Memories of the Hills

This acrylic painting was inspired by a photograph I took during our Shimla–Manali trip. The warm colors, winding stream, and scattered houses brought back memories of quiet mountain mornings and long journeys through the hills. Painting it was less about capturing every detail and more about reliving the atmosphere and feeling of that moment.

North Bengal Studies

Two small acrylic paintings inspired by photographs I took in the hills of North Bengal. One focuses on flowers and foliage, while the other captures a quiet garden path. Together, they are simple studies of light, color, and the atmosphere of the hills.

Chasing Light in the Dark

This sketch is of my desk, painted while sitting on the sofa across the room. The bright window behind it created a strong contrast of light and shadow that caught my attention. 

The room was so dark that most of the painting became guesswork. I could hardly see the colors I was mixing or even the colors I was putting on the canvas. Instead of focusing on accuracy, I tried to capture the mood—the glow from the window, the darkness around it, and the feeling of the space. 

Sometimes painting is less about seeing clearly and more about trusting the process.

McCluskieganj in Acrylics

A quick acrylic study based on a photograph I took at McCluskieganj. Using loose brushwork and simple shapes, I focused on capturing the quiet atmosphere and warm colors of the landscape rather than the finer details.

Sketching the Book Fair in Bold Lines

Urban sketching with the Kolkata Urban Sketchers group at the North Kolkata Book Fair, held at Shovabazar Natmandir. Since watercolors and acrylics weren't allowed inside, I worked with a thick marker this time—a simple ₹10 permanent CD marker for the lines and a few alcohol markers for the shading.

My Local Market

Another acrylic painting based on a photo I took at my local market. With loose brushstrokes and bold colors, I tried to capture the everyday charm and bustle of this familiar scene.

Bow Barracks Memories

This sketch is based on an old photo I took at Bow Barracks. A quiet everyday scene—two people outside a small shop, sharing a moment in the afternoon light. Painting it was a way of revisiting a place and a memory that stayed with me.

A Quiet Cascade

This painting is based on a photograph I took during my trek to Sandakphu. Tucked away among dense greenery, the small waterfall caught my attention with its quiet energy.

Nature Park Impressions

This morning I joined the Urban Sketchers Kolkata group for a sketching session at Nature Park near Kolkata. Surrounded by dense greenery, still water, and scattered blooms, it felt like stepping into a quiet pocket of wilderness hidden within the city.

I worked on two sketches. The first captured a lush pond scene, where reflections danced across the water beneath a canopy of trees and tropical foliage. The second focused on a cluster of vibrant flowers, their warm reds and pinks standing out against a soft, sunlit background.

Rather than chasing details, I tried to capture the mood of the place—the play of light, the abundance of green, and the calm rhythm of nature.

Market Morning in Acrylics

A quick acrylic study based on a photograph I took at my local market. I was drawn to the scene by the contrast of colors—the bright reds and yellows of the produce against the muted surroundings, and the quiet presence of the vendor at work.

Evening Colors Above Sandakphu

This acrylic sketch is based on a photograph I took during my Sandakphu trek. The scene is from a spot between Sandakphu and Aal, where we went for a short evening walk after reaching Sandakphu. The fading light brought out unexpected bursts of color in the mountain shrubs, turning an otherwise quiet landscape into something vibrant and alive.

Somewhere in Chandipur

A quick acrylic painting from a photograph taken somewhere in Chandipur. Painted on a tiny 3.5" × 2.5" piece of watercolor paper, this study focuses on capturing the mood of the place with a few bold strokes and simple shapes rather than fine details. A small painting, but a memorable scene.

Tiny Canvases, Big Stories

I pulled out my tiny canvases again, this time working in acrylics. The more I use this medium, the more I enjoy its bold colors, and versatility. 

The first painting is based on a photograph I took in Kumartuli, capturing an artisan at work shaping crafts for idols. I wanted to convey the atmosphere of concentration and craftsmanship that fills those workshops.

The second painting comes from a photograph taken during our trip to Kankrajhor. The rustic hut surrounded by greenery brought back memories of the quiet beauty of the place, and painting it was a pleasant way to revisit that journey. 

Both pieces are small in size, but each carries a little story and a memory worth preserving in paint.

Acrylic Morning at the Art Café

This morning’s Urban Sketchers Kolkata meet took us to a charming little art café near Lake Mall. The bright pink façade, open windows, lush greenery, and tangle of overhead wires made for a wonderfully lively scene to sketch.

