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The artistic instincts of the people of Rajasthan can be seen in all aspects of life. A vast spectrum of Art & Craft symbolizes the life of Rajathanis in varied forms--music, pottery, drawing and painting, etc. From crude painting using lime stone water on walls of rustic hut to golden laced decorative frescos on the wall and ceilings of Royal abodes, Art is omnipresent. 

In consonance to other globally acclaimed craft forms of Rajasthan,phad painting,pichwai, miniature paintings done on Ivory panels, leather, marble cloth and walls using natural colors extracted from vegetables, minerals, and precious stones, categorized as Kalam or style of painting prominent among which are Bundi, Kishangarh etc. has caught the fancy of art lovers all over the world. Pichwai are artifacts of spiritual paintings, the theme of which is mostly Radha Krishna.

This noble art felt the neglect due to change in taste of connoisseurs who shifted their interest to contemporary art.  Mewar University family has vowed to patronageand conserve this art form and establish its past glory on global art horizon. This festival was witnessed by a large number of art lovers from 8-13 March, 2016 at Mewar University campus.The two prominent painting styles were :

1. Phad painting or Phad is a style religious scroll painting and folk painting, practiced in Rajasthan state of India.[1][2] This style of painting is traditionally done on a long piece of cloth or canvas, known as phad. The narratives of the folk deities of Rajasthan, mostly of Pabujiand Devnarayan are depicted on the phads. The Bhopas, the priest-singers traditionally carry the painted phads along with them and use these as the mobile temples of the folk deities. The phads of Pabuji are normally about 15 feet in length, while the phads of Devnarayan are normally about 30 feet long. Traditionally the phads are painted with vegetable colors.

The Joshi families of Bhilwara, Shahpura in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan are widely known as the traditional artists of this folk art-form for the last two centuries. Presently, Shree Lal Joshi, Nand Kishor Joshi, Prakash Joshi and Shanti Lal Joshi are the most noted artists of the phad painting, who are known for their innovations and creativity.

 

2. Pichwai Paintings Of Rajasthan

 

Pichwai painting is an art form that has its roots in Rajasthan and more precisely in Nathdwara.Pichwai  means 'at the back' so these paintings are basically used as decorative curtain/backdrop in Shrinath ji temples and Krishna temples in Rajasthan. These cloth hangings are considered very sacred and devotees offer these cloth hangings in temples and take them back home as souvenir as well.

Origin:Pichwai born when Vallabhaichari sect created pictorial illustration of festivals and occasions as a backdrop  for Krishna temple in Nathdwara.

Style:These paintings are known to have more details, are more polished and pure than Phad paintings that are other form of painting in Rajasthan but is very similar to Pichwai. Figure of Shrinath ji (Krishna) is shown decked in vibrant festive costumes. Features that I like most are big eyes, sharp nose and colorful costumes with all fine details, be it sheer dupattas of Gopis(milkmaids) and Radha or jewel and gems studded in crown and other jewelry. Trees, decorated animal and beautiful birds are another eye catching features.

All the artists were felicitated by Hon’ble Chairperson,Dr. Ashok Kumar Gadiya,on the occasion of Annual Day celibration of Techno ZeAL-2016.