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Art & Craft

Portrait Paintings: A Journey Through Artistic Perspective

Discover the diversity and beauty of portrait paintings through the eyes of skilled artists and their unique perspectives.

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Portrait Paintings, Paintings,

Portrait paintings are a window into an artist’s perspective, showcasing their unique approach to capturing the human form. From the rich hues of oil paintings to the delicate lines of charcoal drawings to fine strokes of watercolour brushes, the diversity of techniques and styles found in portrait art is truly awe-inspiring. Whether it’s a meticulously detailed model portrait or a loose, impressionistic landscape, the skill and talent of the artists are on full display. As you explore the world of portrait paintings, you’ll find yourself admiring the craftsmanship and creativity of these masterful artists.

Amit Naik

Canvas paintings that will make you glance back and revert back at the paintings made by Naik again. His range extends from acrylics, charcoal on paper, digital painting, pastels and gouache on paper. The variety of content that Naik has to offer is commendable. His piece of art truly shows the potential he has and further shows the exploration he yet has to do. The creativity and authenticity he manages to show through shows bits of muse and inspiration. A true artist dwelling on the intriguing aspects of life, through his creations he brings them back to life from his memory.

Credits: Instagram (Amit Naik)

Sushil Basu

A collection of admirable watercolour paintings that Basu shows us through his page basuz_watercolor is fascinating. An essence of dripping reality and life is clearly seen through the painting. The vibrancy of the paints and blooming colours is commendable and extremely appealing to the eyes. The intricacies he manages to maintain and emphasise are a trait to definitely learn. The landscapes depicted on paper show the beauty of nature in its element as well as how Basu chooses to see it.

Credits: Instagram (Sushil Basu)

Manjiri More

Manjiri’s portraits capture individuals and contain them within the frame in a particular moment. More’s Instagram page majiri_more.artist is a page dedicated to her passion for art, every piece with a story to tell, inspire or simply admire. A large chunk of live model paintings leaves the viewers in awe, the shades, the strokes and the final products are inspiring to see. Her artistic range has no boundaries and shows her skills in every variety of paintings to exist. Her intentions through her work, she puts out there in the world show a perspective she shows people. An alluring and inviting page by More will capture your attention and leave you waiting for the next artistic piece.

Credits: Instagram (Manjiri More)

Bharat R

Bharat’s works are magnificent, every piece has a dynamic ability to influence a person. The sheer and absolute love to draw and the present world a piece of itself is insane. Bharat presents a variety of different paintings ranging from phenomenal charcoal portraits to breathtaking sketches. The emotions and rawness he captures in all these drawings are enthralling. His page bharata_art is an artistic treat giving accessibility to everyone to see the visuals he creates. His piece has impressed people around the world for various exhibitions. The titles and his ideas through his works are evocative.

Credits: Instagram (Bharat R)

Rakesh Suryawanshi

The vivid visuals presented in the oil painting by Rakesh are done perfectly. The colour choice and the technique to draw an image and show its clarity in it are commendable. The sketches are detailed and exact replicas of the muses. The pictures of eyes and the human sketches show his potential to the fullest to bring the pictures back to life. Rakesh has some of amazing digital work as well as scenic portraits showing the extent that ranges when it comes to his painting skills. The depiction of eyes throughout his art shows the different emotions as if reflective of the person looking at it.

Credits: Instagram (Rakesh Suryawanshi)

Ashish Kumar Patel


The oil painting has never looked as unreal and fascinating as Ashish paints them. Every single portrait is beautiful and has a coating of something glimmering and glassy. Patel has improved the style of painting by making them up close and realistic. Beautiful scenic Italy and the various locations on paper that we see are beautiful. A close replica of how the world appears in the day probably a drawing from his memories. Patel excels at oil painting, the images seen will capture you and appreciate his art more.

Credits: Instagram (Ashish Kumar Patel)

Trisuk Moharana

The stillness captured in Trisuk’s painting, his attempt to demonstrate a story in a portrait is splendid. The study of each model for his picture results in an image of rawness and genuineness. Something that stays in your mind, Trisuk is incredible at portraying emotions on paper and gives an overview that anchors the meaning of his art. Different ranges from sculpture drawing to oil canvas, his skills just tend to improve every single time. The vibrancy even in the dullness of color gradient used is what entirely shows the beauty of his art. His page is a compilation of varied art that is definitely worth your time.

