Online Tanjore Painting Classes for NRIs: Time Zones and Shipping
Written by
Yashaswini Jaishankar
A guide for NRIs and overseas learners: how our live online class times translate to the US, UK and Europe, how the materials kit ships abroad, and why DIY suits big time differences.
By Yashaswini Jaishankar, Head Teacher at Tanjore Collective. Yashaswini began as one of our students and now leads our classes.
Yes, you can learn Tanjore painting from the US, the UK or anywhere abroad. Our live online classes run over Zoom from about 5:45 to 7:30 PM India time, twice a week, and every session is recorded for you to watch later. If the time difference is large, our self-paced DIY video courses let you paint whenever suits you, and our Essentials Material Kit is shipped to you, usually arriving within three to four weeks outside India.
Key takeaways
- Many of our online students learn from the USA, the UK, Canada and Germany.
- Live classes meet twice a week, in the evening India time. Every session is recorded, and recordings stay available for one month after the course ends.
- DIY video courses have no fixed class time, with 75 to 90 days of course access depending on the deity.
- Kits ship via FedEx. Outside India, please allow three to four weeks for delivery.
- In 40 years we've taught more than 5,000 students, most of them complete beginners.
If you live far from India, you may feel that Tanjore painting belongs to home. Something you watched an aunt or a grandmother love, or saw in a temple town, and never quite had the chance to learn. And then there's the practical worry. Will the class times work? Will the gold and stones even reach me? Will I be the only one so far away?
You won't be. Plenty of our students paint from far away, fitting their sessions around work, family and a very different clock. This guide explains how it works: the timings, the shipping, and how to choose between live and DIY.
Can NRIs learn Tanjore painting online?
Yes. Our online classes are built so that you can learn from anywhere, whether you join live over Zoom or follow a self-paced DIY video course.
We teach many NRIs and international learners, especially from the USA, the UK, Canada and Germany. You don't need any drawing or painting experience. Your canvas comes pre-sketched, and we teach every step, from preparing the canvas and setting the kundan stones to laying 24 karat gold and painting the face.
If you'd like to hear it from students themselves, read how Anu learned from the USA, or how Sumedha learned across time zones.
How do live class timings work across time zones?
Our live online batches meet twice a week, usually from 5:45 to 7:30 PM India Standard Time (IST). Every session is recorded and shared with you, so you never fall behind if a class lands at an awkward hour.
Here's roughly what a 5:45 PM IST start looks like where you live. India doesn't change its clocks, so when your country moves to or from daylight saving time, your local start time shifts by an hour.
| Where you are | Start time (winter) | Start time (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| UK (London) | 12:15 PM | 1:15 PM |
| Germany (Berlin) | 1:15 PM | 2:15 PM |
| US East Coast and Toronto | 7:15 AM | 8:15 AM |
| US Central | 6:15 AM | 7:15 AM |
| US West Coast and Vancouver | 4:15 AM | 5:15 AM |
Class days and times can vary by batch, so check the course page. Tell us your city when you enrol and we'll happily confirm your local time.
As you can see, live classes sit comfortably in a UK or European afternoon, and work as an early-morning class on the US East Coast. On the West Coast, the live time falls before dawn, which is where the recordings matter. You can watch the recording later the same day and bring your questions to the next live class. Recordings stay available for one month after the course ends, so you have time to revisit any stage.
Curious what a live session actually feels like? Here's what a live online class is like.
Watch: learning Tanjore painting online
A glimpse of a live online class, from the painting on the desk to the teacher on the screen.
Is a DIY course better if the time difference is large?
Often, yes. A DIY video course has no class time at all. You watch pre-recorded lessons whenever you like, and send photos of your painting to your teacher on WhatsApp for guidance.
That's why DIY is so popular with international students, and especially with those on the US West Coast, where live classes fall in the early hours. It also suits anyone whose weeks are unpredictable: shift workers, parents of young children, people who travel.
| DIY course | Size (inches) | Course access |
|---|---|---|
| Goddess Lakshmi | 10 x 12 or 12 x 15 | 75 days |
| Goddess Saraswati | 10 x 12 or 12 x 15 | 90 days |
| Lord Ganesha | 12 x 12 or 15 x 15 | 90 days |
| Goddess Lalitha Devi | 10 x 12 or 12 x 15 | 90 days |
Shruthi learned with our DIY course from abroad; you can read her DIY course experience. For more on how the DIY format works, see our guide to the DIY course.
Live or DIY: a quick way to decide
- Choose live if the class time works for you (often true in the UK, Europe and on the US East Coast) and you'd love real-time correction, with a batch learning alongside you.
- Choose DIY if the live time falls in the middle of your night or your workday, or if you'd rather go at your own pace.
Still unsure? Our guide to which format fits you compares them side by side.
How do Tanjore painting materials ship abroad?
Our Essentials Material Kit (₹4,000) is shipped to you via FedEx. Outside India, please allow three to four weeks for it to arrive, so order early.
The kit has everything you need: a pre-sketched canvas, 24 karat gold sheets, Arabic gum, chalk powder, kundan stones, original Swarovski crystals and four premium brushes. Shipping charges depend on the size of your package and your destination, and you'll see them before you pay. Our coverage depends on the areas our shipping partner serves, so if you're unsure whether we deliver to you, just ask us first.
A gentle tip: for a live batch, order your kit as soon as you've registered. Three to four weeks can pass quickly, and you'll want it on your table before the first class. With DIY there's no start date to meet, so you simply begin when it arrives.
How do you enrol from abroad?
Pick live or DIY, register on the course page, and order your kit with your full overseas address. Then tell us your city, and we'll confirm your class times.
- Choose your format. Live if the times suit you, DIY if they don't.
- Pick your course. Our next live batches begin in January 2027 with Lord Balaji, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman. See every upcoming batch in our course dates guide. DIY courses start anytime.
- Register and order your kit. Enter your complete address, and order early so the kit arrives in time.
- Tell us your city. We'll confirm your local class times for live batches.
Distance changes the clock, but not the heart of this art. You'll still sit with your deity, stage by stage, and watch the gold slowly catch the light. I can't wait for you to fall in love with this art form.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take live classes from the US or UK?
Yes. Live classes run from about 5:45 to 7:30 PM IST, which is early afternoon in the UK and early morning on the US East Coast. Every session is recorded, so you can catch up if a class falls at an awkward hour.
How long does shipping take abroad?
Please allow three to four weeks for delivery outside India. Kits ship via FedEx, and shipping charges depend on your package size and destination.
Is DIY better for NRIs?
Often, especially if the live time falls in your night. DIY courses have no fixed class time, come with WhatsApp guidance from your teacher, and give you 75 to 90 days of access depending on the deity.
How long can I watch the live class recordings?
Recordings of every live session are available for one month after your course ends.
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