After the Rain

© Shubhankar Adhikari 2011

Title - After the Rain

watercolour on paper (size - 11' x 15')

As an artist and also an educator, my aim is not only just to transform my unique vision of nature through painting ,but also to evoke a sense of tranquility , peace , serenity and harmony. Here is a painting I did up in a few months ago. This is also a fully imaginative work of mine. A sudden spark of idea came suddenly in my mind after a heavy downpour, and I transformed the idea into a painting in my studio that very day. 

A Lonely River

© 2011 Shubhankar Adhikari

Title - Lonely River

Watercolour on paper (11" x 7.5") 

People often get confused thinking how the artist plans to start a painting. I have some different approach regarding this matter. Sometimes I make some initial sketch by drawing some basic lines with pencil or pen ,sometimes I also start painting directly with brushes fully loaded with colours. I always advise my students to keep the initial sketch simple and purposeful. I have also said you earlier  that limiting your palette will drive you to concentrate more on your values.

In this painting I have again used the white of the paper  in the background and the foreground . I have also used the backside of my brush to bring the effect of the big trees beside the bank of the river. 

Abstract Landscape

© Shubhankar Adhikari

WATERCOLOUR ABSTRACT  LANDSCAPE (11' X 8')

Dominance of colour temperature should be displayed in a painting. But a balance should be there while using the negative space of your painting. Here I have used the  white of the paper to keep display cool. I have used bold single brush technique  loaded with colors. The whole picture was drawn with the help of single flat brush.

Riverside Cottages

Riverside Cottages

© Shubhankar Adhikari

watercolour on handmade paper ( size- 27.5" x 19.5")

Dream Home

© Shubhankar Adhikari

Title- DREAM  HOME

Watercolour on paper ( Size -11'x 7.5')

This painting is the result of bold brush technique. I have used here flat brushes as well as  rigger brushes to bring this effect. Also used the white of the paper in the foreground . I often love to create  fully imaginative painting like this . 

North Bengal Dreams

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© Shubhankar Adhikari

North Bengal Dreams

Watercolour on handmade paper ( 15' x 22')

North Bengal is one of my dream travel destination .The hills,the jungles,the rivers,and the serene beauty of lush green tea garden ,always inspire me to create more. This painting is result of digging the memory of my travel and tours in north bengal. I have made this watercolour painting on handmade paper. Dry brush technique has been applied in some portion of this painting

GADIARA

© Shubhankar Adhikari

GADIARA

acrylic and ink on handmade paper (11' x 15' )

Gadiara is a beautiful small town in Howrah district ,West Bengal. A good place to stay for a day or two. Last year I visited the place . It is situated at the confluence of the Hooghly and Rupnarayan rivers. I found the typical village atmosphere there. The river is extremely wide. There I had watched the 18th century british fort ruins ,light house,brick fields,paddy fields,boats,big ships,birds ,trees etc.etc. I made this painting  from a reference photo I snapped there . 

Watercolour abstract

© Shubhankar Adhikari 

WATERCOLOUR ABSTRACT

Dooars,Nagrakata,Jalpaiguri

© Shubhankar Adhikari
Dooars,Nagrakata,Jalpaiguri

Economy of dooars is based on Tea,Tourism and Timber.The main industry in dooars region is tea industry.Thousands of people are engaged in tea industry.There are many national parks and wild life sanctuaries.  Nagrakata is the head quarters of Nagrakata (community development block) in Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district.West Bengal.

Experimental artworks

© Shubhankar Adhikari

Abstract watercolour on paper

Watercolour is so unpredictable that it often takes a new shape while you use the pigments on a wet paper.I often love to create these types of experimental watercolour artwork,because It gives me a new energy to create more and think in a different way. These types of new experiments with colours and shapes always help us to increase our imaginative power .

Kolkata cityscape from my sketch book

©Shubhankar Adhikari

Kolkata cityscape sketch

This is one of my sketch on Kolkata city. I always try to carry my sketch book with me while travelling. I fill the pages with sketches using  pencil , ball point pen, gel pen etc.Constant sketching will increase your power of observations..............so sketch ! sketch and  sketch !

Bankura Landscape

Bankura Landscape
© Shubhankar Adhikari 

watercolour on paper


New watercolour artwork created by me after my  trip to Bankura & Bishnupur.Beautiful people,nice landscapes,rich architecture,music,dense forest, nice hills,rivers. The ancient capital of Mallabhum, Bishnupur,is a repository of some excellent terracotta temples,perhaps the most brilliant and detailed work in Eastern India.Bishnupur is also famous for its distinct style of music,the Bishnupur Gharana or School of Music.

In Search

"IN SEARCH"
© Shubhankar Adhikari 

watercolour and pen on handmade paper 

size - 11' x 15'

Here my main concern is to create a sensation of illusion between focal point and the background of my composition. I have applied wet-in-wet method in some portion of this painting. I have also used some negative spaces in the foreground . The unpredictable nature of the watercolour medium always evokes me to portray my own view of my subject.

Into Oblivion

Into Oblivion

Oil pastel & Watercolour on handmade paper

Size - 11' x 15'

© Shubhankar Adhikari

This is one of my mixed-media painting I have made on the ancient  buildings still exist in Bengal. The place is near Murshidabad. When I visited Murshidabad first time,I was speechless to see all the beautiful historical structures .Last time when  I visited Murshidabad I saw this beautiful old structure beside a road. It seemed  to say something about its historical past. I made an instant sketch. Afterwards I transformed the sketch into a painting in my studio. 

Sitar

"Sitar"

Watercolour and ink on handmade paper

Size -8' x 11'
© Shubhankar Adhikari

Sitar is a world famous Indian classical musical instrument today.The  construction of  a high quality sitar is a very complex process. As a sitar artiste I have a deep love for this beautiful instrument. This painting is an semi-abstract watercolour portrait of a sitar done by me last july this year. Sitar is a multi-string plucked instrument. Metal strings run across two bridges made of bone.The frets are movable by chords.

Red Swing

"Red Swing"

Abstract watercolour painting

size -11' x 16'
copyright - shubhankar adhikari

When I was returning from Digha last year ,I found some beautiful roadside trees . Nature was beautiful there.I drew a mental sketch and then transformed it into an abstract watercolour painting. I hope you all will like this. 

Call of Hills

Call of Hills
watercolour on handmade paper (11' x 15')

© Shubhankar Adhikari

I believe art is an extension of ones soul. Nature and music have influenced my soul a lot.In this painting I have tried to record the sound of the meandering stream on paper..

Rural Bengal

Rural Bengal
watercolour on paper 
Size -7.5' x 5.5')
© Shubhankar Adhikari

This is a watercolour painting on rural bengal, done by me last month. I love applying bright, juicy watercolor pigments on white paper. The freedom, speed and spontaneity of this medium suit my temperament.