AAKAR: Colours of India

Documenting the beginning of a creative journey to make India's artistic heritage accessible to little hands and curious minds.

Somewhere between my love for visual storytelling and my fascination with India's cultural heritage, an idea began to take shape: what if a children's colouring book could be more than just a collection of illustrations waiting to be filled with colour?

What if it could introduce children to the incredible diversity of Indian art, tell them the stories behind its patterns, and encourage them to explore these traditions through their own creativity?

That is how AAKAR: Colours of India began.

This is the first entry in my journey of developing a children's colouring book inspired by traditional Indian art forms. I'm documenting the process from the initial concept and research to illustration, design, production, and hopefully, the finished book.

The idea: Art, culture and a little bit of colour

India has an extraordinary artistic heritage. From the intricate patterns of Madhubani painting to the geometric storytelling of Warli art, the detailed compositions of Rajasthani miniature paintings, and the narrative beauty of Pattachitra, every tradition has its own visual language.

Yet, when we think of children's colouring books, we often encounter familiar characters, generic patterns, and illustrations created purely for entertainment.

I began wondering whether there was room for something different.

I wanted to create a book that would allow children to interact with Indian art rather than simply look at it. A book that would encourage them to notice patterns, ask questions, discover unfamiliar traditions, and express themselves through colour.

The idea isn't to turn art into a lesson or make colouring feel like homework. It's to make cultural discovery an enjoyable part of the creative experience.

The vision is simple: let children discover India's artistic traditions, one page at a time.

Why AAKAR: Colours of India?

AAKAR is the working name I've chosen for this project. The word evokes form, shape and creation, making it a fitting starting point for a book centred on visual art and creative expression.

The subtitle, Colours of India, reflects the project's focus on exploring the country's artistic diversity.

I imagine AAKAR as a beautifully designed, child-friendly publication that balances the visual appeal of an illustrated art book with the accessibility of a colouring activity book.

I don't want it to feel overly academic, nor do I want to simplify traditional art forms until they lose their distinctive character.

The challenge is to find that balance: a book that appeals to children, feels worthwhile to parents, and treats the art it represents with care.

For now, AAKAR is a working concept. As the project develops, I'll explore its visual identity, cover design, typography, illustration style and overall presentation.

How the book will work

One of the first decisions I've made is to structure the book around a two-page spread dedicated to each art tradition.

The left page: Discover the art

The left-hand page will introduce the child to the art form through an illustrated information section.

Depending on the tradition, it may include:

• Its geographical origins and historical background.

• The artists and communities associated with it.

• Distinctive patterns, motifs and visual characteristics.

• Interesting facts about the way the art is practised.

• Simple observation prompts that encourage children to look more closely.

Rather than presenting lengthy blocks of text, I want this information to be visual, concise and accessible. Small illustrations, labelled motifs, maps and interactive questions could make each page feel like a miniature discovery experience.

The right page: Bring it to life

The right-hand page will contain the colouring illustration.

Each illustration will be developed around the visual characteristics of its respective art tradition. The aim is to preserve recognisable motifs, patterns and compositional elements while making the artwork enjoyable and manageable for children to colour.

Some pages may feature intricate floral patterns and animals; others might depict village life, landscapes, palaces or narrative scenes.

I'll also explore including a small creative challenge on each spread. Children might be invited to invent their own pattern, find repeating shapes, or experiment with a colour combination.

The intention is to give them the freedom to interpret the artwork while learning about the tradition that inspired it.

Twelve art traditions to explore

For the first edition, I've shortlisted twelve Indian art traditions. This is an initial selection, and I'll refine it as the research and illustration process progresses.

01. Madhubani / Mithila painting — Bihar

Known for its intricate patterns and nature-inspired imagery, including fish, flowers, peacocks and other distinctive motifs.

02. Pattachitra — Odisha

A narrative painting tradition recognised for expressive figures, detailed compositions and ornate decorative borders.

03. Warli art — Maharashtra

A distinctive visual tradition featuring geometric human figures, village life, farming, dancing and community activities.

04. Gond art — Central India, particularly Madhya Pradesh

Nature and animal imagery brought to life through distinctive dots, dashes and repeating patterns.

05. Rajasthani miniature painting — Rajasthan

Detailed compositions depicting palaces, gardens, courtly life, animals and historical or literary themes.

06. Kalamkari — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

A family of textile-art traditions featuring flowing botanical motifs and narrative imagery.

