A look at pichwai artist Kuldeepak Soni’s striking works

Pichwai, a form of textile paintings, is one of the oldest and traditional artworks of the country. The style of painting is believed to have been originated over 400 years ago, in the town of Nathdwara near Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

The style of painting, which takes months to make, is believed to have been introduced by founded by Vallabhacharya in the 16th Century. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

Over the years, many artists have perfected the art form, and one among them is Kuldeepak, who hails from a family of traditional artists from Bhilwara, Rajasthan. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

Kuldeepak underwent rigorous training starting at a young age from his grandfather, Shilp Guru Badrilal Chitrakaar, a renowned national awardee in miniature art, as well as from his father Sharad Soni. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

A versatile artist, Kuldeepak paints both in the traditional styles of Udaipur, Nathdwara, Bundi, Kota, Kishangarh as well as in contemporary styles. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

He considers the traditional art of Pichwai paintings as his blessed cultural heritage and aims to take it forward with subtle contemporary amalgamations. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

He has maintained the unbroken and ongoing tradition of producing the richly-hued Pichwai paintings made on sheets of clothes and paper using natural stone colours and gold leaves. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

Kuldeepak's Pichwai paintings portray the meticulous and ever changing shringar of Lord Krishna, complemented by imaginative use of various decorative elements, motifs, accessories. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

To keep his style of artwork alive and take his heritage forward, he participates in numerous exhibitions across India as well as conducts workshops. (Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)

Intricate and visually stunning, Pichwai paintings, made on cloth, depict tales from Lord Krishna's life.(Source: Dastkari Haat Samiti)