Indian Storytime

/posts

Home/ Posts

Posts

01 Jan 0001

THE CLEVER WIFE.

Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a merchant who loved to travel. He would sail his boat to different countries to buy and sell cool stuff. One day, he told his wife, “I have to go on a trip for a whole year!” He chuckled and added, “When I get back, I hope you’ve built a super awesome well for me. And since you’re so smart, I also hope to see a little baby boy!” Then he hopped on his boat and waved goodbye.

01 Jan 0001

The Coral Tree

Watercolor illustration of a young woman, around twenty years old, asleep on a weathered wooden porch swing. Soft morning light filters through the rain, casting blurred shadows on the porch floor. Rain streaks the air, illuminated by distant street lamps, creating a melancholic atmosphere. She is draped in a rough, indigo-dyed blanket, her face serene. A horse-drawn carriage is faintly visible in the background on the cobblestone street, its lamps glowing softly through the rain. Style: dreamy watercolor, soft blending, visible brushstrokes. Palette: muted blues, grays, and browns with pops of indigo and soft yellows.

01 Jan 0001

The Crane and the Fox

Once upon a time, in a forest, lived a fox and a crane. They were very good friends. One day, the fox saw the crane and said, “Hello Crane! How are you?”

Crane and the Fox

The crane replied, “I’m fine, Fox. How are you?”

The fox had a mischievous idea. She said, “Crane, I’d like to invite you to a feast at my house tomorrow. Please come for dinner.”

01 Jan 0001

The Cruel Crane Outwitted

A serene and slightly melancholic watercolor illustration of a lush forest scene at twilight. Soft, golden light filters through the canopy, creating long, dappled shadows. A gentle, glowing tree spirit with a kindly, yet worried face, stands near a pond filled with vibrant, fading lotus flowers. The pond’s water level is noticeably low, exposing muddy banks and cracked earth. Several fish with large, expressive eyes swim nervously near the surface, their scales shimmering with iridescent hues. The air is thick with humidity, and the scent of damp earth hangs heavy. Artistic style: detailed watercolor with soft blending and a touch of whimsy.

01 Jan 0001

The Demon with the Matted Hair

Watercolor illustration of the Teacher (Buddha), sitting in Jetavana, surrounded by monks. The monks are young and old, their faces reflecting rapt attention. The Teacher has a serene expression, his eyes closed in contemplation, a gentle smile gracing his lips. He is seated on a simple mat beneath a bodhi tree, its leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The air is filled with the scent of incense. In the background, subtly depicted as transparent, ethereal images, are faint, ghost-like images of the Prince and the Demon, locked in their struggle and eventual understanding. These ghostly figures are integrated into the trees and foliage. The lighting is soft and diffused, creating a sense of tranquility. Color palette: Earthy tones, with soft greens and browns, and a hint of gold. Emotional tone: Peaceful, wise, contemplative. Artistic style: Watercolor with a focus on spiritual serenity and subtle details.

01 Jan 0001

The Donkey and the Tiger

A water color drawing of a donkey and a tiger standing in front of the jungle king, the lion, on his throne. The donkey is shouting and the tiger looks upset.

A long time ago, in a jungle, a donkey and a tiger had a big argument.

The donkey said, “The grass is blue!”

The tiger said, “No, the grass is green!”

Their argument got so loud that they decided to ask the jungle king, the lion, to settle it. They went to see the lion on his throne.

01 Jan 0001

The Elephant and the Dog

A king’s blue elephant stands near a small hill, watching a red labrador dog eat leftovers from the keeper’s plate. The two are initially unaware of each other’s presence.

Once upon a time, a king’s elephant was eating grass near a small hill. He heard a hungry little sound.

It was a dog eating leftover food from the elephant keeper’s plate. The keeper wasn’t around. The elephant was used to being alone, so he didn’t mind the dog at first.

01 Jan 0001

The Elephant and the Mice

A long, long time ago, there was a very old village that had been damaged by an earthquake. No people lived there anymore. But in this empty village, a whole bunch of mice made their home.

