, Part 3: Where the Monkeys Got Their Faces

Where did my monkeys get their faces? From Yakshagana, Mexican alebrijes, and Gond art. Here’s how three traditions shaped the colors and patterns of Vali, Sugriva, and Hanuman, and why 12 hours of painting stretched into the wee hours.

Monkey Mask Diaries, Part 2: Research Before Rework

When my clay and papier-mâché plans fell apart, my creative community pointed me to Chhau mask making. Here’s how a dance tradition from eastern India led me to cotton cloth strips for mask making: light, smooth, and ready for paint.

Monkey Mask Diaries, Part 1: The Flop

Three years ago I managed a team to make a whole cast of masks. This year I tried making them myself, and found out that delegating and handiwork are very different skills. Cereal boxes, 1.5 kg of cracked clay, and one very honest son.

HPRM Golu 2026 Kickoff: Meet the Monkeys!

Our home Golu kicked off last night with shlokams, music, theatre, and laughter. Meet the Yakshagana-inspired monkey masks behind the kids’ drama, plus the new Shilpa Shastra sticker collection made for the goodie bags.

Drawing the Yantra, not solving it

A yantra isn’t a diagram to decode. It comes alive when you draw it from your own energy. I learned that the hard way, as an architect-turned-planner who showed up with a protractor and opinions. Plus: jamuns, burnout and the October rituals that ground me.

Make now, studio later

My go-to space to quieten my mind is an Ikea corner desk with no storage, a bunch of paints, and three unfinished projects. It isn’t a studio, but it’s where I make. Why I won’t wait for one to begin.

100 Days of Indian Culture

What happens when a hundred days of Indian culture unfold around us?

From classical dance and music to festivals, food, textiles and pop-up markets, the Bay Area is entering a vibrant season of celebration. In a world of instant scrolling and gratification, these traditions offer something different: stories that invite us to slow down, connect,…

Hello Again: Reintroducing Studio RaMuHa

Hope this weekend is going well for you all! I thought I’d stop by to show my face and a playful avatar that prompts this post! 🖌️I am here to meet fellow creatives online, it’s also an outlet for very many of interests, if you scroll down in the main page, you’ll get a glimpse!…

Summer Studio Dispatch: Art Supplies and Paper Stacks.

On my studio desk right now are stacks of paper. Scattered around those stacks of paper are sketchbooks of varying sizes. I had at least 6-7 recycle bottles for my brushes and pencils which I’m consolidated into a long narrow organizer to make it easily accessible. Below the corner desk is some unused canvas rolls,…

What May 2023 looked like in my studio!

I’ve been mulling with scattered painting in all the sketchbooks around me. I must admit, I have several sketchbook explorations (sizes, textures, colors) running in parallel right now, and it’s hard to keep up. Instead of thematically arranging my sketchbooks, I have learnt to embrace the chaos, that’s what I tell myself, in order to…

Sustaining a Creative Practice in a Busy Summer.

Earlier in May 2023, I decided to slice off 10hours of my regular work day so I could gain back my mental health and peace. I usually spend 15minutes of my lunch and after my workday to do quick sketches and things at my drawing desk. But I will consciously start a schedule and block…