Credits: Instagram (Trisuk Moharana)

Parag Bose

Parag draws rural life in his paper. The intricacy and demonstration that is visible, the representation and the fierce eyes they have captures your eye. The charcoal painting is done at its finest as well as the vibrant colours used in sketch, pastels or oil is beautiful to look at. The art of drawing and telling a story in its stillness and expression is an art to admire. The element that they are in while just staring at the distance or indulging in work around the village is a piece extracted from real life. The art of imitating a muse and adding authenticity to one’s own portrayal is sheer talent.

Credits: Instagram (Parag Borse)

Art & Craft

Ritesh Gupta of Creative Caricature Club: Journey of a Young Artist

An interview with the young caricature artist, Ritesh Gupta, founder of the Creative Caricature Club on art, passion, and realities

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Creative Caricature club, Ritesh Gupta , caricature artist

Caricature Art in India is widely misunderstood. It is a style of portraiture that exaggerates a person’s distinctive features for a comic, satirical or grotesque effect. A caricaturist aims to capture the subject’s personality and essence through these exaggerated drawings. A caricaturist’s goal isn’t mockery, but meaning — to capture the soul of a subject through playful exaggeration. This article is a deep dive into Ritesh Gupta, a young artist and painter, founder of the Creative Caricature Club.

Born in 2006 in the restless heart of Mumbai, Ritesh Gupta found his world not in textbooks but in colours. While other children found themselves focused on grades, he chased the feeling of creation, the quiet satisfaction that comes when a blank page begins to breathe yellow, blue and green. What began with school crayons slowly shaped into a goal, an ambition that would define his life. Today, as the founder of the Creative Caricature Club, Ritesh continues to balance learning and leading — growing as an artist while working on live caricature events across the country.

Origins: Middle-class Mumbai, Discovering Art

Ritesh grew up in a middle-class family where art was seen more as a hobby than a future. He wasn’t particularly inclined toward academics in his early years, but things changed when he began participating in art competitions from Class 3. By the time he reached Class 6, he had already made a conscious decision—art would be his chosen path. Ritesh learned that drawing and painting weren’t mere forms of expression but a language through which one could observe, feel, and communicate with the world. From then on, he began preparing seriously for drawing and painting examinations, laying the foundation for his artistic journey.

After class 10, Ritesh formally took up the arts stream. He joined the renowned Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai and is currently in his third year of a painting degree. During his journey he undertook meaningful projects: he created work for the municipal corporation, Indian Army, Indian Navy and other civic bodies. He also contributed to the “Mann Ki Baat” initiative of the Prime Minister and created numerous “Swachh Bharat” paintings, including an intense week in Delhi when his work was featured.

How did Ritesh Gupta Start Caricatures?

Caricature painting of a man and woman
Source: Creative Caricature Club

When the lockdown struck, Ritesh found himself with more time yet fewer opportunities—but also with possibility. He discovered caricature on social media and began to experiment: taking people’s photos, creating caricatures, posting on Facebook and Instagram. What began as a personal curiosity soon became a public voice. At the end of 2021 he did his first live caricature session in Dadar. That live-event experience boosted his confidence: the anxiety of public creation gave way to the thrill of engaging an audience. A big help was his friend who had been in the caricature field for long. Observing his quick wit and calm, he was able to adopt the same stance too.

In 2022, Ritesh formally founded the Creative Caricature Club. His aim: not just to be a content creator, but to build a strong portfolio for artists. Within 2-4 months the page gained significant followers thanks to consistent process and artistic focus.

Creative Caricature Club: Structure, Vision, Style

Creative Caricature Club artists
Source: Creative Caricature Club

By 2023-24 the Caricature Club had made impressive progress. The team expanded (in 2024 Ritesh hired India’s best caricature artists), events spanned all over India (corporate, social, weddings). He himself handles Saturday & Sunday events, while the team covers others.

