As part of learning and re-aligning to a new creative path, I kept going back to South Indian architecture. And this has been a constant look-back that has recurred almost every other year in the past decade of my life.

As a former practicing architect, we were never exposed to traditional craftsmanship and shastra based learning in school or in practice. We relied on kaarigaars to deliver our projects, but I always wondered how we all truly understand the glorious heritage and culture without learning about its craftsmanship. In essence, the true Kalaakar can emerge only when she fully understands her kaarigaar’s work!

Since now you know that I’ve tried to look back and learn about our heritage, recently in 2019, I tried to learn to sculpt with a local guru in South Bay but had to abandon owing to a house move and then the pandemic.

Moving along the timeline, when we visited India in 2021/22, my search led me to Tanjore collective with Vibha Raj, with the goal to create a Tanjore Balaji for our home puja room.

Cut to 2023, my search of a traditional Indian art Guru led me to Divyakala’s owner Drdha.

Last year, I embarked on the classical Tanjore painting for our home, that is in a highlight coming soon. I must admit, having trained under a totally different design thought, the traditional art forms were definitely challenging.

So, onward I go, challenging myself more to train my brain differently this year with Shilpa Shastra lessons with try esteemed guru @drdha_art

I will compile and update this post at the end of a year long learning. This curriculum course is two years long, completely online and made very easy to access and process information through my Guru.

Thanks for reading along