The creative world today is more colourful and vibrant than it was ever before. Thanks to digitalization, a multitude of colours and shades can bring any piece of art to life. Posters, flyers, caricatures, portraits, cartoons, animations; the artists can create and experiment with all of these using various softwares. Digital illustrators are a result of, and a vital addition, to the modern era of technology. The artistic flair and talent of some of these amazing digital artists is worth mentioning.

Pratima Unde, going by the Instagram hande pratima_unde, majorly illustrates life like portraits with great finesse and skill. Ranga Krishnamani, creative director of Liquidink design studio, draws beautiful sceneries and landscapes with an array of different shades. From parachutes and boats to fields and temples, the artists masters all. The masterful use of colours in a particular style gives the drawings a beautiful modernist vibe. Vivek Mandrekar creates exceptionally realistic portraits of various personalities including Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Rajnikanth, Leonardo di Caprio and many more. Rahul Arora produces wonderful pieces of varied illustrations. With a cartoonish tinge, his creations include a caricature of Tyrion Lannister, personified birds and animals, mythical creatures, mermaids, landscapes, zombies many more exciting concepts.

These remarkable artists create and shower loads of artistic beauty and creativity into the digital space. Aesthetic and bewitching, their creations are a feast for the eyes!

Since time immemorial, art has held a special position when it comes to communicating or expressing emotions. Before languages came into being, cavemen communicated with each other through drawings and sketches; rock paintings have been made since the Palaeolithic age, 40,000 years ago. Art has a very rich legacy and it continues to be carried on further, for art will continue to exist as long as the human race exists. This segment is dedicated to skilful artists with expertise in Portrait art- painting and sketching.

We relate to Portraits on a different level – the depth in the eyes, the creases on the skin, the texture of the hair and the curves of the lips…we notice things we never saw before; we appreciate the beauty more intently and passionately. Portraits carry a significant part of humanity with them, we identify people with their faces and through facial expressions we are able to make out the emotions a person is experiencing at the time. Kings and Queens expressed their pride and glory by getting painted grand portraits of themselves, and even today, portraits seem to capture the intensity of emotions better than cameras ever could.

It is a special feeling to see your image sketched with lead on a canvas, the array of colours which go on to give shape to your beauty. These portrait sketchers strive to create human expressions on paper. Their masterful pieces of art give us a glimpse into their world of recreating human faces with their own understanding of human features. The precision and accuracy they exhibit leave the spectators in awe and the grandeur in their art can be felt. The time and hard work with which each piece of art is crafted add to the aesthetic value it holds. The magnificence of their art is remarkable and so is their dedication towards adding life to a combination of lines and curves.

Today, we take you to the world of beautiful portraits, created by the fine expertise of these talented artists.

Horace once said, “A picture is a poem without words”. M.F. Husain, one of India’s most prolific painter, also referred to as the ‘Picasso of India’, was a master expressionist, painting the poetry of life through his art.  

Born on 17 September 1915 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, he spent his early years in Indore. To hone his craft, he attended the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art in Mumbai. His paintings depicted Indian subjects like Indus Valley Civilization, Indian culture, history and great personalities, through contemporary art. Highly known for his bold impressions and vibrant colours, he created artistic masterpieces.

He has also directed a few movies like Through the Eyes of a Painter (1967) for, which he received the National Film Award for Best Experimental Film and Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004).

Conferred with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and many other awards, he is one of the most celebrated and internationally recognized Indian artists of the 20th century.

Today, on his birthday, we bring you some of his most famous paintings.

Donatella Versace once said, “Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas.” Creation of fine art is a result of such creativity.

Ranging from special occasions to day-to-day moments, every idea manifests itself creatively in the form of art. Although symbolic, still, it is a great way of putting across the message or thought in the most fun, artistic and aesthetic way possible.

Some great Indian digital artists like Archan Nair, Jithin Roda, Medha Srivastava and Nikhil Shinde are using technology to create elegant art pieces. We bring to you some of such exceptional works.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Mamta Goel epitomizes this spirit of a true artist through her work.

Born in Muzaffarnagar, UP, she did her postgraduation in Political Science and then pursued Journalism. Her interest in art surfaced during her childhood, when she was inspired by one of her classmate’s art. Gradually, with the responsibilities of the family and marriage, her passion took a back seat. But with time, after her children grew up, she restarted her art journey with all the encouragement from her family.

Rigorous practice and hard work perfected her craft and earned her recognition for this unique talent. She carves out images on fresh natural leaves, making beautiful art pieces.

Her message to young upcoming artists is that, “it is not necessary for you to be a born artist. Your passion and practice will one day make the master of your craft. Passion and hard work is the key. Never give up.”