What sets Ritesh’s caricature apart is storytelling. He says: “I focus on the bond, the relationship. We don’t just do physical caricature in that sense.” He especially loves doing caricatures of older couples (60-70 yrs): capturing the love, the bond, the lived experience. This is the philosophical thread: caricature isn’t mere exaggeration, it is life distilled and celebrated.

In a caricature session of 5-6 minutes (for one person) or 10-11 minutes (for a couple), Ritesh follows a thoughtful process: he observes the faces for one minute, notes distinctive features, watches how the couple interact (who speaks more, what their rapport is), then creates a mini-story on paper. Exaggeration is purposeful, not random. The aim is to reflect humor, love, character.

Thus his work remains personal, relational, celebratory rather than partisan. His philosophy: art is a spiritual journey — sādhanā. He adds: “Art is a big and most important part of my life.”
And he perceives creative work as a mirror of his mental, physical well-being. Ritesh insists that as artists we must build strong sleeping schedules, clean diet, and regular exercise to keep our mental and emotional palate healthy.

Ritesh Gupta on Balancing life, Goals and Growth

Though still a student, Ritesh balances multiple roles: his painting degree, running the Creative Caricature Club, live events, team-management, travel, workshops. He follows a disciplined routine: Monday–Friday for painting academy/study, Saturday–Sunday for events; meanwhile gym and diet are his priorities. He believes: only when you keep your mental health and physical well-being intact can your creativity flow.

His goals are ambitious yet grounded: buy a house in Mumbai, travel abroad, explore places and cultures. Moreover, he wants toinnovate in caricature so that when his subjects see their caricature they laugh immediately, create an unanticipating, humorous and memorable moment for them. The vision for his club is to raise awareness that caricature can be a personalised, meaningful feature in weddings and functions across India.

Reflections — Art as life, Caricature as Connection

Caricature portrait of an elderly/old couple by Creative Caricature Club
Source: Creative Caricature Club

Reading Ritesh’s journey one senses a philosophical thread: art as life, life as narrative, caricature as connection. He began with child-like affinity for art which grew into bigger ambitions, one that was at a tug-of-war with his middle-class background, a liking his parents weren’t so supportive of, which eventually progressed into formal education, and earning through it, built a team, and now seeks to touch the human bond in his drawings.

He says: “Whatever I think observe, see, and think in my subjects, I reflect that through caricature.”
It’s a subtle statement of artistic authenticity. The creative act becomes not just drawing lines, but listening to life, seeing relationships, capturing essence.

In a world where art is often commodified or seen as a side hobby, Ritesh reminds us that the true artist holds both the eye of the observer and the heart of the participant. The caricaturist becomes a storyteller, the paper becomes a mirror, the people become countless narratives.

Words of Advice for all Aspiring Artists and Dreamers

For Ritesh Gupta, founder of the Creative Caricature Club, the path is still unfolding. The house in Mumbai, the travel, the expansion of the club—all are milestones. But the deeper horizon lies in how his art will continue to reflect life’s relationships, how his caricatures will make people laugh and remember, and how the club he’s built will enable others to discover their voice. His journey is a reminder: when you answer the soul’s whisper early, and walk the path with discipline and love, art becomes more than a career, it becomes purpose.

To all the young and aspiring artists, Ritesh offers simple yet profound counsel:

  1. Work on what you like. Passion is the root.
  2. Participate in competitions; learning comes from doing and showing your work.
  3. Stop worrying if there is a “future” in this field — just start working hard in your chosen direction; time will prove you.

He emphasizes fundamentals: “If your portrait fundamentals are strong, then you’ll be able to caricature. Caricature is advanced than portrait.” He encourages sketching everything around you, building observation, then moving into caricature.

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Art & Craft

Where to Find Them: India’s New Generation of Portrait Artists

Meet five rising Indian portrait artists redefining tradition through digital art. From graphite to acrylics, discover where to find them.

