For Beena RK, learning Tanjore painting began with joining an offline studio course at Tanjore Collective. This was her first attempt at Tanjore painting, and over 6.5 weeks, she completed a traditional painting of Goddess Saraswati through structured, in-person guidance.
Learning Tanjore Painting from Scratch
Beena enrolled in the Goddess Saraswati – 6.5 Weeks Studio Course, conducted at the Tanjore Collective studio in Basavanagudi, Bangalore. As a beginner, she valued that the course started right from the basics.
“They literally teach us from scratch — right from picking up the board, sticking the paper, preparing the gum and gesso, all the way to the finished painting.”
The early sessions focused on understanding materials, canvas preparation, and building the foundation required for traditional Tanjore painting.
Step-by-Step Guidance Through the Entire Process
The course was structured to take students through the entire painting journey, from start to finish, with consistent practice at every stage.
“They teach us the entire start-to-end process, from preparing the base to completing the painting on the ready sketch provided.”
Having a prepared sketch helped Beena focus on learning technique, precision, and execution without feeling overwhelmed.
Learning to Correct Mistakes and Improve
One of the aspects Beena found especially helpful was learning how to correct mistakes during the process.
“They teach us a few tricks to correct the painting if we go wrong.”
In addition to in-studio guidance, students were also given access to recorded videos.
“The recorded videos helped us watch the steps in more detail and understand the intricate parts better.”
This combination of live instruction and recorded support helped Beena gain clarity and confidence.
A Calm Studio Experience with Continuous Support
Beena’s learning experience was shaped not just by technique, but also by the studio environment and teaching approach.
“A heartfelt thanks to Vibha and her team — Spurthy and Yashaswini — for guiding us throughout the entire painting with a step-by-step process and a lot of patience.”
She also recalls the calm and focused atmosphere of the classes.
“The sessions were filled with divine music, and the classes left us with many beautiful memories.”
Completing Her First Tanjore Painting
By the end of the 6.5-week course, Beena completed her first Tanjore painting of Goddess Saraswati, gaining a deeper understanding of this intricate traditional art form.
“All these were an added advantage to truly understand the intricacies of Tanjore painting.”
She received a Certificate of Completion from Tanjore Collective upon finishing the course.
Encouraging Others to Learn Tanjore Painting
Reflecting on her experience, Beena strongly encourages others to try learning this art form.
“I definitely encourage people to give Tanjore painting a try at Tanjore Collective.”
Her journey highlights how structured studio teaching, patience, and step-by-step learning can help beginners confidently complete their first Tanjore painting.