Near the village was a big lake. A herd of elephants used to go to the lake every day to drink water. To get to the lake, they had to walk through the village.

01 Jan 0001

THE FAKÍR NÁNAKSÁ SAVES THE MERCHANT'S LIFE.

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a kind grain seller. A very good man named Nánaksá, who was a fakír (like a wise teacher), often visited him to chat.

A vibrant watercolor illustration of a kind grain seller, Nánaksá the fakír (depicted as an older, benevolent man with a simple robe, slightly tattered at the hem, and weathered hands), and the grain seller’s wife (with kind eyes and worn, practical clothing) sitting together outside the grain seller’s shop on a sunny day. Golden sunlight bathes the scene, casting long, warm shadows. The color palette is warm, with ochres, siennas, and muted greens. A frightened goat hides trembling behind the grain seller’s legs, its fur realistically rendered, with a man in roughspun clothes pulling it away with a rope. The shop has a worn wooden door and cracked clay pots are visible. Nánaksá smiles gently, while the wife looks on with a sense of peace. The air feels still and warm.

01 Jan 0001

The False Friend

Watercolor painting of a deer and a crow, the deer a warm brown with large, expressive eyes, the crow a deep charcoal grey with bright, inquisitive eyes. Both are consistently sized and shaped throughout the painting. The background shows a sun-drenched field with a partially visible, rustic wooden trap. The deer is caught in the trap, looking fearful, while the crow perches nearby, watching with concern. Use soft, muted colors for a gentle, storybook feel. Emphasize the contrast between the deer’s fear and the crow’s alertness. Style: whimsical watercolor illustration.

01 Jan 0001

THE FAN PRINCE.

Watercolor illustration of a kind but weary king with a long, silver-streaked beard, dressed in regal robes of deep crimson and gold, standing in a sun-drenched courtyard paved with uneven flagstones. The light is a warm, golden afternoon glow, casting long shadows. He is surrounded by his seven daughters. Six daughters, in silk dresses of varying pastel hues, are smiling and pointing towards the king with playful gestures, their laughter almost audible. The seventh, the youngest, dressed in simple white linen, looks upwards with a serene expression, her eyes catching the light. Jasmine vines climb the aged stone walls of the courtyard. Soft watercolor blending creates a gentle, nostalgic feel.

01 Jan 0001

The Farmer and the Cat

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had five buffaloes and a cow. He took very good care of them. He would bring them fresh, green grass from far away and feed them. The buffaloes and the cow were happy with the farmer’s care.

Watercolor painting of a heartwarming farm scene: A kind farmer, depicted with warm brown tones and simple features, tends to five plump, light brown buffaloes and a gentle, cream-colored cow. Lush green grass surrounds them. In the background, a small village is visible, painted in muted earth tones. The style should be reminiscent of children’s book illustration, with soft outlines and gentle color blending. A small, mischievous orange cat is subtly lurking near a pail of overflowing milk in the foreground.

01 Jan 0001

The Farmer and the Money-lender

Watercolor illustration, late afternoon golden hour. A weary farmer with ragged, patched clothes stained with earth stands in front of the ornate, sun-drenched house of a plump and richly dressed money lender. The money lender’s house boasts intricately carved wooden doors and vibrant, blooming jasmine climbing its walls. The farmer, face etched with worry and sweat glistening on his brow, gestures with open, trembling hands in desperation. Long shadows stretch from the farmer and the house. The color palette is warm, with oranges and yellows dominating, but a somber gray clinging to the farmer. Texture: rough, woven mat outside the money lender’s door, contrasting with the smoothness of the farmer’s calloused hands.

01 Jan 0001

The Farmer and the Well

A long time ago, in a village, lived a hardworking farmer. He grew his own food and sold it to make a living.

An illustration of a farmer standing in front of his neighbor’s well, with a bucket and a confused expression, surrounded by dry crops and a sunny sky.

