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Student profile

Abhiraj Karale

Abhiraj Karale

Abhiraj from Dhar in Madhya Pradesh is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Fine Arts. He enjoys painting nature landscape and appreciate watercolour for their texture and free flow of colour. He likes figurative work and making compositions. He is very passionate about his artwork and sees himself as an accomplished illustrator in the future. Currently ,he wants to polish his skills and learning at Riyaaz.

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Abhiraj from Dhar in Madhya Pradesh is currently pursuing a Bachelors in Fine Arts. He enjoys painting nature landscape and appreciate watercolour for their texture and free flow of colour. He likes figurative work and making compositions. He is very passionate about his artwork and sees himself as an accomplished illustrator in the future. Currently ,he wants to polish his skills and learning at Riyaaz.

Social media links:


Aditya Maru

Aditya Maru

A passionate artist, Aditya hails from Gifa Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. He likes to work using different mediums like oil, ink, pen, water colour. He wants to join Riyaaz to understand children’s literature work sector and work. Riyaaz Academy will give him an opportunity to learn, to think and build himself as a good illustrator.

A passionate artist, Aditya hails from Gifa Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. He likes to work using different mediums like oil, ink, pen, water colour. He wants to join Riyaaz to understand children’s literature work sector and work. Riyaaz Academy will give him an opportunity to learn, to think and build himself as a good illustrator.

Bakul Kumar

Bakul Kumar

A post-graduate in fine arts from M.S. University of Baroda, Bakul has been working as an art teacher in a school ever since. He is currently pursuing B.Ed. in special education. He is pursuing the illustrators course at Riyaaz academy to enhance his art skills and learn about children’s literature and children’s story book illustration.

A post-graduate in fine arts from M.S. University of Baroda, Bakul has been working as an art teacher in a school ever since. He is currently pursuing B.Ed. in special education. He is pursuing the illustrators course at Riyaaz academy to enhance his art skills and learn about children’s literature and children’s story book illustration.

Kahkashan Jamal

Kahkashan Jamal

A post graduate in commerce, Kahkashan has been fond of drawing but did not get enough support from family to pursue art as a profession. He continued to sketch for himself, until one day his uncle informed him about the Riyaaz Academy of Illustrators. His other interest includes singing and photographing nature around him.

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A post graduate in commerce, Kahkashan has been fond of drawing but did not get enough support from family to pursue art as a profession. He continued to sketch for himself, until one day his uncle informed him about the Riyaaz Academy of Illustrators. His other interest includes singing and photographing nature around him.

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Keerthana Srinivasan

Encouraged by her parents to pursue a postal art diploma course, she ended up as a software engineering graduate. Keerthaana has worked in the software industry for many years and her art was restricted to the occasional pictionary game. After becoming an empty-nester, she re-discovered her passion for sketching and children’s illustrated books. She started attending weekend sketch meetups of Pencil jammers and after hearing about Riyaaz academy, she realized that it can be the best place to explore a career in illustration. For the last 5 years, she has been pursuing Dhrupad and sing with a Bangalore based group called ‘Sunaad’. Her other interests include swimming, cycling and taichi.

Encouraged by her parents to pursue a postal art diploma course, she ended up as a software engineering graduate. Keerthaana has worked in the software industry for many years and her art was restricted to the occasional pictionary game. After becoming an empty-nester, she re-discovered her passion for sketching and children’s illustrated books. She started attending weekend sketch meetups of Pencil jammers and after hearing about Riyaaz academy, she realized that it can be the best place to explore a career in illustration. For the last 5 years, she has been pursuing Dhrupad and sing with a Bangalore based group called ‘Sunaad’. Her other interests include swimming, cycling and taichi.

Kruti Kothari

Kruti Kothari

Kruti has been drawing since she was a child. As academics took priority over art, sketchbook and pencils were replaced by gigantic technology books. Until, one day, she started drawing in her notebook while the professor explained some algorithm. It took her some years and three jobs to finally realize that she could be a full-time illustrator instead of an information technology consultant. In the last 10 years, she has savored her nephew’s books. Intrigued and fascinated by the illustrations, style and literature which eventually led her to take a leap and pursue illustrations for children’s books at Riyaaz Academy for Illustrators.

Social media and blog links:

Kruti has been drawing since she was a child. As academics took priority over art, sketchbook and pencils were replaced by gigantic technology books. Until, one day, she started drawing in her notebook while the professor explained some algorithm. It took her some years and three jobs to finally realize that she could be a full-time illustrator instead of an information technology consultant. In the last 10 years, she has savored her nephew’s books. Intrigued and fascinated by the illustrations, style and literature which eventually led her to take a leap and pursue illustrations for children’s books at Riyaaz Academy for Illustrators.

