Lord Ayyappa Swami – The Celestial Guardian of Dharma

About Art:-

Create a traditional-style Kerala Mural of "Lord Ayyappa Swami – The Celestial Guardian of Dharma " with master native artist Mr. Saju M.P. He will take you through the process of creating this beautiful painting using the right traditional motifs and techniques.

About Art:-
Kerala mural paintings are a type of art done in temples for more than 2000 years by local artists and passed down through families. These paintings are famous for being beautiful, clear, and symmetrical. They were used to show stories from religion and mythology on the walls of temples and churches in South India starting from the 8th century. The artists who create these traditional murals are highly skilled and creative, making this art form a valuable part of Kerala's heritage.

In this art, artists use traditional colours like red, yellow ochre, green, blue, white, and black. This set of colours is called "panchvarna," meaning five-coloured. Colours are essential in Kerala mural painting, bringing energy and liveliness to the detailed artwork. The colour palette of these paintings is a mix of lively shades, mainly drawn from the beauty of nature. Initially, artists used traditional mineral pigments, but nowadays, modern acrylic and oil-based paints are also used. Please read this blog to know more about the techniques of Kerala Mural Paintings.

About the Workshop

Create a traditional-style Kerala Mural of "Lord Ayyappa Swami – The Celestial Guardian of Dharma " with master native artist Mr. Saju M.P. He will take you through the process of creating this beautiful painting using the right traditional motifs and techniques.

Lord Ayyappa Swami – The Celestial Guardian of Dharma: This image portrays Lord Ayyappa Swami, a widely worshipped deity in South India, especially in Kerala. He is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini, symbolizing the union of divine forces. Lord Ayyappa is depicted in a yogic posture (Padmasana), representing meditation, discipline, and spiritual strength. The artwork reflects the Kerala mural style, known for its vibrant colors and intricate detailing. Offerings placed before the deity signify traditional worship and devotion by his followers.

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. A structured classroom with step-wise instructions. pictures and recorded videos will be available after the session on Google Classroom.

This is a great opportunity to learn the motifs, techniques, and history of this ancient art form. Sign up for the workshop today!

Theme: Vighnaharta Ganesha
Dates: 30th June to 10th July 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM IST (Mon to Fri.)
Duration: 8 sessions (8 Hours+)Approx
Price: INR 1999 (2 weeks)

Learning Objectives and Modules:

In this workshop, participants will learn about the intricate traditional techniques of Kerala Mural art, focusing on washing methods and various shading and outlining styles. The history of the art form and the significance of its motifs will be explored in detail. Attendees will gain hands-on experience with all the techniques used in creating Kerala Mural paintings, including a step-by-step drawing and painting tutorial with detailed voiceovers. Throughout the process, the artist will provide guidance, support, and answer any questions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of this traditional art form.

Workshop is divided into 8 sessions / modules:
First two stages of Kerala Mural - Lekhya Karma and Rekha Karma (sketching and outlining) is already done if pre-sketch is provided and you can follow that if you are beginner. We will follow with other steps in the workshop

Module 1: Washing ornaments and some parts of dresses
Module 2: Giving of the two coat of the base color and Starting of the Outlining

Module 3: Washing and Shading of Ayyappa Swami

Module 6: Continue the shading and detailing
Module 7:Completing the detailing and starting "Muzhukkidal" or "Muricidal

Module 8: Finishing up with "Muricidal using black outlining and Completing the painting

Materials Needed

14*19 Inches Thick Paper/Canvas
Pencils / Eraser / Sharpener/ Black Color Pen / Thin Marker
Acrylic Colors - Ochre Yellow, Permanent Blue Light, Turquoise, Cadmium Red, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Sap Green, Olive green, Cadmium Yellow, black
Long Hair Brushes: 000, 2, 5, 4, 6, 8
Pallet
Bowl of Water
Old Cloth

(Basic Sketch Would Be Provided As Pre-Work For Tracing/Sketching)

About the Master Artist

Mr. Saju.M.P. comes from a lineage of Kerala Mural artists. His work can be seen in the temples (Guruvayoor) and churches of Kerala. He is also actively involved in restoration work of Kerala Murals to preserve this heritage art.

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 as per their convenience and seek artist guidance in live sessions to manage the artwork in their chosen size of canvas.
Artist typically use 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**

*Source*