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Portrait, art , artist , sketch, creativity

Art isn’t just decoration in India, it’s devotion. From the rhythmic strokes of ancient cave painters to the intricate brushwork and portraits of miniature masters, art has always lived at the core of Indian identity. It’s in temple walls, festival colors, embroidered fabrics, and even the way we decorate our doorsteps with rangoli. Creativity, in India, is both an offering and an emotion.

Today, that same spirit thrives online, on canvases, sketchbooks, and yes, even smartphone screens. A new wave of artists is keeping India’s artistic flame alive, blending tradition with technology. They sketch, paint, record, and upload, turning pixels into poetry. Let’s dive into the world of five extraordinary Indian artists who have built their own creative empires, one portrait at a time.

Nikhil Khinchi (@nksketch_arts) – The Young Visionary from Ajmer

At just twenty, Nikhil Khinchi has achieved what many dream of, a thriving art career rooted in passion and precision. A self-taught artist from Ajmer, Rajasthan, Nikhil specializes in hyper-realistic portrait sketches that seem to breathe life. His chosen tools? Graphite, charcoal, and fine liners, wielded with astonishing control.

Every portrait he draws carries a spark of realism, the glint in an eye, the subtle shadow under a smile. He’s completed over a hundred commissioned artworks, each custom-made for clients across India. And he does it all independently, from inquiries on WhatsApp to delivery.

But Nikhil isn’t just an artist; he’s a digital entrepreneur. On Instagram, his feed bursts with creative energy, over 376 posts, 2,000+ followers, and endless progress reels. His YouTube channel, boasting nearly 100K subscribers, documents every sketch, milestone, and creative experiment. With more than 360 videos, he’s transforming his artistic journey into a learning space for others.

What makes him stand out?
His consistency. His discipline. And the way he blends youth, ambition, and art into a story of self-made success. For Nikhil, every pencil stroke is not just art, it’s a promise of growth.

Palak Verma (@palakvvermaa) – The Queen of Graphite Art

In the heart of Delhi’s chaos, Palak Verma finds calm, through graphite and charcoal. Her portraits, done entirely by hand, reflect her quiet mastery of light, texture, and tone. She doesn’t chase colors; she chases depth.

Palak works in traditional black-and-white mediums, and her art feels almost meditative. The way she layers graphite gives her drawings a soulful glow, while her control of charcoal adds drama and dimension. Every portrait she creates feels intimate, as if the paper itself whispers emotion.

With over 29K followers on Instagram, Palak’s art speaks louder than captions. Her YouTube channel, though smaller, offers glimpses into her process, gentle, patient, and rooted in precision. She takes commissions via DMs or email, handling every client interaction with professionalism and warmth.

What makes her stand out?
In a digital world obsessed with filters and shortcuts, Palak stays true to tradition. Her work reminds us that sometimes, a single pencil can express more emotion than a thousand colors.

Sneha Singh (@sketchwithsneha) – The Cultural Muse with a Spiritual Soul

Sneha Singh is not just an artist, she’s a storyteller, a teacher, and a believer. Her art flows from devotion, often inspired by her faith in Lord Krishna. Even her profile opens with “॥श्रीकृष्णः शरणं मम्॥” (Lord Krishna is my refuge) Every sketch she creates carries that same serenity.

Her preferred mediums are pencil and pen, often with soft shading that mirrors emotion rather than just form. Sneha’s portraits have an ethereal quality light, expressive, and deeply Indian in spirit. But what makes her special is her versatility. When she’s not drawing, she’s singing, reading, writing, or traveling each pursuit feeding her creativity.

Her online presence is thriving: 42K Instagram followers, 2.9K YouTube subscribers, and over a hundred videos filled with tutorials, art tips, and cultural reflections. She makes learning art approachable, teaching her viewers not just how to draw, but how to feel while drawing.

What makes her stand out?
Sneha blends spirituality with skill. Her sketches remind us that art, at its best, is prayer — quiet, mindful, and infinitely human.

Jugal Sarkar (@jugalsarkar_official) – The Artist Who Paints With Stories

From Kolkata, the city that breathes literature and melody, comes Jugal Sarkar, a full-time artist who lives and dreams in color. His art is rooted in graphite and colored pencils, but his creative world extends far beyond technique. He calls his work “the harmony between imagination and reality,” and that phrase sums up his entire approach.

