An artful tour to Taki - a Heritage Town

© Shubhankar  Adhikari

watercolour painting  on paper ( 11" x 15")

Taki is an extremely peaceful place for plein air painting .Last week I visited Taki to do some plein air painting.
I boarded the Hasnabad Local Train from Sealdah Station,(Kolkata ) to reach Taki Road Station.From Taki Road station I took a cycle-van to arrive at the Zamindar Bari (Palatial building ) on the banks of River Ichamoti in 10 minutes. Two-third of the Zamindar Bari (Palatial building ) property has been engulfed by the river Ichamoti,still this ( Zamindar Bari -Palatial building ) is one of the main attraction here.These Zamindars ruled from the time of Mughals and served till the time of British rules. It is quite painful to see the Zamindar Baris(Palatial buildings ) are now in dilpidated state. This historical Zamindar Bari(Palatial building ) as a witness, has lot more to say, if we all are willing to listen it.

Taki is a heritage town and also the gateway to Sunderban ( Bay of Bengal ). It is situated by the bank of beautiful river Ichamoti. Bangladesh is on the other bank of the river Ichamoti. Taki Municipality is  one of the oldest municipalities in India established in1869. Taki Gov’t High School is more than 250 years old.

A boat ride on the waters of Ichamoti is an activity which I surely cannot miss for speed sketching. I sketched the house of the the fishermen, their boats ,trees near  the shore, boats dancing in the high tide. The murmuring sound of the water and a boatman singing some folk tune enchanted my creative spirit. I spent a lovely day observing, painting,sketching  a variety of birds, trees, sailing boats,motor boats etc.

After completion of my fine art related job wholeday long , I enjoyed rolls, ghugnis ,sweets and tea on the shores of Ichamoti in the evening . It was quite relaxing. As an avid fan of prawn I also tried some prawn items here. Taki is also well known for prawn.

While returning home ,I noticed this beautiful old structure near Taki Municipality. I decided that I will paint it very soon. Yesterday I have made it. In this painting I have applied scarlet lake, lemon yellow,prussian blue,burnt sienna,hooker’s green,and payne’s grey.

Way to Bindu, Himalayan Beauty ,near Jalpaiguri,Dooars

© Shubhankar Adhikari - 2012

Watercolour on paper 

Title - Way to Bindu

( size -11" x 8" )

This is one of my recent work on Dooars, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal ,India. Off-late I came back from my North Bengal tour. This time I was lucky to visit Bindu, Jhalong, Jayanti, Siliguri, Mirik, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong,New Jalpaiguri,Chapramari ,Gorumara,Sevok,Malbazar,Lava.Lolegaon,Coachbehar,Jaldapara,Murti,Dhupguri,Teesta,
Jalpaiguri Town,Chalsa ,Lataguri forest and other beautiful places. The tour was very peaceful . I have made lots of sketches ,took numerous snaps. 

Sea Dreams

© Shubhankar Adhikari

Title - "SEA DREAMS"

Watercolour on handmade paper ( 11" x 15")

Digha is a beautiful coastal town in West Bengal ,India. It is a favourite destination for me to visit the sea side . Sea is very beautiful here . I made this painting in the year 2010 from a reference photo I had snapped there . This place is near old Digha . 

Riverside Cottages

Riverside Cottages

© Shubhankar Adhikari

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

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

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.