Social media and blog links:

Manisha Kshatriya

Manisha Kshatriya

Manisha has been interested in art since her school days and her curious outlook has led her to work with different techniques and equal flair. A college dropout, Manisha wants to explore illustrations at the Riyaaz Academy. She is passionate about poetry writing, art, reading, and content designing. To her, art is a means to understand human emotions.

Manisha has been interested in art since her school days and her curious outlook has led her to work with different techniques and equal flair. A college dropout, Manisha wants to explore illustrations at the Riyaaz Academy. She is passionate about poetry writing, art, reading, and content designing. To her, art is a means to understand human emotions.

Milan Kumar

Milan Kumar

A Painting graduate from the College of Arts, Delhi university, art has been a part of Milan’s life for many years. He loves to sketch personal portraits and has been self-learning about individual photography for several years. He likes to paint using bright colours on the subjects of his paintings.

A Painting graduate from the College of Arts, Delhi university, art has been a part of Milan’s life for many years. He loves to sketch personal portraits and has been self-learning about individual photography for several years. He likes to paint using bright colours on the subjects of his paintings.

Pallavi Basu

Pallavi Basu

Pallavi believes in being an ever evolving artist. She has professionally illustrated and published many activity books for children. She likes to pen down her own story ideas and doodle various characters she imagines. Having worked as preschool teacher for four years, she has now begun illustrating story books for children. Her experience of working as a teacher has given her insights into the minds of the children.

Pallavi believes in being an ever evolving artist. She has professionally illustrated and published many activity books for children. She likes to pen down her own story ideas and doodle various characters she imagines. Having worked as preschool teacher for four years, she has now begun illustrating story books for children. Her experience of working as a teacher has given her insights into the minds of the children.

Sefi George

Sefi George

Sefi George is an illustrator and a sociologist based in Mumbai. She has an MA honours in Sociology, and is a visiting faculty at NMIMS School of Design, Mumbai, teaching modules of People and Design. Her artistic inclinations have led her to explore the labyrinths of human societies, social constructionism, and art. ‘Summer Scribbles’ is her homegrown brand, where she has been conducting art and craft workshops since 2013, and experimenting with illustrated merchandise. She works with digital media, acrylics, watercolours, pencils and ink and is working on her ethnographic writing skills.

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Sefi George is an illustrator and a sociologist based in Mumbai. She has an MA honours in Sociology, and is a visiting faculty at NMIMS School of Design, Mumbai, teaching modules of People and Design. Her artistic inclinations have led her to explore the labyrinths of human societies, social constructionism, and art. ‘Summer Scribbles’ is her homegrown brand, where she has been conducting art and craft workshops since 2013, and experimenting with illustrated merchandise. She works with digital media, acrylics, watercolours, pencils and ink and is working on her ethnographic writing skills.

Social media links:

Shriniwas Balkrushnan Agawane

Shriniwas Balkrushnan Agawane

An art graduate from Sir J.J School of Art (2006) and a Mumbai based contemporary artist, Shriniwas designs and publishes interactive art books for children. He is a feature writer for a well-known newspaper in Maharashtra. He is the founder president of the Chitrapatang Group and conducts lectures and workshops for adults around art.

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An art graduate from Sir J.J School of Art (2006) and a Mumbai based contemporary artist, Shriniwas designs and publishes interactive art books for children. He is a feature writer for a well-known newspaper in Maharashtra. He is the founder president of the Chitrapatang Group and conducts lectures and workshops for adults around art.

Social Media links :

Simran Kaur

Simran Kaur

Simran is an illustrator who believes in the unimaginable power of stories, illustrations, and love. She enjoys creating impactful, light-hearted and meaningful illustrations. Simran initially started with digital illustrations and now, at Riyaaz, she is dedicating her time to exploring traditional methods of drawing. She loves to create and is constantly developing and improving her skills and style.

Simran is an illustrator who believes in the unimaginable power of stories, illustrations, and love. She enjoys creating impactful, light-hearted and meaningful illustrations. Simran initially started with digital illustrations and now, at Riyaaz, she is dedicating her time to exploring traditional methods of drawing. She loves to create and is constantly developing and improving her skills and style.

Subhash Bezawada

Subhash Bezawada

A master’s degree holder in Linguistics, Subash decided to venture out to understanding visual language and to find his own voice as a storyteller. He has a knack for creating by adding to what is already there to make visual communication stronger. Currently, he is committed to understanding and working for progressive children’s literature. He enjoys illustrating poetry the most.

