How Radhika Went From "I Can't Draw a Straight Line" to Completing Three Divine Tanjore Paintings
Written by
Swathi Katta
When you first meet Radhika C, you are struck by her warmth and inquisitive presence. But behind that radiant personality is a surprising truth: until a year ago, she had never imagined she could create traditional art.
When you first meet Radhika C, you are struck by her warmth and inquisitive presence — the kind of person who carries devotion naturally in her voice. But behind that radiant personality is a surprising truth: until a year ago, she had never imagined she could create traditional art, let alone complete three intricate Tanjore paintings.
Today, Radhika stands as one of our proud students, having completed paintings of Lord Balaji, Goddess Lalitha Devi, and Goddess Lakshmi. Her journey is deeply personal, heartfelt, and beautifully relatable — a reminder that creativity often finds us at the perfect moment.
How It All Began: A New Phase, A Gentle Push
Like many mothers, Radhika found herself entering a new chapter when her first child left for college. The sudden quiet in the house created a space she hadn't anticipated.
She laughs now when she remembers how it all started:
“Once my elder one went, vacuum hit… One of my friends suggested, why don’t you start Tanjore painting? My first reaction was, I laughed. I said, do you even know me?”
But her friend persisted — “Just try.”
So, with a mix of hesitation and curiosity, Radhika reached out to us.
“I called Vibha and said, I cannot even draw a straight line. She said, you just come, we will see about it.”
That gentle reassurance gave her the courage to take the next step.
A few days later, another friend even drove her to the studio, navigating Bengaluru’s evening traffic. By the time they arrived, it was 8:30 PM and Vibha had already left, but they met her mother instead — a warm, encouraging encounter Radhika still remembers fondly.
The moment she walked into the studio, everything changed.
“I actually went with the frame of mind to start with Saraswati… and then we entered the studio and there Balaji was shining in all that glory. Balaji was taking all my eyes.”
Seeing the Balaji painting in person was the moment her journey truly began.
On the drive back, her friend simply said, “You just go.”
And so she did.
She joined the class, still unsure, still slightly amused at herself — but ready to try.
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In the Instagram video, she shares another moment of awe:
“When I look at the painting myself, I am so in awe — did I really paint it or did I get it from somewhere? I have done 3 paintings by far.”
But it wasn’t all smooth. Every beautiful journey has its challenges.
The Practice That Changed Everything
Radhika began with the intricate and detailed Balaji painting — a bold choice for a first-time artist. A few classes in, she met her first big challenge: drawing the roses.
“The day Vibha taught how to draw the roses, the first time I drew it… it was a disaster.”
Shortly after, she had to travel to Hyderabad for work. But instead of stepping away from the art, she carried it with her.
“In the flight, in the cab… I was just practicing the roses.”
And when she returned:
“When I came back and drew it on the board, it came wonderful. So I think it’s all in the practice, as she says.”
That small victory became a powerful turning point — not just in her art, but in her belief in herself.
The Experience of Creating Her First Divine Painting
Working on Balaji became an emotional experience for her — one she struggled to put into words.
“Tears would roll out of my eyes. Each stage, I would hate for it to end. Because my first ever painting… and it’s a Balaji, a huge one shining in its glory. I never thought I could do it.”
What surprised her the most was not her skill, but how much the process meant to her.
“I think that’s the best thing I’ve done for myself… the best gift I’ve given myself is learning the art.”
Becoming an Artist — One Painting at a Time
With every painting she worked on, Radhika found herself discovering something new — about the art, and about herself. What had begun as a hesitant experiment grew into a grounding, meditative ritual.
“The classes were so seamless. I never felt I was doing it alone. I would just listen to the class… and thanks to the videos, I could replay them again and again. I always painted after the class, never during it.”
Her Gurus became an anchor through the process:
“They are my God-found gurus. They’re so patient… they bring that confidence out from you, and then they shape it.”
Each painting deepened her connection with the craft.
During her Lalitha Devi painting, she faced a challenge with the face:
“I drew it a bit darker and didn’t know what to do. I reached out to them, and step by step they showed me how to go back to the base and restart it. It turned out to be the most wonderful face I have seen.”
Her confidence grew with every stroke, every correction, every moment of learning.
A Journey of Growth: Three Paintings, One Evolving Artist
As she completed Balaji, Lalitha Devi, and Lakshmi, Radhika began to recognise the transformation happening within her. Painting became a soothing, grounding part of her life — a space where time slowed down and devotion flowed effortlessly.
Her connection with the divine deepened, her patience strengthened, and somewhere along the way, she rediscovered parts of herself she had forgotten — or perhaps had never known.
Through all of it, one feeling remained constant:
“It’s been an amazing, absolutely wonderful journey with the Tanjore Collective. That’s the power it has on each of its students, I think.”
A Gentle Reflection
Radhika’s story isn’t about courses or techniques.
It’s about rediscovering joy at a time of change.
It’s about finding devotion in every brushstroke.
It’s about remembering that creativity can appear in our lives exactly when we need it.
And most beautifully, her journey reminds us that it’s never too late to begin something new — especially something that feels like it was always meant for us.
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