With 116K Instagram followers and nearly 3,000 posts, Jugal’s consistency is remarkable. He’s not just painting portraits; he’s building conversations. His YouTube channel, with almost 8K subscribers, is a blend of tutorials, motivational talks, and podcasts. He shares not only how to draw, but why to draw.

His videos cover everything from creative burnout to finding artistic purpose. Each upload feels like a conversation with a friend who truly understands art’s emotional rollercoaster.

What makes him stand out?
Jugal doesn’t treat art as a product — he treats it as philosophy. His work invites viewers to slow down, think, and reconnect with their creative side.

Debojyoti Boruah (@debojyoti.boruah.art) – The Realist from the Land of Blue Hills

From Assam, a region bursting with natural beauty and culture, Debojyoti Boruah brings realism to life with unmatched mastery. His medium of choice? Acrylic paint, one of the most challenging materials for realistic art. Acrylic dries fast, leaving little room for error, but Debojyoti handles it with finesse. His portraits are so lifelike that they often resemble high-resolution photographs.

His art style, “Realism with Acrylics”, has become his signature. Through detailed layering and subtle color blending, he captures skin tones, reflections, and emotions with surgical precision. His subjects, whether ordinary people or imagined faces, look alive.

Debojyoti’s online presence is enormous: 72K Instagram followers, 99.9K YouTube subscribers, and over 700 videos, the highest count among this group. Yet, he follows no one. His focus remains solely on his work and his students. He also offers a structured online course called “Learn to Paint Realistic Portraits”, turning his art into a bridge for others to cross.

What makes him stand out?

Debojyoti represents the quiet power of discipline. From a lesser-represented corner of India, he’s made his art global, proof that skill and sincerity need no spotlight to shine.

The New Canvas of Indian Art

From Ajmer’s graphite sketches to Assam’s acrylic wonders, these artists remind us that art in India is alive, evolving, and as diverse as the country itself. They’ve turned social media into modern galleries, where tradition meets technology and skill meets storytelling.

So, where can you find them?
Not in dusty old museums, but right where today’s creativity lives on Instagram feeds, YouTube videos, and digital canvases. Each of them paints a new chapter in India’s artistic story, proving that while mediums may change, the soul of Indian art never fades it only shines brighter.

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Art & Craft

Parimal Vaghela: The Engineer Who Never Stopped Painting

An interview with self-taught artist and civil engineer, Parimal Vaghela whose paintings transform mere objects into timeless

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Parimal Vaghela , art , artist , painting, civil engineering

Art was never a profession for the 63-year-old Parimal Vaghela, known for his hyper-realistic still lifes, landscapes, and portraits. It was more like a quiet companion he has carried through life, by his side — from childhood through his decades-long career as a civil engineer, and now into his sixties. Even as he spent decades as a civil engineer, he’d come back to his blank canvases, painting them with his reflections of the day – the ‘overlooked’ that Vaghela loved capturing.

Source: Parimal Vaghela’s Instagram

A Childhood Shaped by Art

Vaghela’s artistic gift revealed itself early. By the age of 12, he was sculpting with chalk sticks, work that was also featured in Phool Vadi, a well-known Gujarati children’s magazine. His teachers and headmasters urged him to join a fine arts school, but in the 1970s, art education meant a five-year course with no guarantee of a livelihood. Coming from a modest background, Vaghela chose the safer path of civil engineering — a profession that could ensure survival, even if it meant putting art on the margins. Yet painting never left him. Vaghela proudly states that God has sent him with a pre-installed application on art and painting. “There is a driving force within me,” he reflects, “telling me which composition is right and which is not.”

With poster colours and ordinary paper in his childhood, he graduated to oil and canvas in his twenties. At first, he painted landscapes, inspired by the survey field visits he undertook as an engineer. Later came figure paintings, drawn from melas and cultural gatherings. Over time, he found himself drawn most to still life, where his brush could transform humble, overlooked and ignored objects — a bulb, a broken switch, a spice heap, into compositions of visual treat.

