Born: 1974
Hometown: Kolkata
Based in: Kolkata
I am Swarup, a professional artist with 20+ years of creative experience, exhibiting and selling watercolour paintings and sketches worldwide. My artworks have so far been exhibited in Paris, London, Dubai and New Delhi, and acclaimed by a global clientele. I have been a member of Federation of British Artists (Hesketh Hubbard Art Society) in the past.
I love painting cities. I have travelled across many cities (and lived in some of them) -- London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paris, Lucerne, Geneva, Venice, Rome, Florence, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bangalore and Kolkata. The city with its labyrinth of main thoroughfares, serpentine lanes, by-lanes and alleys makes me again and again fall in love with it. Madly. It makes me paint the bits and pieces of its soul not always as they are, but as my mind reckons them to be. Watercolour, with a character of its own, empowers me to recreate the magic realism of the city, its people, and its architecture. I call my watercolour collection the ‘Gallery of Life‘, as I see it. My watercolour paintings have been selected for participation at 1st International Watercolour Festival UAE, Dubai (February 2018) and 2nd International Watercolour Society India Biennale 2017, New Delhi (December 2017).
Though watercolour is my first love, I am also proficient in other mediums such as oil, acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal etc. Being proficient at various mediums as well as different styles, I accept commission for customised artworks in other mediums as well if required.
I graduated from Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata (1st Class) in 1999. During 1999-2015, I have worked as Visual Communications Designer (specialising in information graphics, news design and marketing collateral) with companies like Thomson Reuters (Singapore), Capgemini, Economic Times and ABP News (India). Since 2015, I am a full-time professional artist and also visiting faculty in premier design institutes like National Institute of Design (India).
What inspires you?
Cities and the tales they tell!
Describe your creative process.
Watercolour is the most unpredictable and unpardonable medium. It does not let you correct your mistakes as oil or acrylic does. So, once I have zeroed in on a subject, I first create many rough sketches and compositions till I find what I actually want to create. Then I just shut myself up in my studio and give my full focus on creating the final artwork. The whole process is mentally and physically exhausting, but the final artwork is worth every bit of the hard work. And I cannot then wait to start planning the next one!
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Soul of the city
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
My mind, which sees the final artwork even before I have started with the rough sketches.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached - Swami Vivekananda
Where do you go for inspiration?
I travel through city lanes, and listen to the tales they tell...
Education
Government College Of Art And Craft
India, 1999
Exhibitions
Watercolour exhibition at Le Marais, Paris
2019
Watercolour exhibition at Paris Bercy
2018
1st International Watercolour Festival UAE, Dubai
2018
2nd International Watercolour Society India Biennale, New Delhi
2017
Hesketh Hubbard Art Society Annual Exhibition (Life Drawing), Mall Galleries, London
2016
Education
Government College Of Art And Craft
India, 1999
Exhibitions
Watercolour exhibition at Le Marais, Paris
2019
Watercolour exhibition at Paris Bercy
2018
1st International Watercolour Festival UAE, Dubai
2018
2nd International Watercolour Society India Biennale, New Delhi
2017
Hesketh Hubbard Art Society Annual Exhibition (Life Drawing), Mall Galleries, London
2016