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.”

Lines, colours and patterns when splattered on canvas creates pieces of abstract yet beautiful art. The value of abstract art lies in the fact that it takes the meaning that its viewer wants. It speaks in a different language every time. Today, we bring you the inspiring story of an abstract artist, Praaggya Sharma.

A young mother of a four-year-old, Praaggya epitomizes the spirit that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. She was born in Bareilly, a small town in UP and grew up in Delhi. Later she moved to different cities and is now settled in Bangalore. She is a graduate in Economics (Hons.) from Punjab University and an MBA in Marketing from IMT-Nagpur.

In an exchange with The Talented Indian, she recalls her journey so far.

“I started painting about 3 years ago, when I was a stay-at-home mom. I was on the verge of depression with no adults to talk to all day long. Everything used to be about the baby but when she’d nap or at nights I’d get thinking and felt that I needed to do something for myself. Art had piqued my interest when I was expecting and I thought of giving it a shot. I’d scroll through other artists’ feeds on Instagram and watch tutorial videos on YouTube when feeding the baby or watching over her when she’d be playing by herself and then I’d try out stuff when she’d be sleeping. I started with watercolours and then forayed into Acrylics shortly after. From step-by-step tutorials to making abstract art, I had a steep learning curve. Painting abstracts was what felt the most liberating – I don’t usually plan a lot before starting a painting, I just start and go with the flow intuitively. I started putting my work out on Instagram and was thrilled by the love and support from the artists’ community there. I made some friends even found a sort of a mentor who I’d go to for advice about art materials or feedback on my work, her being a trained artist. In my art journey, my husband has played a crucial role. He’d look after, even feed the baby when I’d be painting after coming back from work or over the weekends. He’s always been there at all my events/exhibitions, helping me out with the setup, etc. Not to mention the constant encouragement to the extent of buying me my first fancy brushes for our anniversary. Even my parents and siblings supported this newfound passion of mine wholeheartedly and they still congratulate me on every sale I make.”

She is inspired by Monet’s artwork, mainly because of the choice of subjects, however, there are many contemporary artists on Instagram who have influenced and shaped her style. She believes that “consistent practice and patience” is the key to perfecting any art or skill. Despite every challenge, failure or shortcoming, you “just have to pick yourself up and carry on.”

Conclusively, while giving a beautiful message to all young dreamers and artists, she says, “Stop complaining about having no time. Everyone has a busy life or a routine to follow or whatever we choose to take up a large space in our lives but if you feel this itch to do something, if you look at someone else doing something great and sigh, “I wish I could do that”, just do it! Make time. Even if it is 15 minutes every day, that’s enough to get you started and get in the groove till you can’t stop doing it. If you love doing something, stop waiting for life to give you a window of free time. Make it happen for yourself.”

We bring you some of her most remarkable pieces of abstract art.