A Mentor Across Borders

Growing up in a small town with no internet, mentors, or access to proper art resources, Vaghela taught himself through observation and books. A turning point came when he discovered A Brush with Art by British painter Alwyn Crawshaw. Deeply moved, he wrote to Crawshaw’s publisher, narrating the story of Eklavya from the Mahabharata — the boy who learned archery by observing Drona from afar.

To his surprise, Crawshaw replied. He sent Vaghela books, videotapes, and cassettes, offering guidance and tips on art and painting, across continents. For Vaghela, Crawshaw became his Drona, and he, the Eklavya who trained in solitude. Crawshaw’s motto — “Go for the top of the mountain” — became Vaghela’s own life mantra, sustaining him through decades of balancing engineering and painting.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Despite his full-time profession, Vaghela held annual solo exhibitions, including three one-man shows at Mumbai’s Jehangir Art Gallery, as well as at Nehru Centre and Lila Art Gallery. His Ahmedabad exhibition caught the eye of a Times of India reporter, who was struck by the originality of his still life work. Over the years, he experimented with oil before settling into acrylics, which now dominate his canvases.

Apart from his observations of the daily life, Vaghela’s subjects are also deeply inspired by culture and locality like folk symbols from Gujarat, cultural events and melas. A painting of spices and herbs even won him a national award. His works also reached prominent personalities: Ramesh Chauhan of Bisleri is a deep admirer of Parimal Vaghela. Vedica’s bottle label has a mountain-view painting done by Vaghela, and one of his portraits was used in a Jackie Shroff-starrer film Grahan.

The Pull of the Ordinary – Parimal Vaghela’s Signature Style

For Vaghela, beauty lies in what most people miss. He recalls finding inspiration in a broken switch on a wall in Nagpur or an old rack in his grandmother’s kitchen. To him, these details are not trivial but deeply alive, waiting for someone to notice them. His newspaper series — paintings of headlines about GST slabs or the passing of Lata Mangeshkar — were not intended as commentary but emerged as by-products of the society he lived in. While Vaghela doesn’t call his arts an attempt at ‘intellectual operation’, or ‘morality’ yet, viewers often find deeper meanings in them.

For Vaghela, the surrender before beauty is the essence of art: to lose oneself in what is before you. He sees painting as a form of self-discovery, a relief from life’s difficulties, and a practice that gives mental peace.

Source: Parimal Vaghela’s Instagram

Between Market Realities and Inner Calling

Though he has exhibited widely in India, Vaghela speaks honestly about the exploitative nature of the art market. Dealers often take more than their share, and monopolies dominate pricing. He recalls reading how a celebrated Gujarati artist’s work, sold in crores, earned the artist only some few lakhs. Such inequalities, along with delayed payments and financial misuse, often reminds us of the cruel capitalistic ladder which often disrespects the real origin of hardwork and creativity.

The Artist Who Endures

Parimal Vaghela firmly believes artists are born, not made: “90% of the ability I have today was with me since childhood.” Yet his own life also testifies to persistence — decades of practice without formal training, exhibitions pursued alongside government work, letters sent across borders, and above all, a fire that still burns to this day.

This higher force within him, a relentless drive to make a breakthrough in the art world draws inspiration from figures like Swami Vivekananda and Amrita Sher-Gil, personalities who left a profound impact on society despite their short lives. He nurtured a similar desire to create something extraordinary in his youth. “I always wanted to make a breakthrough in art at a younger age, and I believe I tried my best to achieve that,” he says. What sustained him through the years was this powerful will, coupled with his belief in his artistic skill and his constant striving to reach, in his mentor’s words, “the top of the mountain.”

Message to Young Artists

To all the beginners and budding artists, Parimal Vaghela reminds that an artist must decide within himself to do something extraordinary. “Consistency, patience, and putting your mind and soul into the work — that is what makes you stand out.” For him, art has never been about fame or market success. It has been about endurance, self-expression, and staying alive to the unnoticed beauty of the world — and that is what he asks of all young and aspiring artists.