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A master’s degree holder in Linguistics, Subash decided to venture out to understanding visual language and to find his own voice as a storyteller. He has a knack for creating by adding to what is already there to make visual communication stronger. Currently, he is committed to understanding and working for progressive children’s literature. He enjoys illustrating poetry the most.

Social media link :

Taranbir Singh

Taranbir Singh

A visual communication graduate from the Sushant School of Design, Ansal University, Taranbir is an illustrator, designer and a photographer. He wants to pursue the Riyaaz Illustrators course to help him understand various elements of a story and take inspiration from things around him to produce something of his own. He is a traveler and tries to explore as many places as he can. He also enjoys reading about history and mythology.

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A visual communication graduate from the Sushant School of Design, Ansal University, Taranbir is an illustrator, designer and a photographer. He wants to pursue the Riyaaz Illustrators course to help him understand various elements of a story and take inspiration from things around him to produce something of his own. He is a traveler and tries to explore as many places as he can. He also enjoys reading about history and mythology.

Social media and blog links:

Faculty

Allen Shaw

Allen Shaw is an Indian illustrator and storyteller based in Berlin.To Shaw, traveling and sketching are two impassioned affections and he has drawn more than 150 sketchbooks from his travels to Japan, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Italy, France, Croatia, and more. He has also associated with Longform annual, an anthology of graphic stories. A graduate from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Shaw continues to paint his “gypsiness” in sketchbooks inspiring travel and art enthusiasts.

Allen Shaw is an Indian illustrator and storyteller based in Berlin.To Shaw, traveling and sketching are two impassioned affections and he has drawn more than 150 sketchbooks from his travels to Japan, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Italy, France, Croatia, and more. He has also associated with Longform annual, an anthology of graphic stories. A graduate from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Shaw continues to paint his “gypsiness” in sketchbooks inspiring travel and art enthusiasts.

Atanu Roy

Awarded National Scholarship for advanced studies in Children’s Book Illustration, Atanu has published more than 150 children’s books, games and educational aids. He has Illustrated and designed for: National Book Trust, Frank Educational Aids, Limca Book of Records, Ratnasagar, Harper Collins, Time-life Books, Living Media, Katha, Yugbodh Prakashan, Penguin/Puffin India, Scholastic India, India Ink/Roli books, Orient Blackswan and Eklavya.

Awarded National Scholarship for advanced studies in Children’s Book Illustration, Atanu has published more than 150 children’s books, games and educational aids. He has Illustrated and designed for: National Book Trust, Frank Educational Aids, Limca Book of Records, Ratnasagar, Harper Collins, Time-life Books, Living Media, Katha, Yugbodh Prakashan, Penguin/Puffin India, Scholastic India, India Ink/Roli books, Orient Blackswan and Eklavya.

Chandramohan Kulkarni

Most of his work has been shown through individual and group exhibitions at eminent galleries. By creating thousands of book covers, he has made major contribution to contemporary Marathi literature. His work has been honoured and preserved at the Imperial War Museum, U. K. He has also done illustrations and book covers for Oxford University Press, U. K. He has illustrated several children’s books including Angat Pangat, Mouse, Harin Balak, Pankh Yothi Pakshyala, The Road, The Rain, The Journey and Agobais Dagobais.

Most of his work has been shown through individual and group exhibitions at eminent galleries. By creating thousands of book covers, he has made major contribution to contemporary Marathi literature. His work has been honoured and preserved at the Imperial War Museum, U. K. He has also done illustrations and book covers for Oxford University Press, U. K. He has illustrated several children’s books including Angat Pangat, Mouse, Harin Balak, Pankh Yothi Pakshyala, The Road, The Rain, The Journey and Agobais Dagobais.

Indrapramit Roy

Indrapramit Roy is an artist, teacher, occasional writer and sometime illustrator. He has been exhibiting since 1990 and has had 17 solo shows so far. He has represented India in Asian Art Exhibition in Macao and the Cairo Biennale and most recently “India at 70” at Bangkok. In 2013 he completed a12x26 feet mural for Terminal-2 of the new Mumbai International Airport. His honours and fellowships include Kanoria Centre Fellowship; Inlaks fellowship to study at RCA, London; Junior Research Fellowship from the Government of India; the Fulbright fellowship, USA and more recently Artist- in-Residence at The Siena Art Institute. He has been teaching painting at his alma mater Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU of Baroda since 1995.