07. Phad painting — Rajasthan

A narrative painting tradition in which connected scenes communicate stories, often associated with local devotional and performance traditions.

08. Kangra / Pahari miniature painting — Himalayan foothills

Delicate landscapes, gardens, figures and natural details characteristic of particular schools of Pahari painting.

09. Kerala mural painting — Kerala

Expressive figures, ornamental forms and distinctive traditional compositions associated with Kerala's mural heritage.

10. Cheriyal scroll painting — Telangana

A storytelling tradition known for bold figures, vivid visual narratives and distinctive scroll-painting conventions.

11. Saura painting — Odisha

A distinctive tradition associated with Saura communities, featuring geometric figures, nature and community life.

12. Thanjavur painting — Tamil Nadu

Recognised for elaborate compositions, ornamental framing and richly decorated traditional imagery.

Each of these traditions offers a different way to explore shape, line, pattern and storytelling. Together, they could provide children with an introduction to the diversity of India's artistic heritage.

This list is a starting point, not a claim to cover every Indian art form. Each tradition deserves its own research, context and thoughtful representation.

The design philosophy

I want AAKAR to feel premium without feeling intimidating, and playful without looking disposable.

Visually, I'm imagining a combination of clean editorial layouts, thoughtful typography, warm paper tones and carefully selected colours. The information pages should feel organised and inviting, while the colouring pages should offer plenty of room for children to experiment.

The design will need to work for two audiences simultaneously.

For children, the book should be approachable, engaging and fun to use.

For parents and gift buyers, it should feel considered, attractive and educationally meaningful.

This balance will influence everything from the cover and page dimensions to the illustration density, paper quality and binding.

I also want the illustrations to be more than generic drawings decorated with traditional-looking patterns. Each should be researched and developed with an understanding of the art form it represents.

That means learning from reliable references, seeking input from practising artists and knowledgeable reviewers, and ensuring that contemporary artists' work is not reproduced without permission.

For me, cultural appreciation must begin with curiosity and respect.

The research behind the creativity

Although this project begins with an exciting visual idea, I know that the research will be just as important as the design.

Before developing the final illustrations, I want to understand the history, geographical context, distinctive visual elements and contemporary practice of each selected art form.

I'll need to distinguish between historical information, common interpretations of motifs, and meanings that may vary between artists or communities.

Where possible, I'd like to involve artists who practise these traditions, whether through commissioned illustrations, consultations or reviews of the finished pages.

This would not only help improve the accuracy of the book but could also create opportunities to acknowledge and support the people who keep these artistic traditions alive.

The objective isn't to reproduce traditional art mechanically. It's to introduce children to its visual language in a way that is engaging, respectful and creatively stimulating.

Turning the concept into a book

At this stage, AAKAR is still a concept in development. There are plenty of decisions to make before it becomes a finished product.

My immediate priorities are:

1. Refining the concept: Establishing the intended age group, the scope of the first edition and the overall experience I want the book to offer.

2. Researching the art forms: Building a reliable reference library and documenting the historical and cultural information that will accompany each illustration.

3. Developing the visual identity: Exploring cover concepts, typography, colours, layouts and recurring graphic elements.

4. Creating sample spreads: Starting with a small selection of contrasting traditions to test how the information and colouring pages work together.

5. Testing the prototype: Printing sample pages, testing them with children and gathering feedback from parents and cultural reviewers.

6. Planning production: Investigating illustration costs, paper and binding options, printing quantities, distribution and potential pricing.

Rather than rushing into a complete book, I'd like to develop a small but carefully considered prototype first. It will give me an opportunity to identify what works, what needs refinement, and whether the final product delivers the experience I've imagined.

What comes next?

This project brings together several things I enjoy: visual storytelling, design, research and the exploration of Indian culture.

I'm particularly interested in the challenge of translating complex artistic traditions into a format that children can engage with independently or alongside their parents. It requires more than simplifying an illustration. It requires thinking about how children observe, interpret and interact with art.

I'm also curious about the possibilities beyond the first book. Could AAKAR eventually become a series of art-discovery books, creative activity kits or educational resources? Could it create opportunities to collaborate with traditional artists and introduce their work to a younger audience?

Those are possibilities for the future, not decisions I've made yet.

For now, I want to focus on getting the first book right.

This blog will serve as a record of the process: the research, the experiments, the design decisions, the challenges and the things I learn along the way.

AAKAR: Colours of India is still taking shape. This is where the journey begins.

One tradition. One illustration. One little explorer at a time.