Parimal Vaghela is a civil engineer by profession and an artist by mind, soul, and heart. He has been painting since a child, calling it a ‘fire’ within him that never stopped burning. Ever since, Vaghela has captured mere objects into timeless art – creating hyperrealistic paintings, landscape paintings, etc. His work has also featured in Jackie Shroff’s film, Grahan, as well as, Bisleri’s water bottle – Vedika.

Source: Parimal Vaghela’s Instagram

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Unveiling the Abstract Realms: Ram Kumar

Journey through the vibrant landscapes of an Indian art maestro Ram Kumar, a luminary in India’s artistic cosmos, who redefined abstraction.

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Ram Kumar, Artistic, Abstract, Art, Painting

From figurative to abstraction, Ram Kumar, a luminary in India’s artistic cosmos, is a beacon of inspiration, revolutionising the canvas with his abstract strokes. Born in 1924, Ram Kumar’s journey from the corridors of academia to the bustling street of Paris and finally to the serene landscapes of Varanasi captures a profound evolution in both his art style and thematic preoccupations.

Ram Kumar was drawn into the art world due to a chance encounter with an exhibition at the Sarada Ukil School of Art while pursuing his Master’s in Economics at St Stephen’s College in 1945. He enrolled in evening classes at the art school under the guidance of artist Sailoz Mookherjea. Kumar started to hone his skills in still-life portrait painting, gradually transitioning to capture the urban decay and human condition of Delhi and Shimla through his paintings. During his formative years, Kumar’s art reflected a vibrant energy, often depicting scenes of everyday life juxtaposed with deeper existential themes. His works, such as “Why Can’t I Sleep” and “Oppression”, reflected the underlying social and political currents shaping post-independence India.

In 1948, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey took a significant turn when he joined a Hindi daily newspaper as a journalist trainee and crossed paths with artist J. Swaminathan. This encounter solidified his commitment to art, and began a lifelong friendship with fellow artists such as S.H Raza, F.N. Souza and K.H.Ara. The year 1949 witnessed Ram Kumar’s first solo exhibition in Shimla, where his paintings caught the eye of Dr Zakir Hussain, the then Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University. Inspired by the early success, Kumar embarked on a journey of artistic enlightenment to Paris.

With its rich cultural tapestry, Paris was a crucible for Kumar’s artistic evolution. Under the tutelage of renowned artist Andre Lhote, Kumar delved into the work of lines, curves and colours, imbuing his works with a newfound dynamism inspired by the works of radicals like Louis Aragon and Roger Garaudy, as well as encounters with luminaries like Pablo Neruda, Kumar’s art began to reflect a deeper engagement with human emotions and societal realities. The years spent in Paris were transformative for Kumar, artistically and ideologically. His encounters with the works of Courbet, Rouault, Kathe Kollwits and Edward Hopper instilled in him a deep appreciation and sensitivity to the human experience, which would manifest in his later works.

When he returned to India, Kumar was drawn to the ancient city of Varanasi, where he encountered a land brimming with spiritual fervour and existential angst. The stark contrast between the city’s vibrant rituals and its silent decaying structures became a recurring motif in Kumar’s art.

Credits: Google Images – (The Curators Art)

The 1960s marked a watershed moment in Kumar’s artistic career as he transitioned from figurative to abstract expressionism. His “Grey Period” changed from vivid colours to muted tones reflecting the sad realities of human suffering and mortality. His cityscapes of Varanasi, rendered in Cubist aerial views, symbolised the existential angst that permeated his work. Kumar’s later works continued to explore Varanasi’s spiritual and existential dimensions, albeit with a newfound sense of transcendence. His “Benaras Series”, characterised by ethereal blues and a sense of collective spirituality, captured the city’s timeless allure while evoking a deep sense of human emotion and longing.

In retrospect, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of exploration and introspection. From his early realist works depicting the bustling streets of Delhi to, his later abstract compositions inspired by the charisma of Varanasi, Kumar’s art transcends boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience.

In a world marked by constant change and upheaval, Ram Kumar’s timeless artworks serve as poignant reminders of the enduring power of art to reflect, provoke and inspire. As we navigate the complexities of modern existence, may we find solace and enlightenment in the enduring legacy of artists like Ram Kumar, whose abstract brushstrokes continue to resonate across time and space.

