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From Studio to Street: My Artistic Process

byPratap BadtyaTravels to events across MumbaiStarts from13,500 Per 3-Hour SessionView full gallery

My work bridges the gap between structured academic discipline and the raw, unposed reality of street life. Explore the evolution of my art, from the studios of Sir J.J. School to the quiet corners of public spaces.

Scenes from the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, including a shot of me painting in the studio. My formal education here was critical in developing my artistic discipline and philosophy.

A view of my setup for street painting in Mumbai. I carry my easel, paints, and canvases with me, ready to work wherever I find a compelling subject.

Another angle of my street-side studio, showing a finished painting and my watercolor set. This is the reality of being an observational artist in a busy city.

A look at several sculptures from the annual exhibition at the Sir J.J. School of Art. Though I focus on sketching, my training encompasses various forms, including sculpture in clay and other materials.

A tour of an art gallery exhibition featuring contemporary paintings. I constantly engage with the work of other artists to inform and challenge my own practice.

About From Studio to Street: The Artistic Process

You will notice in my process that I never rely on sketches made from photographs. Whether I am developing a conceptual mural in the studio or capturing a live portrait on a Mumbai local train, I prioritize direct observation. This commitment to the present moment ensures that the texture and emotional weight of the subject are transferred directly to the canvas or paper, without the distortion of a digital lens.

My practice exists in two distinct spheres: the controlled environment of the studio and the unpredictable energy of the street. During my time at the Sir J.J. School of Art, I developed a rigorous foundation in classical technique. This academic discipline remains the bedrock of my contemporary paintings, where I explore themes of tribal heritage and weave bamboo patterns into my work to represent ancestral memory.

However, the studio is only half the story. My observational sketching takes me to the bustling arteries of Mumbai and Bhubaneswar. I carry my easel and charcoal into street markets, local trains, and public gatherings. Unlike commissioned works, these observational sketches are unplanned. They document the human element of a fleeting moment.

For those interested in my conceptual work, I approach murals and paintings as a long-form meditation on life. I select mediums—acrylics, oils, or pencil—based on the specific emotional resonance I aim to convey. Whether you are commissioning a portrait for your home or a large-scale mural for a commercial space, the process remains rooted in the same philosophy: honest observation.

My exhibitions, including work showcased in institutional settings, serve as a culmination of these experiences. They represent the dialogue between the formal art world and the visceral reality of everyday existence. I invite you to view my process not just as technical execution, but as a deliberate attempt to preserve the vanishing traditions and quiet struggles that define our collective experience.

J.J. School of Art alumnus and painter.Approved by the tribe
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Pratap Badtya

Travels to events across MumbaiStarts from 13,500 Per 3-Hour Session

I am Pratap. My art is a constant movement between the structured lessons of my time at the J.J. School and the reality I find on the street. I paint to preserve the memories of my village and to observe the world as it truly exists, without filters.

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