These books elaborate on the unique form of art and distinctive style of every region, says Neha Kirpal.
India’s leading online learning platform for live art workshops and professionally curated art courses, Rooftop App, recently launched Artventures Art Books. This series features do-it- yourself (DIY) art books covering various Indian art forms, including Phad, Gond, Warli, Mata Ni Pachedi and Pichhwai. The series is divided into three categories, which cater to everyone right from beginners to experts.
The elementary level books are designed for children aged between five to ten years, providing age-appropriate content that fosters early artistic development. Geared towards beginner artists, the essentials level books offer foundational knowledge and skills to kick- start the artistic journey. The last one is the expert level books, which is tailored for those already familiar with a specific art form and requires help to hone their techniques and deepen understanding of the particular art form.
Each book in these series have been thoughtfully created to provide readers with deep insights and practical knowledge, enhancing their skills and appreciation for the artworks. The Artventures Art Books complements Rooftop App’s online learning platform, allowing users to explore art at their own pace and delve into new art forms. “Our mission is to make art accessible and engaging for everyone while nurturing a global community of passionate artists and art lovers. Rooftop’s Artventures series draws from the first-hand artistic and cultural expertise imparted by master artists from across India. Images featured in the elementary, essentials and expert books are sourced directly from these esteemed artists with their due permission and adapted for creative audiences by Team Rooftop,” said Kartik Gaggar, founder and CEO of Rooftop App.
Pichhwai paintings usually serve as the backdrops for religious shrines of Shrinath ji, the youthful manifestation of Lord Krishna. With the help of master artist Rajaram Sharma, the Artventures of Pichhwai by Rooftop App helps learners identify and learn various intricacies and techniques associated with the devotional practices of Shrinath ji’s worship.
The Artventure of Phad is perfect in providing a solid foundation in Phad art. Believed to have originated in Shahpura in the 14th century, Phad paintings were originally created by the Chhipa caste of the Mewar region of Rajasthan. These scrolls are used during storytelling performances of Rabari priests and priestesses locally known as bhopas and bhopis who travel from one village to another with these scrolls and instruments, such as the Ravanhatta for their performance. These books give one an opportunity to learn from master artist Kalyan Joshi who comes from a lineage of Phad painters dating back to the 13th century.
The Artventures of Gond features step-by-step breakdowns of basic Gond patterns, making learning accessible, engaging and fun. The books provide authentic knowledge sourced from the well-known artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam. It helps one explore the complex relationship between humans and nature through bold colours and vibrant patterns. The books also cover prominent designs and motifs, helping one grasp the basics and progress to more complex compositions with ease.
The Artventures of Warli help one to delve deep into Warli art and culture with the intricacies and techniques associated with this art form from Maharashtra. The books in this series help make one a master of the art form in no time. The expert edition includes in-depth theory pages laden with origin stories, religious practices, festivals and other knowledge privy only to master artists. The books provide one an opportunity to learn various compositions of Warli painting from artists Pravin Mhase, Shadashiv Mhase and Vijay Mhase. Mata ni Pachedi is an extremely detailed and labourintensive form of art, originated as the Vaghari community’s own makeshift shrine depicting the Goddess and her hundred forms, on cloth in Gujarat around three centuries ago. The Artventures of Mata ni Pachedi helps one understand the mythological characters, human figures, flora and fauna used in this art form by covering all the designs and motifs. The works in the series are by Chitara family artists, namely, Chandrakant, Kiran, Vikram and Vinod Chitara.
