Going On A Creative Yatra In Pattachitra colours
Smita Choudhary felt the spirit of devotion while painting an elaborate Puri Jagannath Yatra in Pattachitra style at a recent Catterfly online class.
Gajalakshmi: A Symbol of Wealth, Wisdom, and Abundance
Gajalakshmi: A Symbol of Wealth, Wisdom, and Abundance
About the workshop
Enjoy learning Pattachitra painting, "Gajalakshmi: A Symbol of Wealth, Wisdom, and Abundance," using traditional motifs and techniques with national awardee artist Mr. Bhaskar Mohapatra
Pattachitra is an ancient art form from Odisha, India, dating back to the 12th century. Artists, called Chitrakars, use 100% natural colors from conch shells and minerals to create intricate paintings on various surfaces like cloth, palm leaves, wood, and jewelry. The art depicts Hindu mythological stories, particularly around Lord Jagannath, Vaishnavism, and local folk tales, reflecting Odia tradition. Evolving, Pattachitra adapted to British and European tastes in the 19th century, preserving its rich legacy with vibrant colors and intricate details, offering a captivating visual representation of Odia culture.
Gajalakshmi: A Symbol of Wealth, Wisdom, and Abundance: Gajalakshmi is a revered form of Goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. In traditional Pattachitra painting, she is often depicted seated gracefully on a lotus flower, representing purity and spiritual beauty. Seated serenely in padmasana atop an open pink lotus rising from rippling waters, the four-armed deity radiates spiritual poise and elegance. Flanking her ornate, multi-tiered crown (mukuta), two caparisoned white elephants perform jalabhisheka by pouring sacred waters from golden pitchers, signifying purification and eternal abundance. In her upper hands, she holds blooming pink lotus stalks that support the celestial elephants, while her lower hands display the abhaya mudra for fearless protection and varada mudra for benevolence. Elephants are shown on either side of the goddess, pouring water over her or offering auspicious blessings. She is adorned with intricate jewellery, a beautiful crown, and traditional garments decorated with elaborate patterns. The vibrant colours, bold outlines, and fine detailing reflect the distinctive artistic style of Pattachitra. Lotus flowers, decorative borders, and symmetrical designs enhance the divine beauty and harmony of the composition. This sacred artwork represents prosperity, auspiciousness, and divine grace, making Gajalakshmi a meaningful subject in Indian traditional art.
In this 2-week workshop, create your masterpiece, learning the techniques and history of this beautiful art form. You can attend live Zoom sessions where you interact with the master artist and other participants, learning not only the art form in depth but also more about the culture of the region. The recorded videos will be available after the sessions as well.
This is a great opportunity to learn the motifs, techniques, and history of this ancient art form. Sign up for the workshop today!
Theme: Gajalakshmi: A Symbol of Wealth, Wisdom, and Abundance
Dates: 16th to 27th Nov. 2026 (Mon to Fri)
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM IST (2 weeks)
Duration: 10 Sessions (12 Hours approx)
Original Price: INR 2800
Dates: 16th to 27th Nov. 2026 (Mon to Fri)
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM IST (2 weeks)
Duration: 10 Sessions (12 Hours approx)
Original Price: INR 2800
Learning Objectives and Modules
Learn the intricate design and techniques of Pattachitra painting through live interaction with an artist. Also, learn the importance of the Goddess in Pattachitra painting, the folk stories behind the paintings, their relevance in modern times, and the peculiar features of Pattachitra painting, from base coloring to detailing.
What we will learn :
- To understand the history, origin, and cultural significance of Pattachitra, with a focus on its depictions of deities.
- To identify traditional motifs, color schemes, and stylistic elements of Pattachitra.
- To discuss the symbolism and stories associated with Goddess Meenakshi
- Complete a detailed Pattachitra painting featuring Goddess Meenakshi as the central figure.
Module Details :
Module 1 to 5
Module 1: Introduction to Pattachitra and Maa Gajalakshmi as the Theme
Learn about the traditional Pattachitra art form and the significance of Maa Gajalakshmi as a symbol of wealth, prosperity, abundance, and divine blessings.
Module 2: Basic Colour Application Techniques
Practise basic colour application techniques, including base colouring, smooth filling, shading, and highlighting, to achieve a neat and balanced finish.
Module 3: Applying Base Colours to Maa Gajalakshmi
Apply base colours to the figure of Maa Gajalakshmi, paying close attention to colour boundaries, consistency, and the traditional colour palette of Pattachitra.
Module 4: Painting Jewellery and Decorative Patterns
Learn traditional Pattachitra techniques for illustrating the goddess’s jewellery, crown, ornaments, and attire with intricate decorative patterns.
Module 5: Highlighting the Ornaments and Figures
Apply delicate highlights to the goddess’s jewellery, garments, and other elements to enhance their visual appeal and create a sense of depth.
Modules 6 to 10
Module 6: Refining Colours, Lines, and Details
Refine the painting by correcting colour application, improving line accuracy, and enhancing the details of Maa Gajalakshmi and the surrounding elements.
Module 7: Creating Intricate Pattachitra Designs
Learn to create fine decorative patterns and intricate detailing on the goddess’s attire, jewellery, lotus flowers, and elephants, following traditional Pattachitra aesthetics.
Module 8: Colouring the Background and Decorative Borders
Apply colours to the background and borders, maintaining precision, symmetry, and consistency throughout the traditional decorative patterns.
Module 9: Black Outlining and Defining Features
Learn the traditional black outlining technique to define the facial features, jewellery, garments, elephants, lotus motifs, and other elements of the composition.
Module 10: Final Touches and Finishing
Complete the painting by refining the outlines, adding final highlights, correcting minor imperfections, and enhancing the overall details to achieve a polished Pattachitra artwork.
Materials Needed
Material Needed:
- Chart Papers / Canvas -13*19 Inches
- Acrylic Colors
- Pencils / Eraser / Sharpener/Black Colour Pen / Thin Marker
- Long Hair Brushes: 0/1/2/3
(Basic Sketch Would Be Provided As Pre-Work For Tracing / Sketching)
About the Master Artist
Bhaskar Mohapatra is an award-winning Pattachitra artist from Odisha, India, known for vibrant scroll paintings without pencil or charcoal sketches. He continues a family tradition of hereditary chitrakars, emphasizing cultural and familial importance. Using traditional methods for colors and canvases adds authenticity, preserving Pattachitra's cultural heritage. Bhaskar's diverse themes and award-winning work contribute to the versatility and significance of Pattachitra art nationally, aiding its continuation and revitalization.
Know more - About the Artist
Image Source and Disclaimers
Disclaimer for the art workshop:
- The artist will make the painting in the standard size, and it is recommended to use the same size. However, participants may choose other sizes at their convenience and seek artist guidance in live sessions to manage the artwork in their chosen canvas size.
- The artist typically uses the brushes at their convenience as they have years of experience. Participants may choose the brush size as per their convenience and level of expertise, and seek artist guidance in the live sessions.
- Artists use the sample image as a reference image for teaching purposes only. They typically provide their interpretation and variations to make a unique artwork. Sample image is not copied as it is and Catterfly provides the due credit to the original artist (wherever available) in our marketing communications.
**The displayed image is a representational image from the net. Check our website to see the source and name of the original artist. **
Credit for the reference image: Subrat
Duration
12 Hrs
Price