One day, he was looking for a water source for his fields. He saw his neighbor’s well and bought it.

01 Jan 0001

The Foolish Thief

Watercolor painting of a bustling Mughal court scene. Emperor Akbar sits on a raised dais, regal in vibrant gold and crimson robes. Birbal, slightly smaller but with a distinct, wise expression, stands beside him in calming blues and greens. A worried merchant, depicted in muted browns and greys, kneels before them, recounting his plight. In the foreground, a line of servants, each holding a similar-sized wooden stick, are depicted in various muted earth tones with one servant clearly smaller and noticeably fidgeting, highlighted with a darker shadow suggesting guilt. The overall style should be detailed yet whimsical, evoking a classic fairytale atmosphere with warm, inviting colors.

01 Jan 0001

The Gold-giving Serpent

Watercolor illustration of Haridatta, a weary farmer in his late 50s, with a deeply lined, sun-kissed brown face etched with years of labor and worry. He wears simple, patched brown homespun clothing. He’s napping fitfully under the sprawling, gnarled branches of a colossal banyan tree in a golden wheat field, the wheat swaying gently in the breeze. The late afternoon sun casts long, dappled shadows across the field. A large, imposing cobra with scales that shimmer with subtle iridescence and a proudly raised hood is emerging from a small, crumbling earthen mound near the tree roots. The mound is covered in dry, cracked earth and scattered pebbles. The air is thick with the scent of dry grass and warm earth. Color palette is warm golds, browns, and greens, creating a feeling of peaceful weariness.

01 Jan 0001

The Golden Goose

Watercolor painting of a heartwarming scene: A kind golden goose with shimmering, detailed feathers, slightly larger than a human child, gently presents a single golden feather to a smiling, wrinkled old woman and her two younger daughters. The woman and girls are dressed in simple, muted earth-toned clothes. The lake is in the background, subtly reflecting the golden light. Use a soft, warm color palette, focusing on the gentle contrast between the goose’s bright feathers and the subdued clothing of the women. The overall feeling should be one of kindness and generosity.

01 Jan 0001

The Greedy Dog

Watercolor painting in a whimsical style depicting a hungry, light brown dog with oversized, expressive eyes. The dog is depicted three times: 1) sniffing out a glistening, large bone in a field of bright, loose watercolor washes of green and yellow, 2) facing a river with a clear reflection of itself holding the same bone, 3) sadly sitting by a now cloudy, dark-blueish river, the bone lost. The dog should be consistently drawn, with the same size and color throughout, emphasizing its emotions through its eyes and body language. Use soft, translucent watercolor techniques to create a dreamy, slightly melancholic mood.

01 Jan 0001

The Greedy Lion

Watercolor painting of a lion, consistently colored burnt orange and ochre with a large, slightly grumpy mane, and a small, brown rabbit with long ears. The background is a lush, vibrant green jungle scene painted in loose watercolor style. The lion is depicted twice: once large and menacing, approaching a small, slightly blurry deer in the mid-ground; the second, smaller and dejected, looking sadly at an empty space where the rabbit once sat. The deer should be a soft, muted brown. Use a limited palette of greens, browns, and oranges. Focus on capturing the contrast in the lion’s demeanor between the two scenes, highlighting his hunger and regret.

01 Jan 0001

The Greedy Man

Watercolor painting of a story: A wealthy man, depicted in shades of deep brown and gold, with a slightly plump figure and a stern expression, is embracing his daughter, a small girl with bright pink dress and rosy cheeks, who is now turning golden. In the background, a whimsical fairy with shimmering teal hair and gown, is partially obscured behind a gnarled, golden tree, her expression a mix of sadness and pity. The overall color palette is warm, with golds and browns contrasting against the cool teal of the fairy and the pink of the girl’s dress. Focus on the emotional contrast between the man’s greedy expression and the girl’s innocent, now golden, form. Use loose, expressive watercolor brushstrokes to capture the emotional weight of the scene.