Indrapramit Roy is an artist, teacher, occasional writer and sometime illustrator. He has been exhibiting since 1990 and has had 17 solo shows so far. He has represented India in Asian Art Exhibition in Macao and the Cairo Biennale and most recently “India at 70” at Bangkok. In 2013 he completed a12x26 feet mural for Terminal-2 of the new Mumbai International Airport. His honours and fellowships include Kanoria Centre Fellowship; Inlaks fellowship to study at RCA, London; Junior Research Fellowship from the Government of India; the Fulbright fellowship, USA and more recently Artist- in-Residence at The Siena Art Institute. He has been teaching painting at his alma mater Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU of Baroda since 1995.

Nina Sabnani

Nina Sabnani is an artist and storyteller who uses film, illustration and writing to tell her stories. She graduated in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Vadodara and received a master’s degree in film making from Syracuse University, NY, which she pursued as a Fulbright Fellow in 1997. Her doctoral research at the IDC focused on Rajasthan’s Kaavad storytelling tradition. Nina is currently a Professor at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay.

Nina Sabnani is an artist and storyteller who uses film, illustration and writing to tell her stories. She graduated in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Vadodara and received a master’s degree in film making from Syracuse University, NY, which she pursued as a Fulbright Fellow in 1997. Her doctoral research at the IDC focused on Rajasthan’s Kaavad storytelling tradition. Nina is currently a Professor at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay.

Madhuri Purandare

Internationally known artist and writer, Madhuri is a well-known name in the field of literature, illustration and painting. She is also very active in the fields of cinema, theatre and music. She is the chief art advisor at the Su-Darshan Art Gallery. She has written and illustrated many story and poem books for children as well as adults. One of her well known book is – Picasso – A biography of Picasso in Marathi & Hindi which got the Kothavale award. Some of her popular books are – Radhacha Ghar, Yash Series, Chitravachan, Hana’s Suitcase, Vachu Anande series and the Lihave Netke series. She is also the first author to receive the ‘Big Little Book Award’ in its very first year 2016, given by Parag Initiative of Tata Trust

Internationally known artist and writer, Madhuri is a well-known name in the field of literature, illustration and painting. She is also very active in the fields of cinema, theatre and music. She is the chief art advisor at the Su-Darshan Art Gallery. She has written and illustrated many story and poem books for children as well as adults. One of her well known book is – Picasso – A biography of Picasso in Marathi & Hindi which got the Kothavale award. Some of her popular books are – Radhacha Ghar, Yash Series, Chitravachan, Hana’s Suitcase, Vachu Anande series and the Lihave Netke series. She is also the first author to receive the ‘Big Little Book Award’ in its very first year 2016, given by Parag Initiative of Tata Trust

Priya Kuriyan

Priya Kurien is an independent animation film maker and illustrator based in Delhi. She has directed educational films for the Sesame Street show (Galli Galli Sim Sim) and has also worked on various TV commercials. Over the past four years, she has also been illustrating for a number of children’s books and comics.

Priya Kurien is an independent animation film maker and illustrator based in Delhi. She has directed educational films for the Sesame Street show (Galli Galli Sim Sim) and has also worked on various TV commercials. Over the past four years, she has also been illustrating for a number of children’s books and comics.

Rajesh Joshi

Rajesh Joshi is a Hindi writer, poet, journalist and a playwright, who was the recipient of 2002 Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his anthology of poems – ‘Do Panktiyon Ke Beech’ (Between Two Lines), given by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters. His poems have been translated into English, German, Russian, Urdu and into many other Indian languages. Recipient of Muktibodh Puraskar, Makhan Lal Chaturvedi Puraskar, Srikant Verma Smriti Samman, Shikhar Samman and others.

Rajesh Joshi is a Hindi writer, poet, journalist and a playwright, who was the recipient of 2002 Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his anthology of poems – ‘Do Panktiyon Ke Beech’ (Between Two Lines), given by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters. His poems have been translated into English, German, Russian, Urdu and into many other Indian languages. Recipient of Muktibodh Puraskar, Makhan Lal Chaturvedi Puraskar, Srikant Verma Smriti Samman, Shikhar Samman and others.

Sushil Shukla

Sushil is the Director, Ektara, Takshila’s Centre for Children’s Literature and Art. Also, co-editor of two children’s magazines- Pluto and Cycle. He was the Editor of Chakmak for the past decade. He has been associated with the field of children’s literature for over 18 years now. He is a writer and poet and has 10 titles to his credit, the most recent being Chiknik Chu, with Eklavya. He works as a consultant with NCERT. He is one of the key faculty who conceptualised and planned Riyaaz. He is responsible for leading, envisioning and anchoring of the course.

