Judith & Janki

The Judith & Janki Atelier is structured around four sequential modules, followed by a final capstone. Each medium is taught independently and rigorously, with shared study types reinforced across the program.

Module 1 — Charcoal Mastery
Charcoal establishes the structural and perceptual foundation of the atelier. Students develop control over proportion, tonal hierarchy, and light logic through sustained observational drawing. Emphasis is placed on building a dependable drawing system that supports all subsequent work.

Core studies include still life, drapery, architectural fragments, valley landscapes, and portraiture drawn from life.

Module 2 — Watercolour Mastery
Watercolour introduces colour, atmosphere, and spatial depth through controlled layering and restrained palettes. Students learn to manage water, pigment, and timing under variable outdoor conditions, translating observation into resolved field studies.

Studies include valley and Manali landscapes, built environments, streets and people, botanical and atmospheric studies, and compositional development from sketch to finished work.

Module 3 — Ink Mastery
Ink is used to refine line, weight, and structural clarity. Through portraiture, drapery, and environmental studies, students strengthen anatomical understanding and compositional economy. The medium demands decisiveness and reinforces accuracy in observation.

Studies focus on people, portraiture, textiles, architectural surfaces, and lived scenes from the valley.

Module 4 — Mural Study and Restoration
Mural practice introduces scale, surface, and site responsibility. Students work with acrylics on wall surfaces, learning preparation methods, scaling systems, compositional transfer, and controlled execution. The module also addresses basic principles of mural conservation and restoration, including surface assessment and ethical intervention.

Work is carried out through supervised wall studies and site-based exercises, connecting studio decisions to architectural context.

The atelier culminates in a final personal project that brings together the full span of study across drawing, painting, and mural practice. The capstone serves as a point of resolution—where technical skill, material judgement, and working method are held together within a focused direction.

Each participant defines a project grounded in observation, material understanding, and site awareness. Projects may take the form of a cohesive studio body of work, a site-responsive mural proposal or execution, or an integrated approach that connects field study with wall-based practice.

The capstone unfolds through a defined sequence of preparatory studies, material tests, scaled trials, and final execution. Emphasis is placed on clarity of intent, technical consistency, and disciplined decision-making across medium, surface, and scale.

Work and documentation are submitted at established milestones. Final assessment considers both outcome and process. Certification is awarded upon completion of all required studies, documentation, and final review in accordance with the program timeline.

Each studio day follows a steady, repeatable structure that supports sustained attention and technical development. Mornings are dedicated to guided demonstration and focused making. Afternoons extend into independent work, field studies, and site-based exercises, with faculty present for continuous guidance.

Critique is embedded into the working day rather than isolated from it. Feedback is given in real time—at the drawing board, on site, and during execution—allowing adjustments to be made through practice rather than retrospectively.

Documentation, material preparation, and cleanup form part of the daily rhythm. These practices reinforce responsibility toward tools, surfaces, and shared space, and support continuity across the duration of the atelier.

The Judith & Janki Atelier places equal weight on work produced and methods employed. Outcomes are evaluated through technical clarity, material understanding, and the ability to sustain a coherent working process.

Participants are expected to complete all assigned studies, field work, and site-based exercises across modules. Progress is reviewed through regular critique, with attention given to accuracy, decision-making, and consistency of execution.

Documentation is an integral part of the program. Each participant maintains a structured record of their work, including preparatory drawings, material tests, process notes, and photographic records of completed studies and mural stages. Documentation reflects how decisions are made, tested, and refined over time.

Final assessment considers both studio output and documentation. Certification is awarded upon completion of all required work, submissions, and reviews in accordance with the program timeline.

Participants complete the program with:

• Portfolio-ready studio and field work across multiple mediums

• A documented working process suitable for professional or academic contexts

• Practical experience with site-based execution and material responsibility

• A clear, transferable studio methodology.

The Judith & Janki Atelier is structured for artists prepared to work with consistency, material responsibility, and sustained attention over time. The program values patience, accuracy, and presence in daily practice.

Admission is based on readiness to engage with the demands of the atelier—its pace, its standards, and its methods—rather than background or stylistic alignment. Applicants are encouraged to apply when they recognise this point of readiness within their own practice.