Badri Narayan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Badri Narayan
Born	1929 Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Died	2013 Bangalore, Karnataka
Nationality	Indian

Badri Narayan (born July 22, 1929, in Secunderabad, India – died September 23, 2013, in Bangalore) was a talented Indian artist. He was also an illustrator, author, and storyteller. Badri Narayan created many beautiful paintings and wrote stories.

He started painting without any formal art school training. His first public art show was in 1949. Later, he had his own solo exhibition in 1954. Over his career, he held more than 50 solo shows. His artworks are displayed in famous places. These include the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. The Philadelphia Museum of Art also has his work.

Badri Narayan first worked with tiles and ceramics. This experience influenced his later watercolor paintings. His art often felt personal and inviting. Many of his pieces included elements of fantasy. He used simple outlines and easy-to-understand subjects. His figures were often two-dimensional and stylized. He mainly used ink, pastels, and watercolors.

He also loved illustrating books for children. He wrote many short stories and poems too. A documentary about his life was made by Mumbai All India Radio. He received several important awards for his work. These include the Padma Shri in 1987. This is one of India's highest civilian honors. He also received the Maharashtra Gourav Puruskar in 1990.

Badri Narayan passed away on September 23, 2013. He died in a hospital in Bangalore due to poor health.

Badri Narayan's Art and Life

Becoming an Artist

Badri Narayan began his artistic journey on his own. He did not go to a special art school. Despite this, his talent was clear from the start. His first public display of art was in 1949. This was a big step for him. Just five years later, in 1954, he had his very first solo art show. This means only his art was on display.

Over the years, he became very well-known. He held more than 50 solo exhibitions. His art is now part of major collections. You can see his work in places like the National Museum in New Delhi. His art is also in the South Asian Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

His Unique Painting Style

Badri Narayan's paintings have a special charm. They often feel very personal and warm. He loved to add touches of fantasy to his art. This made his paintings imaginative and dreamlike. He used simple lines and shapes in his artwork. This made his subjects easy to understand and relate to.

He often painted figures in a two-dimensional style. This means they looked flat, almost like drawings. He mostly used ink or pastels. He also created many beautiful pieces with watercolors. His early work with tiles and ceramics influenced his later watercolor techniques.

Beyond Painting: Stories and Illustrations

Badri Narayan was not just a painter. He was also a gifted illustrator. He drew pictures for many children's books. His illustrations helped bring stories to life for young readers. He also enjoyed writing. He wrote short stories and poems himself. This showed his talent for storytelling in many forms.

His contributions were recognized widely. Mumbai All India Radio made a documentary about him. This helped more people learn about his amazing work. He received several awards for his art and writing. The Padma Shri award in 1987 was a major honor. It showed how much his country valued his artistic achievements.

Works as an Illustrator

Badri Narayan illustrated several important books. He helped tell classic Indian stories through his art.

• The Mahabharata by Shanta Rameshwar Rao (1985, Orient Longman): Badri Narayan created the pictures for this famous Indian epic story.
• The Ramayana by Laxmi Lal (1988, Orient Longman): He also illustrated this other well-known Indian epic, bringing its characters and events to life.