Beauty of Indian river in watercolor, river Hatania -Doania ,Namkhana, near Bakkhali

Sharing another painting from my "Indian River " series. Here you can see the scene of the river " Hatania -Doania in 24 Paraganas (South) , West Bengal. Last year I had to cross the river while visiting Bakkhali for one day trip. I was enthralled by the beauty of the river. The river is not so wide. But the river remains very busy all day long. The colourful trawlers ,fishing and passenger vessels,ships,barges are the added attraction for me to paint. Here I have painted a passenger vessel waiting for the signal to leave for the other destination. 

Medium : Watercolor on handmade paper 

Size : 14" x 11" 

Year : 2017

© Shubhankar  Adhikari  2017. All rights reserved.

Mahishadal Rajbari (Palace) Purba Medinipur,West Bengal - Watercolor artwrok

Watercolour art on paper (11" x 7")

© Shubhankar  Adhikari

Mahishadal Rajbari is a famous tourist destination in India. Definitely this place is a treasure trove for the artists,art lovers, nature lovers,film-makers, students, musicians,players,writers,photographers,composers,travelers and others. It is a perfect place for open air painting. Haldia is very near from Mahishadal . I have painted a part of the palace here. The Palace is surrounded with many kinds of trees. There are  many other big structures,temples  situated within Rajabari complex. It is only three and half hours drive from Kolkata by car. Mahishadal's Rathjatra is famous .

Sun on the Hill town

Watercolour Painting on paper (14" x 11")

Title- Sun on the Hill town

Copyright -Shubhankar  Adhikari 2015

As you know hill townscape is one of my favourite subject to paint. Here once again I am sharing a painting based on North Indian Hill towns. Here you can see sun is in full swing, so I have given the name of the painting " Sun on the hill town".

Busy in my studio

Naturescape - way to distant hills

                                                       

Landscape on paper (11" x 7" )

© Shubhankar  Adhikari

" Happy Diwali " to all my followers,fans,friends,well wishers and students.

Watercolour Cityscape - Living with Hills

" Living with Hills"

© Shubhankar  Adhikari

watercolour on paper

Sharing a recently completed watercolour cityscape with you. 

Still Life Painting

© Shubhankar  Adhikari

watercolour painting on handmade paper( 14" x 11" )

Doing lots of still life work these days. As the monsoon is preventing me doing open air works. 

Kolkata City Life - Busy Traffic at Gariahat Crossing

  

Watercolour painting on paper 

© Shubhankar Adhikari

Kolkata's Gariahat Crossing is one my favourite  hang around zone in the city. I always get some new motivations for my creative journey while visiting  in and around Gariahat. Here in this work I have used a ball point to draw the whole composition. Afterwards I have applied watercolours . As the paper is not a handmade paper so I have to remain careful while applying the colours on this paper. 

Winter in the hills

© Shubhankar  Adhikari 2013

watercolour on paper

size 8" x 14.5"

I have been fortunate enough to experience the beauty of Jhalong on a sunny day. I painted this composition yesterday.  My artworks most strongly reflect my love for nature and travelling.They serve as a constant source of motivation and a reminder of the places.I am happy here to express my interpretation of nature's beauty with the challenge of watercolour as a media.

Acrylic landscape painting on board -Wooden Bungalows

© Shubhankar  Adhikari 2013

Acrylic painting on board (size 11" x 14")

Acrylic is one of my favourite medium for painting. This is an acrylic  painting  which I have completed recently. Working with acrylic on board is always a nice experience .

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 Mirik, Darjeeling, North Bengal

© Shubhankar  Adhikari (Artist )2013

Art of watercolour on paper

Happy to share my recent artwork on Darjeeling, India.  

Kolkata Cityscape - Victoria Memorial Hall

© Shubhankar  Adhikari (Artist )

Watercolour painting on paper ( 11" x 7" )

This is my recent painting on Kolkata cityscape. I always liked the architectural style of Victoria Memorial Hall. I am happy with the outcome of this artwork.In this work I have applied little bit of lemon yellow,sap green,payne's grey,prussian blue and olive green. 

Presently Victoria Memorial Hall is one of the most prominent building and also an art museum of Calcutta,under the Department of Culture ,Government of India.

How to develop your painting skills - Eleven tips

© Shubhankar  Adhikari (Artist )

watercolour painting on paper ( 11" x 7" )


How to develop your painting skills - Eleven tips

1.  Practice a lot.
2. Try to use the best tools you can afford for your artworks.
3. Try to visit the art fair and galleries regularly.
4. Mix with other fellow artists and exchange your views with them.
5. Draw or paint regularly.
6. Plan well before starting your art work.
7. Read good books on art.
8. Travel new places to increase your creative spirit.
9. Limit your palette to increase concentration.
10. Try to develop your own style
11. Listen soft instrumental music in the background while working.

A Red House - watercolour & pen

© Shubhankar  Adhikari (Artist ) 2013

Watercolour painting on paper 

Here in this work I applied pen and watercolour on catrige paper.

Sketching with Indian Ink and brush

© Shubhankar Adhikari (Artist ) 2013

Ink and brush on paper (7" x 11")

Last time when I visited Chinsurah (a historical Dutch colonial town placed in Hooghly district, West Bengal , India ) , I noticed many beautifully structured houses . I took some snaps . Later I made some speed sketches with brush and Indian ink on paper. Sharing one of them with you. 

Semi -Abstract Naturescape

© Shubhankar  Adhikari (Artist) 2013

watercolour painting on handmade paper (7" x 11")

Completed this painting last night. Happy to share with you all. 

Kolkata Cityscape - Tramways

© Shubhankar Adhikari (Artist)

Watercolour painting on paper 

Sharing a painting from my “Kolkata Tram” series. In this painting I have painted a  tram passing through the lush green area of Esplanade .I have used here sap green, payne’s gray, lemon yellow  and little bit of ultramarine blue. I often love to travel by tram specially the Esplanade to Khidirpur  route.

Tram is one my favourite mode of transport. . I like tram because as a mode of transport it is very clean and green , environment friendly,no emissions ,safe and secured, moderately speedy, smooth and comfortable, pedestrian-friendly, affordable , inspiring for the creative minded people .

Kolkata is the only city in India where still trams are operating. Perhaps the Kolkata tram is the oldest electric tram in Asia.  Worldwide the trams are gaining significance after the sharp increase in oil price. I think the Kolkata tramways will retains its heritage and will expand further by setting up new routes as well as reopening the closed routes. There are huge fans for this iconic tram services in Kolkata and suburbs .  Recently we can see some beautiful modern trams replacing the old ones on the streets of Kolkata.

"Gadiara"....unforgettable beauty of Bengal

© Shubhankar  Adhikari  (Artist ) 2012

Watercolour painting on hand-made paper ( 15" x 22")

This is my painting from Rural Bengal series . I recently visited Gadiara a fortnight ago to get some real inspiration from nature. I discovered this beautiful place while roaming and made some initial sketch .Later I transformed that sketch into a  painting in my studio . The weather was very nice .This place is near the confluence of river Hooghly and Rupnarayan in Howrah district.

Wish you all a very happy Diwali.

A Step-by-Step Painting instructions - How to paint a boat in Watercolour ( 10 steps)

step 1

 step 2

  

step 3

  

step 4

 step 5

  

step 6

  step 7

 step 8

                                                                                   step 9

Final step