Live Sketching
Available across Bhubaneswar
I sketch real, unposed moments of your event as they happen, so guests get a hand-drawn keepsake made on the spot.
Pricing Guide
Standard Live Portraiture
Service Scope
- Artist Profile: Service performed by J.J. School of Art Alumni (Pratap Badtya), ensuring academic quality realistic sketching rather than caricatures.
- Duration: 3 hours of continuous live sketching.
- Output: Approximately 15 to 20 portraits per session (8 to 10 minutes per sketch).
- Style: Realistic or semi-realistic pencil and charcoal sketches.
Materials & Equipment
- Paper: High quality A4 or A5 acid free cartridge paper (approx 140 GSM) that prevents yellowing.
- Tools: Professional grade graphite pencils and charcoal.
- Preservation: Each sketch is treated with fixative spray to prevent smudging and handed over in a clear cellophane sleeve.
- Lighting: Artist brings a portable easel, drawing board, and battery operated clip light for dim venues.
Logistics
- Travel: Included within city limits.
- Client Needs: 2 chairs and a small side table required at the venue.
Premium Table-Side Sketching
Experience Scope
- Format: Intimate, table side interaction where the artist moves between tables or is stationed at a VIP corner.
- Ideal For: Sit down dinners, galas, or luxury brand activations.
- Output: Approximately 10 to 12 highly finished sketches per session with a relaxed, conversational pace.
Artistic Medium
- Surface: Sketching performed on unconventional surfaces like cloth napkins (subject to fabric type) or heavy textured handmade paper.
- Technique: Specialized use of charcoal or Conté crayons adapted for textured or fabric surfaces.
- Subject: Focus on detailed individual portraits or candid moments of guests conversing.
Presentation & Setup
- Handover: Paper artworks are presented in premium envelopes; napkins serve as permanent mementos.
- Attire: Artist dresses in formal business casual to blend with high end crowds.
About Live Sketching
What I Do
I sketch life as it happens. Whether it's a bustling crowd, a single quiet moment, or a small group deep in conversation, I use just my pencil and sketchbook to catch those real, unplanned moments. My sketches aren't fancy or posed - I look for natural gestures and honest expressions, even the ones people don't realise they're making. It's like giving everyone a mini story, drawn live.
Why Live Sketching
For events, I offer more than entertainment. Guests leave with a piece of the day - a hand-drawn event keepsake instead of the usual party favor. Sometimes I sit at my easel, sometimes I wander around, catching candid guest portraits wherever the mood strikes. I've sketched on napkins, in busy markets, and at posh hotels. Doesn't matter if it's a wedding, a corporate party, or a small get-together.
My Style
I'm trained at Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, but what drives me is the ordinary beauty in everyday life. My approach is like being a visual reporter - observational, quick, and real. My work shows real-time sketching experience from Mumbai local trains to Bhubaneswar street corners. It's not about perfection, it's about truth.
Where I Work
Based in Mumbai and Bhubaneswar, but honestly, my studio is wherever the action is. I travel for events and projects, so whether it's a luxury hotel or a roadside stall, I'm comfortable sketching anywhere.
Meet your Expert
Pratap Badtya
My Story
I’m Pratap. Mostly, I paint what I feel, what I remember from home. My village, people made everything from bamboo and palm leaves - now, that craft’s nearly gone. I learned art at Sir J.J. School but my heart’s with those old woven shapes. My work tries to keep those memories alive, and talks about how we all keep struggling inside, just like our ancestors did. That’s what I want to say with every brush stroke.
My Work
Conceptual Contemporary Paintings - I make paintings with a special bamboo texture, showing life’s silent struggles and tribal roots.
Murals and 3D Street Art - I create murals for restaurants, universities, and public spaces, often using tribal handicraft themes.
Live Pencil Sketches & Portraits - I sketch people live, and take commissions for realistic family or individual portraits.
Mediums I Use - Mostly acrylic on canvas, but sometimes watercolor, oil, and pencil depending on the mood and story.