I decided to bring out the acrylics again and paint on location. Acrylics can be a bit demanding outdoors, especially in warm weather, but it was great fun working quickly and capturing the mood of the place rather than every detail. The strong colors and bold brushstrokes felt perfect for the character of this cozy café.

The Woodland Passage

This acrylic study is based on a photograph I took during my Sandakphu trek, at a spot somewhere between Sandakphu and Srikhola. What caught my attention was the fallen tree stretching across the forest floor, its twisted form creating a natural pathway through the landscape. While painting, I focused less on the details and more on the feeling of the place—the scattered leaves, tangled branches, and the quiet atmosphere of the mountain forest.

From Old Laptop to Painting Easel

Recently, I made a painting easel from an old laptop. It had been unused for many years and was just collecting dust in the cabinet. It’s a bit big, though, since it’s a 17-inch laptop, but I think it’s manageable. I tried these two acrylic paintings using photos I took last winter at the flower market.

First Acrylics Outdoors at College Street

Today’s sketch—met at the College Street area with Urban Sketchers Kolkata on a hot summer Sunday morning. It was my first time using acrylics outdoors. A couple of times, a water spray worked perfectly for me. I used a metal case as a palette, though I think a stay-wet palette could reduce the need for frequent spraying.

A Landscape in Motion

A quick acrylic study from a photograph, focusing more on movement than detail. The houses, trees, and sweeping lines come together as loose impressions rather than precise forms.

Lines Across the Land

A quick acrylic study from a photograph, built around the rhythm of electric poles cutting through a quiet landscape. I kept the brushwork loose, letting earthy tones and flashes of color find their place.

Loosening Up: Acrylic Studies in Light and Form

Quick acrylic studies from photographs I found online—simple exercises focused more on color, light, and composition than detailed accuracy. 

In the top piece, I explored reflections and movement in water, keeping the brushwork loose and suggestive while simplifying the buildings into basic shapes. The second study looks at a landscape, breaking it into warm and cool planes with quick, layered strokes to create depth. 

These are part of my ongoing attempt to loosen up with acrylics and trust a more instinctive, responsive way of painting.

The Grill and the Night

Acrylic painting of a fast food seller from my local area, based on a photo I took—exploring light, smoke, and texture through layered brushwork.

Acrylic Studies from Karbia, North Bengal

Quick acrylic studies based on photographs I took in Karbia, a place near Kurseong in North Bengal. These paintings were an attempt to capture the quiet atmosphere, shifting light, and textures of the tea garden through loose and expressive brushwork. I am still exploring acrylics as a medium, but I’m enjoying the freedom it gives me to build and sculpt the painting directly on the canvas.

Acrylic Impressions from Kankrajhor

Acrylic paintings based on photographs I took at Kankrajhor in West Bengal’s Jhargram district. 

I feel that acrylics suit my style better, as they give me the ability to sculpt the painting on a blank canvas. Gouache offers a similar experience, but the advantage of acrylics lies in the faster drying time of the underlying layers. As acrylics are still a new medium for me, I need to spend more time working with them to better understand and refine my approach.

Fragments of Kizom, 2024

Two quick acrylic studies on 4 × 2.5 inch watercolor paper, based on photos I took during my trip to Kizom, Darjeeling, in 2024.

Where I Was, Where I Stayed

The top one was done on location after our sketch meet on a Sunday morning. The bottom one was done from a photo I took at Kizom—it was our room where we stayed.

Acrylic on tiny tin box

Tried another tiny painting on my little tin box. This time I worked with acrylics—only my second time using them after a casual rough painting earlier. I must say, I probably should have bought larger tubes instead of the small 9 ml ones, though there’s nothing wrong with experimenting with the smaller set. The image is painted from a photograph I took during our Silk Route journey last year.

Mota Mahadeb Temple

Sunday morning Urban Sketch with the Urban Sketchers Kolkata Group.

Street View

Another painting on my tiny tin box with a limited palette. This time, I fully went with gouache since I needed to use those tubes :)

Digha Snaps

I tried making a few quick, small cartoon-style sketches from some pictures I took at Digha.

Way to Sandakphu

From a photo I took during our Sandakphu Trek.

At Gwalior Monument

Today’s sketch meet at Gwalior Monument. I chose to work my way—the same place, yet different views, capturing little portions as seen through my eyes.

Same Canvas, New Flow

Another progression in my small paintings. The canvas sizes remain the same; I’ve just switched to a box with a larger mixing area.