Is the Studio Course Right for You? Who In-Person Classes Suit
Written by
Vibha Raj
Is an in-person studio Tanjore painting class right for you? Who our small-batch Bangalore classes suit best, what you get on-site, and what to do if you are elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- The studio course suits you best if you are in or near Bangalore and want to learn Tanjore painting hands-on, in the room with our teachers.
- It is a small batch of 20 to 25 students, twice a week, 10:45 AM to 1:30 PM, at our Basavanagudi studio, with all materials provided on-site.
- Choose the studio if you enjoy an in-person atmosphere, like fixed class times that build a rhythm, and want teachers right beside you.
- Seats are limited (two active batches, opening once or twice a year), so plan a little ahead.
- If you are not in Bangalore, our live online class gives you the same teachers and teaching from anywhere, with recordings.
Not everyone learns the same way, and choosing how to learn Tanjore painting is worth a little thought. Some people come alive in a room full of other painters, with a teacher at their shoulder. Others would rather learn from home, in their own time. Neither is better. The question is simply which one is right for you.
This is a short, honest guide to whether our in-person studio course is your best fit, who it suits most, and what to do if it is not quite right for your situation.
The studio suits you if...
In one line: the studio is for you if you are in or near Bangalore and you want the hands-on, in-the-room experience. Here is what that looks like in practice.
You are in or near Bangalore
The studio course is in person, at our Basavanagudi studio, so it works best if you can travel there twice a week comfortably. If the commute is easy for you, the in-person experience is hard to beat. If it is a long haul, our online class may serve you better without wearing you out.
You want hands-on, in-room guidance
Some steps in Tanjore painting, the embossing, the gold foil, the fine lines of a face, are much easier to learn when a teacher is right beside you, watching your hand and correcting it in the moment. If you are the kind of learner who absorbs more by doing with someone next to you than by watching a screen, the studio is made for you.
You enjoy the studio atmosphere
There is a gentle energy in a room where everyone is painting. You see how others solve the same step, you share small victories, and the hours pass easily. If you like learning in company rather than alone, you will feel at home here.
You prefer a small, personal batch
Our studio batches are kept to 20 to 25 students, with three to four teachers moving between easels. Vibha Raj takes the faces and intricate detailing. If being seen and helped individually matters to you, this small-batch setting gives you exactly that.
You like fixed class times that build a rhythm
Studio classes meet twice a week, 10:45 AM to 1:30 PM, with a weekday batch (Tuesday and Thursday) and a weekend batch (Saturday and Sunday). If a set schedule helps you show up and make steady progress, rather than a self-paced course you have to chase, the studio gives you that structure.
You want the gentle accountability of showing up
There is something about putting a class in your calendar and walking into a room that keeps you going. A painting that might sit half-finished at home gets completed in the studio, because every session carries you to the next step with your teachers and your batch around you. If you know yourself to be someone who finishes things better with a little structure and company, the studio is on your side.
What you get on-site
When you choose the studio, everything is taken care of for you. Your materials are laid out and ready, including the 24 karat gold foil, kundan stones, brushes and canvas, so there is nothing to source. Sessions are supported by three to four teachers, you get the matching online recordings on our app to revisit steps at home, and you finish with a certificate, digital and physical, signed by Vibha Raj.
Seats are limited, so plan ahead
One practical thing to know. We run only two active studio batches, and new ones open just once or twice a year, when our teachers can give them proper attention. So if a studio batch is open and the timing suits you, it is wise to take your seat rather than wait. There is no hard sell here, only that the right window does not come around every month.
Two quick examples
Sometimes a real situation makes the choice clear.
If you live in Bangalore with free mornings, perhaps recently retired or with a flexible routine, and you have always wanted to try this art, the weekday studio batch is close to perfect. You get out of the house, into a calm room, and learn hands-on twice a week.
If you work through the week but love the idea of a dedicated creative weekend, the Saturday and Sunday batch lets you learn in person without touching your work hours. You still get all the benefits of the studio, shaped around a full life.
And if you are visiting Bangalore for a few months, perhaps home with family for a season, a studio batch can be a lovely way to spend that time and leave with a finished painting and a new skill to take back with you.
The studio may not be your best fit if...
We would rather you learn in the way that actually works for your life, so here is the honest other side. The studio may not be the right choice if you live far from Bangalore or the twice-a-week commute would wear you down. It may not suit you if your weeks are unpredictable and fixed class times are hard to keep, or if you travel often. And if you simply prefer learning quietly at your own pace, at home, late in the evening, a self-paced course will make you happier than a scheduled one.
None of that means you cannot learn Tanjore painting with us. It just means a different format will serve you better. For an unpredictable schedule or a home far away, live online keeps the teachers and the structure without the travel. For full freedom over your own time, our DIY video course lets you learn whenever you like, with a teacher on WhatsApp. You can compare them in our guide to all three formats.
Not in Bangalore? Choose live online
If you are outside Bangalore, or the commute is simply too much, our live online class is the natural choice. It is taught by the same teachers, two evenings a week on Zoom, with three cameras so you see every detail, and every session recorded. You can read what a live online class is really like and when live online is the right choice.
Still weighing your options? Our full guide to online, studio and DIY classes lays all three side by side, and if you want the in-person picture in full, read learning at our Bangalore studio.
Why learn with us
If you are still weighing it up, it helps to hear from someone who was unsure too.
"I never thought I would learn the art so quickly and easily. Vibha and team were very warm and patient in teaching me. They actually instill so much confidence in you and make it look so easy for beginners. Their method of teaching, materials provided, training and facilities are top notch."
There is a real lineage behind the teaching. Our founder, Vibha Raj, is an award-winning Tanjore artist who learned from her mother, the master artist Vani Bhaskar, and she still takes the hardest parts herself, the faces and the intricate detail. With her teach Spurthy GB, trained at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, and Yashaswini Jaishankar, who began as a student with us. Across four decades we have guided over 5,000 students, carry a 5.0 rating from 450+ Google reviews, and have been featured in Deccan Herald, Hindustan Times, Deccan Chronicle and Incredible India.
Frequently asked questions
Is the studio course right for a complete beginner?
Yes. Every studio course is built for complete beginners, and the teachers guide you step by step through your first painting.
What if I am not in Bangalore?
Take our live online class instead. It is the same teaching from the same teachers, from anywhere, with recordings to catch up.
How big are the studio batches?
Small, 20 to 25 students, with three to four teachers in the room so you get personal attention.
Do I need to bring anything?
No. All your materials are provided on-site, including the 24 karat gold foil and kundan stones.
How soon can I join?
We run two active batches and open new ones once or twice a year, so it is best to take your seat when a suitable batch is open.
Whichever way you choose to learn, you will be in patient, caring hands. If the studio feels like you, come and sit with us. If not, we will meet you online, just as warmly.
More blog articles
Online vs DIY Tanjore Course: The Honest Comparison (With a Table)
Online or DIY Tanjore course? An honest, side-by-side comparison so you can choose structure or flexibility.
Inside Our DIY Tanjore Video Course: Lessons, Access and Real Feedback
A self-paced Tanjore painting video course with a bundled kit and real teacher feedback on WhatsApp. Here is exactly what you get.
Why 95%+ of Our Tanjore Painting Students Finish Their Painting
Most people who start a creative course never finish. Here, 95%+ do. The real reasons behind our completion rate.
What our students say
Hear from students who've learned the art of Tanjore painting with us.
