Imagine there is no curriculum; Only curiosity motivates learning. Imagine there is no predetermined route; Determination of exploration course only. Put those almost-Lenonesque ideas together and you get a program that encourages children to explore nature and use natural paints and glues and prepare materials to create forest art. As should be clear to anyone, this program is the antithesis of the assembly line. There is no telling what natural color will turn out; the consistency with which the glue will drip; Or what shape will the forged objects give to the artwork. All of these will take you to the doorstep of an unusual (but not impossible) world that Juwairiya H has created for children. Royapuram-based Juwairiya (a Montessori-trained teacher, Zentangle artist and biotechnology graduate) runs this program in person and also remotely.
But first things first. The program is structured in a way that breaks down structured, predictable learning.
Each session begins with a silent nature walk with unplanned breaks to accommodate the children’s scavenger hunt. “We don’t buy anything,” Juwairia explains. “Everything we use comes from nature. It’s fickle and unpredictable. Often, we don’t know what color will bloom and that uncertainty is part of the magic.” Children are encouraged to bring leaves, petals, roots and seeds. Coming back to the workplace, they start working with what they have collected. Paint-making is supported by a simple premise: flour is mixed into a batter and boiled to a perfect paint-like consistency. Many avenues of creativity, some predictable and some unexpected, lead from there.
painting with natural colors
“Turmeric gives yellow, limestone with turmeric makes red, and flowers or leaves create unexpected colors,” explains Juwairiya. Seasonal changes and availability of materials in the local environment affect paint colors and experimentation is encouraged. Blue pea flowers and bougainvillea are often used in making natural paints. She collects both used and unused paper, turning it into pulp for new paper or functional objects like bowls that are used to hold natural paints. Children often paint with fingers or brushes made of twigs and fibers.
Making glue may seem like a simple process, but it teaches a lot more than just sticking things together. “It’s really very basic – just flour and water but the technique matters,” explains Juwairiya, who guides students through the process. The flour is mixed with water until smooth, then gently boiled until it reaches a very glue-like consistency. “It is important to stir constantly,” she adds, “otherwise lumps form, and the texture is not correct.”
Painting with natural colours.
For her younger students, figuring out the right consistency can be a challenge, especially in an online setting. “I give clear instructions and check their work step by step. Sometimes, I ask questions to help them adjust — adding a little more flour or water until it’s just right,” says Juwairiya. Safety is also a priority, as the process also involves dealing with fire. “Adult supervision is important, but we also encourage independence without interfering too much,” she says.
Juwairiya manages to replicate the same processes in her online classes, reaching out to children across different geographies, including Dubai, Singapore and Delhi. Parents accompany the youngest participants on a pre-session nature walk.
“We start with stories, questions, and provocation,” she explains. “If a child asks a question, we answer with another question. It’s not about answers; it’s about sparking ideas, allowing the imagination to drive the lesson plan.”
Beyond paint, the “course” gets into composting, bio-enzyme making, textile recycling and paper recycling.
“Adults often worry that it’s messy, or a waste of time,” she admits. “But when a child sees color coming out of something they’ve chosen, their eyes light up. That’s a learning that can’t be measured.”
illiterate philosophy
At home, Juwairiya, a mother of two, follows a no-schooling philosophy where the child’s curiosity reigns supreme. “Unschooling does not mean isolation,” she explains. “It’s about letting interests flourish. Sometimes, the greatest lessons lie outside, beyond the four walls and the program.”
His quest for a meaningful education took him away from the hustle and bustle of traditional classrooms to Dharmapuri’s Nagarkoodal village, where Puvidham is an alternative school. Here, the philosophy is as earthy as clay: children create what they consume.
“It was Puvidham that changed everything for me,” she recalls. “I learned how to recycle paper, how to make natural glue, and how to make paints from nature. Their focus on sustainability wasn’t just a lesson; it was a lifestyle.”
Unable to keep her children there due to distance, she enrolled in Puvidham’s Learning Facilitator Program (LFP), a program that would quietly hone her understanding of teaching. She says, “Children, especially in their early years, think and learn with their hands long before they engage with text. That insight completely changed my perspective.”
The course immersed them in practical modules – from paper upcycling and foraged art to ink and glue making. Upon completion, he began co-education with the children, letting curiosity rather than curriculum drive the curriculum. And she’s continuing to learn along with the children she teaches.
An artist’s influence on natural colors
Sculptor and artist with over 25 years of experience. For Sooriyamurthy, acrylic may be the primary medium of artistic expression in painting, but that doesn’t stop him from appreciating the raw character that natural colors bring to a piece of art. “They give a beautiful, organic texture that is difficult to replicate with synthetic paint,” he says.
And no one needs to wonder that color can be obtained directly from nature. He explains: “Take beetroot, for example; once the color gets on your hand, it’s difficult to wash it off. That kind of natural strength is remarkable.”
published – October 18, 2025 10:49 am IST