Ardhanarishwara: Union of Shiva and Shakti with Thalam

About the Workshop

Create a traditional style Kerala Mural painting of ‘Ardhanarishwara (the union of Shiva and Shakti as half-male and half-female with Thalam) ’ with master native artist Mr. Saju M.P

🎨 Creating a Traditional Kerala Mural Painting: A Step-by-Step Guide:

Mr. Saju M.P. will guide you through the process of creating this mesmerizing painting in the traditional Kerala mural art form, using the Thalam (proportional measurement system) and conventional motifs, detailing the techniques from start to finish on canvas.

This workshop provides a complete, step-by-step immersion into the authentic methods of this ancient art.

"Thalam" in Kerala mural art refers to an ancient unit of measurement used for creating figures, particularly human and divine forms, with the correct proportions as prescribed by traditional Indian iconographic texts (Shilpa Shastras).
It is part of a system known as Thalapramanam (measurement based on Thalam).

Ardhanarishwara (The union of Shiva and Shakti): The painting depicts Ardhanarishvara, the unified form of Shiva (calm, trident-bearing right side) and Shakti (vibrant, drum-holding left side), powerfully illustrating their complementary energies and the essential balance they bring to the universe. It captures the essence of the divine union and cosmic balance perfectly.

create your masterpiece learning the techniques and history of this beautiful art form.

In this 3-week workshop, you will create your masterpiece while learning the techniques and history of this beautiful art form. The curriculum is structured as follows:

Week 1: Dedicated instruction on the Thalam (traditional proportional measurement system).
Weeks 2 & 3: Learning the usual techniques, including sketching and the complete painting process.

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 this ancient art form's motifs, techniques, and history. Sign up for the workshop today!

Theme: Ardhanarishwara (The union of Shiva and Shakti)
Dates: 24th Nov. to 12th Dec. 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM IST (Mon to Fri.)
Duration: 15 sessions (15 Hours Approx)
Original Price: ₹ 3200

Materials Needed

Material Needed:
-25*19 Inches Thick Paper/Canvas
- Pencils / Eraser / Sharpener
- Black Color Pen / Thin Marker
- Acrylic Colors - Indian red, Scarlet Lake, Vermilion hue, Pression blue, Black, White, Yellow ochre, Permanent yellow medium, Sap green, Olive green, Burnt umber, Burnt Sienna
- Long Hair Brushes: 000, 2, 5,4,6,8
- Pallet
- Bowl of Water
- Old Cloth

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 the 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 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.

*Source*