By Mahima K.

From July 14th to July 18th, King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts graduate Roopini Venkatasubramanian conducted a workshop for Deepti Designs artists. 

Under her guidance, participants immersed themselves in the rich and intricate art of Mughal Miniature painting, which is based on layering thin brushstrokes to create a realistic effect. Roopini also had her students paint on Wasli paper, and showed them how to mix natural pigments, giving students the opportunity to formulate and use colors like cinnabar (vermilion) and indigo (deep blue). 

The workshop was highly successful, and all participants created gorgeous depictions of flowers like irises and poppies. All members thoroughly enjoyed the process, and many took home natural pigments and Wasli paper to create their own pieces in the future.

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

On July 19th, 2025, Shrita Palla, founder of Together We Shine, hosted a special Madhubani art workshop at the Sambamurthynagar hostel for deaf and mute children in Kakinada, India. Shrita’s organization is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where individuals with disabilities can thrive, be celebrated, and connect with their creative potential. 

During the event, Shrita, along with a team of volunteers, taught 16 children how to draw intricate peacock designs in Madhubani art. For many of the children, this workshop was a chance to engage with art in a new and meaningful way. 

A standout moment of the day was when a young girl named Devi, who quickly became captivated by the Madhubani style, finished her drawing. Her face lit up with excitement, and she was given extra sheets of paper to continue exploring the art form at home. Seeing her newfound passion for art, it was clear that this was not just an educational opportunity but the start of her creative journey. Through events like this, Shrita spreads her passion to others, making sure that every child is seen, no matter what challenges they face.

By Anishka Gogoi

From July 21st to the 25th, Echo Academy hosted its SpeakTank Summer Camp to help the youth develop strong speaking skills. Four enthusiastic 3rd and 5th-grade students joined the camp for a week to help build up their confidence and become more comfortable writing speeches.

Students selected their own topics and spent the week learning how to craft and deliver their ideas with confidence; “I saw a big change between the students when they first walked in to when they left. They seemed more confident and comfortable using their voice and picked up so new speech techniques,” shared Keertana Ganta, who helped lead the camp under the guidance of Ms. Agrawal.

The next Speaktank Summer Camp will be held from August 18th to the 22nd! Be sure to register to become a better speaker yourself!

By Manavi Shukla

On July 31st, 2025, one of our young artists, Anugraha Ganesh, spearheaded a free Madhubani workshop at the Shastri School for Hearing and Speech Impaired Children in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 

The workshop was different from anything she had done before, as most of the communication had to be done through sign language. Despite the challenge, Anugraha adapted with patience and creativity to create a truly memorable experience for the children. 

All the students loved the workshop and had the opportunity to showcase their creativity through the artwork. At the end of the workshop, the children even came to hug Anugraha to thank her and say goodbye. Thank you to Anugraha for creating such a special experience for these students!

By Anvika Bheemarasetty

On Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, the Greenlake Library hosted an event as part of the WA State Speakers Bureau. What started as a 40-minute talk turned into an intensive, 75-minute conversation about how Madhubani art traditions continue to shape modern stories about freedom, identity, and empowerment.

The room was filled with a diverse group of people, all eager to engage and share in the experience. The youth artists—Anvika Bheemarasetty, Yashvy Patni, Arianna Sinha, and Ms. Deepti Agrawal—guided the discussion, exploring how old stories still hold meaning in today’s world.

By the end, everyone in the room left not only feeling heard but also deeply connected to each other and to the power of storytelling. 

By Manavi Shukla

This month, three of our students (Abhay, Aadya, and Shraddha) participated in the Newcastle Art Fair. Their tables brimmed with unique creations, from journals and coloring sheets to bookmarks, key chains, and home decor. They even got a few custom orders for their art! They all enjoyed talking with their customers and showcasing their beautiful artwork. 

Beyond their artistic skills, these artists demonstrated remarkable generosity. Each student chose one charity to donate their profits to. They raised over $100 for each charity! Congratulations to Abhay, Aadya, and Shraddha for their amazing work in this art fair!

By Jahnavi Shukla

The "Tile By Tile" Intergenerational Art Workshop was a successful project led by Jahnavi Shukla and Manavi Shukla, with immense guidance from Ms. Deepti Agrawal and Ms. Nikita Thakalath, in collaboration with the Northshore Senior Center. A note of appreciation for Pehal Thakkar, Anvi Babu, and Sivathmika Suresh for their help throughout the event.

This workshop provided a space for seniors, parents, and children to connect with each other and paint wooden tiles, which would be added to the final mural. The format allowed them to drop in anytime between the two-hour time period to do so. 

Over 50 seniors and grandchildren participated in this event. During the event, several seniors mentioned that they were trying their hand at visual art for the first time, sparking their interest in art. For others, this workshop rekindled their interest, as for Mrs. Kavita, who was coming back to visual art after 40 years. 

This upcoming mural (which will be a compilation of the tiles painted at this workshop) will go on to be auctioned and raise funds for the Senior Center, giving back to the community that created it.

By Jahnavi Shukla

Let’s congratulate Meera Sankar, Sneha Sankar, Dhiya Sankar, Laya Arun, and Hansika Senthil Anand, the artists from our art school who participated in the Seafair Torchlight Parade under ICFF!

For the duration of the walk, our artist team proudly held up an Indian flag and their Madhubani paintings as they made their way through the parade, surrounded by other cultures’ floats and festivities. 

As the only troupe representing India and its culture at the parade, many stopped to watch our team as they walked. Other parade spectators took photos and videos of our team, recognizing India and its unique art forms.

Needless to say, our artist team was integral to fulfilling the Seafair Torchlight Parade’s goal and illustrated the diversity of Seattle.