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Art & Craft

Exploring The Symphony Of Water-Colour Artists

Dive into a kaleidoscope of Watercolour artists—where every stroke and shade tells a story of boundless imagination.

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Watercolour Artists, Watercolour, Artists, Experience, Creativity, Piantings

In the vast landscape of artistic expression, creativity knows no bounds. From photography to the art world, a myriad of voices and visions intertwine to form a rich tapestry of human experience. This article embarks on a journey through the diverse realms of artistic creation through watercolour artists, celebrating the unique talents and perspectives that shape our world.

Dhirendra Mandge : @mandgedhirendra

Dhirendra Mandge has a portfolio featuring around 36 group exhibitions and 5 solo showcases. His artistic endeavours encompass figurative and abstract forms, with a current focus on exploring Indian heritage architecture. Mandge draws inspiration from the majestic historical forts, their unparalleled architectural marvels intriguing him. To him, heritage serves as a bridge linking the past with the present, embodying a timeless connection.

Credits: Instagram @mandgedhirendra

Rashmi Soni: @artist_rashmisoni

Rashmi Soni’s painting exudes the ethereal beauty of simplistic things, capturing moments of serenity and introspection. With delicate brushstrokes, she infuses her work with a beautiful mixture of colours that evoke a sense of wonder and tranquillity. Her eye for detail and mastery of colour invites viewers into a world of quiet contemplation.

Credits: Instagram- @artist_rashmisoni

Gulshan Achari: @gulshanachari

Gulshan Achari’s bold and dynamic compositions command attention, drawing viewers into a whirlwind of vibrant colours and swirling forms. His paintings pulsate with energy and movement, reflecting his passionate exploration of shape and architecture. Achari’s work challenges traditional notions of art, pushing boundaries and inviting viewers to engage with simplistic beauty.

Credits: Instagram- @gulshanachari

Dhruba Mazumder : @dhrubafinearts

Dhruba Mazumder’s evocative portraits capture the complexity of human emotion with remarkable sensitivity and depth. Through subtle nuances of expression and meticulous attention to detail, he breathes life into her subjects, inviting viewers to glimpse the inner workings of natural beauty. Mazumder’s paintings resonate with authenticity and vulnerability, powerful reflections of the human experience.

Credits: Instagram – @dhrubafinearts

Harshwaradhan Devtale: @harshwardhan_devtale

Harshwaradhan Devtale’s intricate layers of colour and texture create a sense of depth and dimensionality, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between light and shadow. This watercolour artist blurs the line between painting and reality, resulting in works that are extraordinary to witness.

Credits- Instagram – @harshwardhan_devtale

Abhijit Jadhav: @abhijadhav_artist_official

Abhijit Jadhav’s cityscapes evoke a sense of wonder and awe, transporting viewers to otherworldly realms of imagination. Through watercolours he creates cityscapes that have paused their busy day just for him, capturing the moment through his imagination, memory and creativity.

Credits: Instagram – @abhijadhav_artist_official

Chetan C Sadashivan: @chetan.c.s

Chetan C Sadashivan, through meticulous attention to detail in his watercolour paintings and a keen understanding of form, captures the beauty and complexity of everyday life. Chetan’s paintings invite the viewers to pause and reflect on the inherent beauty of the world around them, reminding us to enjoy the beauty in simple moments.

Credits : Instagram – @chetan.c.s

Rahul Vishwakarma: @rahulvishwakarma.12

Rahul Viswakarma’s painting is poetic, this watercolour artist paints vivid portraits of emotion and experience, weaving them into tapestries of beauty and longing. His evocative paintings depict visuals of cities that are ethereal and immersive clubbed with his eye for meticulous detail, giving one solace and inspiration.

Credits: Instagram – @rahulvishwakarma.12

Conclusion:

One thing is abundantly clear: art knows no boundaries. Across cultures, genres and mediums creators continue to push the boundaries of expression, inspiring and challenging us to see the world in new ways. Let us celebrate the richness of diversity and the transformative power of creativity through these beautiful watercolour paintings.

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