India’s leading online learning platform for live art workshops and professionally curated art courses, Rooftop App, launches 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 Pichwai.
The series is divided into three categories, catering to beginners and experts. The Elementary level books are designed for children aged between five and 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 creative journey. The last one is the Expert level books, which are tailored for those already familiar with a specific art form and require help to hone their techniques and deepen their understanding of the particular art form.
Each book in this series has been thoughtfully created to provide readers with deep insights and practical knowledge, enhancing their skills and appreciation for the artworks. The Adventures 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 firsthand 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 Mr Kartik Gaggar, Founder and CEO of Rooftop App.
The titles in the series include:
The Artventures of Warli: This will help you to delve deep into the Warli art and culture with the intricacies and techniques associated with this art form from Maharashtra. The books in this series will help you become 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 only available to master artists. Learn the various compositions of Warli painting from artists Pravin Mhase, Shadashiv Mhase and Vijay Mhase.
Mata ni Pachedi is a highly detailed and labour-intensive art form that originated as the Vaghari community’s makeshift shrine depicting the Goddess and her hundred forms on cloth in Gujarat around 300 years ago. The Artventures of Mata ni Pachedi helps to 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.
The Artventures of Gond: This features step-by-step breakdowns of basic Gond patterns, making learning accessible, engaging and fun. The books provide authentic knowledge from the well-known artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam. Explore the complex relationship between humans and nature through bold colours and vibrant patterns. The books cover prominent designs and motifs, helping you quickly grasp the basics and progress to more complex compositions.
Pichwai paintings usually serve as the backdrops for religious shrines of Shrinathji (the youthful manifestation of Lord Krishna). The Artventures of Pichwai by Rooftop App helps the learners to identify and learn the various intricacies and techniques associated with the devotional practices of Shrinathji’s worship with the help of master artist Rajaram Sharma.
The Artventure of Phad: These art books are perfect for all age groups, providing a solid foundation in Phad art. Believed to have originated in Shahpura in the 14th Century, Phad paintings were 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 like the Ravanhatta for their performance. These books allow you to learn from master artist Kalyan Joshi, who comes from a lineage of Phad painters dating back to the 13th century.
