Featured Artworks and Live Demonstrations
A collection highlighting my journey through watercolour portraiture, cultural heritage art, and live performance painting.
This time-lapse shows my process for creating a watercolour portrait from my "Sadhu" series. I focus on capturing not just the likeness, but the spirit of the person, using layers of Supervision watercolours to build depth and character.
This is the announcement for my upcoming solo exhibition, "India Diaries: 2," at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. The portrait featured is a watercolour piece that embodies the cultural storytelling central to my work.
Here I am during a live painting session on Saam TV for their "Kaladhipati" program. I was invited to create a painting of Ganesha, and I chose to portray him as "Bal Ganesh," inspired by my own young son, Yuvraj.
Posing with two of my completed watercolour landscapes from a national artist camp in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Painting on location, or plein air, allows me to directly capture the light and atmosphere of a place.
A quick portrait study using Camel HD acrylic colours. This exercise was about capturing a strong expression and texture with bold, decisive strokes, showcasing the versatility of acrylics as a medium.
A wonderful moment from a live portrait demonstration at Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya in Pune. It is always a joy to share my techniques with an engaged audience of aspiring artists and art lovers.
On the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi, I created this watercolour painting of Lord Vitthal. The video shows how I build the layers, from the initial light washes to the final details, to bring the divine form to life.
Sharing a special moment with my son while working on a large-scale Marathi calligraphy piece. Passing on this art form, which I learned from my father, is incredibly important to me.
About Featured
I use a layered technique with Supervision watercolours to build depth, a method that stems from my fascination with ancient stone carvings. This approach allows me to capture the personality of a subject or the atmosphere of a landscape in a way that feels alive. It is this same craft, from the initial wash to the final detail, that I demonstrate live at colleges and festivals across the country.
My Artistic Process
My work is rooted in observation and a deep respect for heritage. Whether I am painting a portrait for a client or conducting a live demonstration, I focus on the 'why' behind the painting. My watercolour style, particularly in my 'India Diaries' and 'Stone Series', is designed to evoke the same energy I felt when exploring the caves of Ellora as a child. I prefer high-quality materials like Arches paper and Supervision mineral watercolours because they allow for the transparency and intensity that this process requires.
Variety in My Work
This cluster brings together the different facets of my practice. You will find examples of my portraiture, where I try to capture not just a likeness, but the spirit of the individual. Alongside these, I have included snippets of my live calligraphy work—a skill I inherited from my father—which involves creating large, continuous scrolls using traditional Devanagari scripts. These pieces are often commissioned for cultural festivals and events.
Experience and Reach
I am based in Pune but I travel throughout India to conduct workshops and live painting sessions. My workshops are hands-on, intended for both art students and hobbyists. I guide participants through technical aspects, such as how to manage light in a landscape or how to structure a portrait. If you are looking to book a live session, host a workshop at your college, or commission a piece, please reach out. I am happy to discuss how we can tailor the session to your requirements, be it for a public event or a private group.
Amit Dhane
I am a painter based in Pune, carrying forward the love for art passed down by my father. My work is a blend of traditional Indian themes and the fast-paced energy of live demonstration sessions, often with my own family stories woven into the canvas.
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