Her First Tanjore Painting Was a Gift. Her Second Was for Herself
Written by
Swathi Katta
"I wake up every day and come to this painting. I just feel refreshed looking at it every morning." Every Tanjore painting tells a story. For Lahari, that story begins every morning. The Lord Balaji painting she created now hangs proudly in her home in Mumbai—a daily reminder of a dream she had carried for years and finally brought to life. But what makes her journey special isn't just that she completed her first Tanjore painting. It's what she did next.
"I wake up every day and come to this painting. I just feel refreshed looking at it every morning."
Every Tanjore painting tells a story.
For Lahari, that story begins every morning.
The Lord Balaji painting she created now hangs proudly in her home in Mumbai, a daily reminder of a dream she had carried for years and finally brought to life.
But what makes her journey special isn't just that she completed her first Tanjore painting.
It's what she did next.
https://youtu.be/FcSooha38VI
A Dream That Started Long Before the Course
Lahari had always wanted to learn Tanjore painting.
"I wanted to learn Tanjore painting from the day I started learning painting. I chose the Balaji painting because this is our family deity. I wanted to learn this and gift it to my father."
For her, this wasn't simply another art class.
It was an opportunity to create something deeply meaningful for her family.
When she enrolled in our 11-week Live Online Lord Balaji Tanjore Painting Course, she knew exactly which deity she wanted to paint first.
Captivated by the Brilliance of Lord Balaji
Every artist remembers the moment they truly connect with a painting.
For Lahari, it happened almost instantly.
"The first thing that caught my eye was the brilliance of Lord Balaji."
The rich gold work, colourful embellishments, and traditional craftsmanship are what make authentic Tanjore paintings so captivating.
As she progressed through each class, she watched those individual elements slowly come together into a painting she had once only admired from afar.
Finding Joy in Every Stage
Every student has a favourite part of the creative process.
For Lahari, it was bringing Lord Balaji's garland to life.
"The part I enjoyed the most was making the garland because it's so colourful—with bright reds and greens."
Layer by layer, the painting became more vibrant.
With every completed section, her confidence grew.
Learning Tanjore Painting Online With Live Guidance
Like many aspiring artists, Lahari had one big concern before joining an online class.
Would she receive enough support if she got stuck?
That question disappeared as soon as the course began.
"I had a lot of doubts before choosing an online class because you never know how it's going to turn out. During painting, you'll naturally have doubts. But they got clarified instantly."
Throughout the course, every session was taught live by Vibha Raj, with assistant teachers supporting students individually.
Whenever Lahari faced a challenge, help was immediately available.
The biggest hurdle came during the embossing stage.
"The most difficult part was getting the embossing paste consistency right. That's where the team helped us, and I could confidently continue with the design."
For many beginners, embossing is one of the most intimidating parts of Tanjore painting. Having experienced instructors guide students through these techniques makes all the difference.
One Painting Became the Beginning of Another
Completing the Balaji painting could have been the end of Lahari's journey.
Instead, it became the foundation for something even more exciting.
"After I finished the Balaji painting, I wanted to do something for myself and started this Saraswati painting."
Without enrolling in another course, Lahari began creating a beautiful Goddess Saraswati Tanjore painting on her own.
This wasn't simply a repetition of what she had already learned.
It was a completely new challenge.
Unlike the Balaji painting, Saraswati requires delicate facial features, expressive eyes, lips, and subtle shading that demand a much deeper understanding of the art form.
"The Balaji painting doesn't have much detail in the face. But for Saraswati, I had to create the eyes, lips and nose. I took inspiration from Vibha's paintings while creating them."
That moment perfectly captures what learning Tanjore painting is really about.
It's not just about finishing one painting.
It's about gaining the skills and confidence to create many more.
More Than Just Completing a Course
When Lahari reflects on her experience, what stands out most is how approachable the learning process became.
"I recently completed Tanjore Collective's online Balaji Tanjore painting course and was thoroughly impressed by the depth of instruction. Vibha and the team did an excellent job of breaking down the complex multi-stage process into simple steps. I'm so thankful to them for helping me complete this beautiful Balaji painting."
She believes the course makes traditional Tanjore painting accessible, even for complete beginners.
"It doesn't matter whether you're a beginner. This course provides the structure needed to create an authentic piece. I highly recommend it for any art lover."
Thinking About Learning Tanjore Painting?
Many people hesitate to begin because they wonder if they'll be able to learn such a detailed traditional art form online.
Lahari had the same doubts.
Today, she has not only completed a stunning Lord Balaji painting that she proudly sees every morning, but also created an entirely new Saraswati painting on her own using the techniques she learned during the course.
She leaves future students with one simple thought:
"I think everybody should try Tanjore painting because you'll be 100% satisfied with the result. You'll be happy that you made something beautiful yourself."
And perhaps that's the best part of learning this art.
The first painting is never just the destination.
For many students, it's the beginning of a lifelong creative journey.
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