Featured Portrait Art and Student Work
A look at the portraits created in my studio—from young beginners to seasoned hobbyists. Here, we focus on the process of learning, whether you are picking up a pencil for the first time or refining your oil painting technique.
This video shows my student, Nethra, deeply focused on her pencil and charcoal portrait. You can see her working from a reference photo to capture the intricate details and textures of an elderly woman's face, which is a key skill we develop in my workshops.
It brings me so much joy to see my youngest students create amazing art. Here is 8-year-old Adwik, completely absorbed in his pencil shading work, bringing a realistic dog portrait to life. This shows that with the right guidance, age is no barrier to learning art.
I created this charcoal portrait to capture the pure happiness in a child's expression. In my classes, I teach how to use light and shadow with charcoal to create this kind of depth and emotion, turning a simple sketch into a powerful piece of art.
This is a watercolor portrait I painted to explore how to represent age and character. We work on techniques like layering colors and controlling water to capture the delicate details of skin texture and expression, creating what I call a 'wrinkly beauty'.
A portrait of Ratan Tata that I painted using oils. In my oil painting sessions, we focus on achieving a realistic likeness and capturing the personality of the subject, celebrating inspiring figures through art.
Here is my student Aryan working on a striking charcoal portrait of Indiana Jones. It’s a great example of how we use popular culture references in class to make learning portraiture fun and engaging, focusing on capturing iconic features and expressions.
I am incredibly proud of my daughter, Samiksha, whose watercolor portrait of Malala was selected for the National Art Contest and Exhibition. This is a testament to the skills and confidence that students can build through dedicated practice.
About Featured
In my studio, we prioritize understanding the 'why' behind every stroke. Whether we are tackling facial anatomy or layering watercolours, I provide small-group, personalized feedback to ensure that every student, regardless of age, learns the technical foundation needed to express their own style.
Our Approach to Portraiture
Art is a skill that anyone can develop with the right guidance. In my portrait classes, we start with the fundamentals—understanding the grid method for accurate proportions and studying facial anatomy to get the structure right before adding details. I teach students to move past the fear of the blank page by breaking down complex features like eyes, noses, and lips into manageable shapes.
Why Different Mediums Matter
I encourage students to experiment with different materials because each offers a unique lesson in patience and observation:
- Pencil & Charcoal: These are essential for mastering light, shadow, and texture. They teach you how to look at the geometry of a face.
- Watercolours: We use these to understand colour theory and skin tones, focusing on transparency and soft layering.
- Oils: For those ready for more depth, oils teach the 'fat over lean' principle and the art of blending to create realistic, lifelike portraits.
A Community of Learners
My studio in HAL 3rd Stage, Indiranagar, is a place where an 8-year-old and an 85-year-old can sit side-by-side. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all teaching. Whether you are joining me online or for an in-person workshop, my goal is to help you find your groove. Seeing students like Aryan master charcoal shading or my daughter Samiksha have her work selected for a national exhibition proves that with consistent practice, anyone can create art that connects with others. If you are ready to start, we can begin with simple sketches or jump straight into portrait painting depending on your experience level.
Jeeva Kumari
I am an artist and teacher who believes age is just a number when it comes to creativity. Seeing my students, from young children to seniors, find their voice through charcoal and watercolour is what drives me to keep building this community.
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