The Art Of Devotion – Pichwai Painting Masterclass With Raja Ram Sharma

Pichhwai Paintings are intricate paintings, done mostly on cloth or paper, portraying the life of Lord Krishna. This art form has its roots in the holy town of Nathdwara, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The purpose of Pichhwais, other than their artistic appeal, is to narrate tales of Krishna. From the same city, we bring to you Master Artist Rajaram Sharma, who paints Krishna’s several lives like no other. 

The beautiful art form is 400 years old depicting the mythological stories of Lord Krishna. The word Pichwai itself comes from the Sanskrit words, ‘pich’ which means back and ‘wai’ meaning hanging. It, therefore, means traditional paintings which are hanging behind the idol of Shrinathji on the walls of the temples located in Nathdwara district. The paintings take a considerable amount of time, ranging from a couple of weeks to months.

Did you know? There is a colony and street of artists called ‘Chitron ki gali’ (street of paintings) and ‘Chitrakaron ka mohallah’ (colony of painters) in Nathdwara, Udaipur where Pichwai Painters live and practice.

Since childhood, Rajaram Sharma had immersed himself in Pichwai Art. At the age of 13, he came to Nathdwara to train under the guidance of Tulsidas Ji, the head of Shrinathji temple. He trained under the best Pichwai artists for many decades and became adept in both Pichwai and miniature paintings. Currently, he works at his own studio, namely “Chitrashala'', in Udaipur, where he also guides and trains upcoming artists. For his work, he was awarded the National Merit Certificate in 2016.

The artist draws his inspiration from the ever-lasting, glorious, mythic, sometimes naughty, sometimes shrewd and always vibrant tales of Lord Krishna. The undying mythological stories provide a treasure-trove of characters, plots and situations fuelling the artist’s imagination. Immerse yourself in his cultural and artistic studio to experience the life of Lord Krishna one stroke at a time. Take home a souvenir and memories of a lifetime. 

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

• Take a cultural walkthrough of Pichhwai painting
• Get a live demonstration of the entire process 
• One-on-one conversations with the award-winning artist
• Co-create a cherished memory 
• Take home a little piece of Udaipur with you
• Be assisted by Rajasthan Studio team
• Small Group Sizes