Landscapes and Still Life Paintings
I paint the world I see and the objects that define our daily rituals, using techniques honed at Sir J.J. School of Art to capture light, atmosphere, and cultural heritage.
A comparison of a photograph I took of the Sir J.J. School of Art campus and my landscape painting of the same scene. This shows how I interpret a real location, transforming it through color and composition.
Here I am, engaged in plein air painting on a city sidewalk. This practice of painting outdoors is crucial for capturing the authentic light and atmosphere of a location.
A still life painting of a bowl of curry. I use rich colors and focus on light and shadow to make even simple, everyday subjects feel vibrant and compelling.
A mural painting of a traditional Indian thali served on a banana leaf. This piece celebrates the visual appeal and cultural significance of Indian cuisine.
A still life painting of various Indian side dishes and condiments. My aim was to capture the diverse colors, textures, and flavors of a traditional meal through art.
About Landscapes & Still Life
When I paint on location, whether it is the campus of Sir J.J. School or a bustling street, I prioritize capturing the atmosphere over mere photographic realism. You will notice that my still life works, such as those focusing on Indian cuisine, use a deliberate palette to evoke a sense of heritage rather than just visual description.
My practice in landscape and still life is rooted in the discipline of observational art. When I step outside to paint plein air, I am not merely recording a scene. I am documenting the light, the fleeting atmosphere, and the human presence within a space. This is a rigorous process. It requires one to synthesize complex environments into a coherent composition within hours before the light changes.
In my studio work, I shift focus toward cultural objects. Painting a traditional thali or the specific textures of condiments is an exercise in cultural preservation. These objects are vessels of our history. By rendering them with careful attention to shadow and tone, I aim to transform the mundane into something significant. I avoid photorealism because it often lacks the artist's emotional signature. Instead, I utilize acrylics to build textures that hold the viewer’s eye, inviting them to linger on the subtle interplay of light across a bowl or a surface.
Whether you are looking to commission a landscape of a significant location or a still life that anchors a dining space, my approach remains consistent. I treat the canvas as a site of study. These pieces are intended to serve as enduring markers of the daily human experience, stripped of the chaotic distractions of modern life.
Pratap Badtya
I am Pratap. My art training at Sir J.J. School of Art taught me the technical foundations, but my daily observations of the world dictate my brushstrokes. I paint to preserve the essence of a place or an object, hoping to find the quiet beauty in our everyday existence.
Explore more of my work
Find pieces that match your interest, from street sketches to large conceptual canvases.
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