Sushil is the Director, Ektara, Takshila’s Centre for Children’s Literature and Art. Also, co-editor of two children’s magazines- Pluto and Cycle. He was the Editor of Chakmak for the past decade. He has been associated with the field of children’s literature for over 18 years now. He is a writer and poet and has 10 titles to his credit, the most recent being Chiknik Chu, with Eklavya. He works as a consultant with NCERT. He is one of the key faculty who conceptualised and planned Riyaaz. He is responsible for leading, envisioning and anchoring of the course.

Taposhi Ghoshal

A Graduate of the College of Art, New Delhi, Taposhi is a freelance illustrator and designer since 1993. She has worked with many NGOs and leading publishing houses including Katha, Amnesty International, Care India, Eklavya, National Book Trust, Scholastic India, Penguin India, and Takshila Publication & Educational Society among others. Some of her books for children include The Mud Baby, The Story of Hanuman, The Winning Team, Bani, The Magic Flute: Folk Tales from All over India, and Fairytales: Four Stories by Johann and Wilhelm Grimm (Traditional Tales).

A Graduate of the College of Art, New Delhi, Taposhi is a freelance illustrator and designer since 1993. She has worked with many NGOs and leading publishing houses including Katha, Amnesty International, Care India, Eklavya, National Book Trust, Scholastic India, Penguin India, and Takshila Publication & Educational Society among others. Some of her books for children include The Mud Baby, The Story of Hanuman, The Winning Team, Bani, The Magic Flute: Folk Tales from All over India, and Fairytales: Four Stories by Johann and Wilhelm Grimm (Traditional Tales).

Tarundeep Girdhar

Prof. Tarun is a Design Educator, Graphic Designer currently teaching at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India’s premier design institute. He has over 20 years of experience in design education, and professional design practice. A keen student of social behaviour and indigenous visual culture, Tarun also has a passion for hand lettering, hand book binding and designing visually clever calendars. He has designed more than 40 publications in both English and Indian scripts.

Prof. Tarun is a Design Educator, Graphic Designer currently teaching at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India’s premier design institute. He has over 20 years of experience in design education, and professional design practice. A keen student of social behaviour and indigenous visual culture, Tarun also has a passion for hand lettering, hand book binding and designing visually clever calendars. He has designed more than 40 publications in both English and Indian scripts.

Udayan Vajpeyi

He is a poet and writer of short-stories, essays and translations. Mr. Vajpeyi’s poems, short-stories and essays have been translated into several languages including Bengali, Tamil, Oriya, Kannada, English, French, Swedish, Polish, and Bulgarian, amongst others. He is a recipient of the Krishna Baldev Vaid Award (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2003). Mr. Vajpeyi has edited many magazines and journals; has lectured on the arts and literature in India and abroad; has participated in various poetry festivals.

He is a poet and writer of short-stories, essays and translations. Mr. Vajpeyi’s poems, short-stories and essays have been translated into several languages including Bengali, Tamil, Oriya, Kannada, English, French, Swedish, Polish, and Bulgarian, amongst others. He is a recipient of the Krishna Baldev Vaid Award (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2003). Mr. Vajpeyi has edited many magazines and journals; has lectured on the arts and literature in India and abroad; has participated in various poetry festivals.

Gallery of student’s work

Library Educator’s Course

LEC Hindi is open to all educators and intended for teachers, school librarians, development sector professionals, and literacy and language educators and in fact for every one working with children and books with the desire to spread the joy and culture of reading. The LEC offers a unique opportunity to strengthen understanding and academic thinking linked to practice in a well-designed, highly charged environment with some of the best library practitioners in the field.

The course comprises three contact sessions in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. LEC hindi has successfully completed seven batches. More than two hundred library educators and teachers from 43 organisations across 19 states have participated in the course.

Participation on moodle during distance mode, completion of assignments and field projects are graded. For more information, please go through the course prospectus.

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Big Little Book Award

An annual award that recognizes and honours original and significant contribution of Indian authors and illustrators to children’s literature in Indian languages.

UnConference

Parag’s annual Children’s Library Conference where library educators and others engaged in the library, with reading and children exchange ideas, present best practices and challenges.

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Riyaaz Academy – New Narrative for Children’s Illustrators

How do illustrators train? What happens during the course of a contact week at the Riyaaz Academy for Illustrators? This photo essay takes a sneak peek into the various aspects of the course.