Delhi Urban Sketches and Architectural Art
Capturing the chaos and charm of Delhi, from the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk to the quiet corners of our historic monuments. These are honest, live captures of the city I call home.
A watercolor and ink sketch of Sher Mandal. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and even though parking was tricky, I was determined to sketch this historic spot. The 40-minute drive from Sonipat was completely worth it.
My sketchbook in front of the Sher Mandal monument. It's always a pleasure to sketch on location and capture the atmosphere of a place.
Our Urban Sketchers Delhi group after a wonderful morning of sketching at Sher Mandal.
A close-up of my Sher Mandal sketch, showing the details of the ink lines and watercolor washes.
A view of the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. I clicked this photo while sketching with my group and later painted this 12x12 inch watercolor on Baohong cold press paper in my studio.
My finished sketch from a Sunday session in Chandni Chowk, opposite the Town Hall. It's always a challenge to sketch in such a busy place, but it's also more comfortable when you're with a group.
Holding up my sketchbook to show my work in progress. You can see the actual building in the background. This is what urban sketching is all about.
My finished ink and watercolor sketch of the Old Famous Jalebi Wala in Chandni Chowk. The goal isn't always perfection, but capturing the gesture and fun of a place.
My sketch in context, right in the middle of the action at Chandni Chowk. It was difficult to capture with so many people around, but that's the fun of it.
Here I am, happy with my sketch of the Jalebi Wala. Sharing our work with each other is one of the best parts of sketching with a group.
About Delhi, My Muse: Urban Sketches
I draw these on-location, often standing in the middle of Delhi's busiest spots. I use professional Daniel Smith pigments on archival-quality cotton paper, which helps the colors stay vibrant long after I have packed my sketchbook. Because these are done live, they are not about stiff perfection; they are about capturing the energy of a moment before the light changes.
How I capture Delhi
Every sketch here started on a Sunday morning, usually with my group, the Urban Sketchers Delhi. When you are sketching on the street, you do not have the luxury of time or a controlled studio environment. You have to react quickly to the gesture of a building or the movement of a crowd. This is why I prefer an ink and wash approach. The ink gives me the structure of our ancient monuments, while the watercolor adds the mood of the Delhi sun.
Materials and longevity
I believe art should last, even if it starts as a quick sketch. I work exclusively on 100% cotton, acid-free paper, such as Baohong cold press or Lana Aquarelle. For pigments, I stick to professional-grade Daniel Smith watercolors. This combination ensures that the artwork remains archival and does not yellow over time. Each piece is hand-signed and dated, serving as a genuine timestamp of where I was and what I saw that day.
Why location matters
Whether it is the detailed carvings of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib or the rough, everyday charm of the Jalebi Wala in Chandni Chowk, I choose locations that have a story. I often spend 40 minutes to an hour on site, sometimes dealing with narrow lanes or tricky parking, but the perspective you get from being right there is impossible to replicate from a photograph. If you are looking for art that feels alive and reflects the true rhythm of our city, these sketches are my way of sharing that experience with you.
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