SHILPA SHASTRA COURSE

Shilpa Shastra: The Science of Arts and Crafts

Taught by Drdha Vrata Gorrick, the Shilpa Shastra Course is a two-year exploration of Ancient Vedic Iconography.

Deepen your knowledge of the traditional arts and shilpa shastra principles by studying under one of the leading experts and teachers on Vedic Iconography.

You’ll learn practical skills and techniques, starting with fundamental shapes and motifs, and move through to detailed iconography and geometry-based proportions.

Drdha Vrata studied the classical arts for over a decade in South India under renowned iconography masters. He has travelled the world exhibiting his work, and now conducts workshops and courses with the aim to promote the ancient artform.

Learn more about Drdha here.

8x TERMS OVER TWO YEARS
12x 1 HOUR CLASSES PER TERM
DELIVERED LIVE ONLINE

COURSE INFORMATION

FAQs

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is divided into content based sections, each with lessons to practice during and after class. Your teacher will also introduce occasional projects based on the lessons learned.

The course introduces students to traditional exercises and basic drawing techniques to familiarize them with the style of art and gain control over the medium and strokes. Beginning by drawing basic designs with pencil on paper, they will gradually progress to more complex geometric motifs and patterns which will culminate into creative projects to be completed in ink or color.
The students will learn the symbolism and how to draw the various animals used as vahanas (mount) for Gods and Goddesses or as decorative elements.
The weapons and symbols found on the numerous Gods and Goddesses hold a lot of significance and symbolism. You will learn their relative measurements along with their meanings and uses.
The bodies are adorned with varieties of ornaments from the headdress down to the ankle bells. Learn about the different types of ornaments and how they are used.
One of the most important visual communications is done through gestures of the hands, known as mudras or hastas. You will learn the gestures found in Indian art and what they convey.
The students will learn the most crucial and complex part of traditional Indian art, talamana or iconometry. These extremely detailed proportions found in the shilpa shastra are used to create the numerous forms of Gods and Goddesses. The students will learn about the measurement scales of talamana and how they are used to calculate the forms they are meant for.
There are an infinite number of Gods and Goddesses found throughout Hindu temples and philosophy. The students will learn the more known ones along with their attributes, colors and entourage.
The course will conclude with learning to paint the various motifs, animals and divine forms using watercolors and other mediums.

Frequently Asked Questions

The course runs over a minimum of two years, with four terms per year.

Winter Term: 1st January - 31st March
Spring Term: 1st April - 30th June
Summer Term: 1st July - 30th September
Autumn/Fall Term: 1st October - 31st December 1st October - 31st December
Each term has 12 hour-long classes, once a week.
Plan your time to include activities and homework outside of classes.
The Shilpa Shastra Curriculum Course runs over two years, and class intakes are managed through our waitlist and an open applications period.

Subscribe to our newsletter to be updated when applications open, or apply to the waitlist now.
You will need:
a) an internet connection
b) a computer, tablet or phone with working audio and video capabilities
c) the art supplies listed here
Initial Registration Fee: USD $30
Annual Course Enrolment Fee: USD $20

Winter Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $340
Spring Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $340
Summer Term: Minimum 10 Classes - USD $340
Autumn/Fall Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $340
The fees can be paid via our store, Wise, Venmo or any other suggested mode of payment.
This course has a minimum age of students of 13 years. Parents (or an allocated responsible adult) must be contactable at all times during class.
We reserve the right to publish any photographs of children working in class and/or artwork created by them - If you do not wish for your child to be photographed, please inform us before the commencement of your child’s first class
Our missed class policy is specifically for the benefit of all the students. Individual attention is our priority, and we reserve the right to keep class sizes to a number that ensures a beneficial experience for all.
All absences must be communicated at least twenty-four hours in advance: a no-show does not qualify for a make-up class.
Make-up classes are not guaranteed, but may be offered under the below conditions:
a) If there are no extra classes beyond the scheduled 12 for the term you are enrolled in
and b) there is availability in another batch.
Please be advised that the below restrictions apply:
Make-up class needs to be finished in same term and cannot be carried forward
No more than three make-up classes in a term are allowed
No refund or balance will be carried forward to the next term
Fees will not be pro-rated for any missed class
Make-up class once scheduled cannot be rescheduled under any circumstance
Our holiday list is based on important Indian Festivals and major US holidays. Classes will be moved to a different day of the week if they conflict with one of these da6es
If you have any planned holidays or breaks, please inform us well in advance.
In the case of a short break, recordings of classes may be provided to allow you to catch up on missed material. Only valid reasons for class absence will be considered

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Get on the list for the next intake for the Shilpa Shastra Course.

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You will be sent a survey via email to complete.
Please check your junk mail if you cannot locate the email in your inbox.

SHILPA SHASTRA COURSE
TERMS OF SERVICE

You must be 18 years or older or at least the age of majority in the jurisdiction where you reside or from which you use this Service, or have a parent/guardian manage your application and registration.
You must provide your full legal name, a valid email address, and any other information needed in order to complete the signup process.
You acknowledge that Divyakala will use the email address you provide as the primary method for communication.
Please apply via the above form.
Once approved, you will receive an email from dvgorrick@gmail.com confirming your spot and with instructions on proceeding with registration.
The fees can be paid via our store, Wise, Venmo or any other suggested mode of payment.

Initial Registration Fee: USD $30
Annual Fee: USD $20
Winter Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $324
Spring Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $324
Summer Term: Minimum 10 Classes - USD $324
Autumn/Fall Term: Minimum 12 Classes - USD $324
Submission of waitlist form is free and does not guarantee enrolment. Seats are given on a first come first serve basis.
We reserve the right to refuse admission to any participant who poses a disciplinary problem or disrupts class.
Students can enrol for any number of terms at a time.
The batch (day and time-slot) cannot be changed once enrolled in a term.
Changes from subsequent term depends on availability.
Once you are enrolled/registered for a term, fees cannot be refunded or carried forward under any circumstances.
All fees are non-refundable.
We do take photographs occasionally of the class and artworks of students.
These maybe used for online showcases, for our website or other advertising and publicity purposes.

We reserve the right to publish any photographs of students working in class and/or artwork created by them - If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform us before the commencement of your first class.