Live & On-Location Sketching
Available across Mumbai
I come to your event or favorite place and make quick hand-drawn sketches of the scene and people as they happen, giving you real-time art instead of photos.
Pricing Guide
Live Guest Illustration (Non-Caricature)
Artist Profile
Service by Shirish Ghatge, a professional illustrator and urban sketcher.
Artistic Style
- Style: Realistic, expressive line-art portraits capturing posture and essence (not cartoons or caricatures).
- Medium: Black ballpoint/fineliner ink with alcohol marker accents (Ohuhu/Posca).
- Look: Sketchbook aesthetic with cross-hatching and contour drawing.
Deliverables
- Physical Art: Sketches handed to guests on loose sheets.
- Paper: 120GSM to 180GSM smooth white or toned card stock (A6/A5).
- Packaging: Clear plastic sleeves (PP covers) for protection.
Capacity & Logistics
- Speed: 6 to 8 portraits per hour.
- Booking: Minimum 2 hours required.
- Travel: Includes travel within Mumbai city limits (Western/Central lines).
- Requirements: Client to provide a table, two chairs, and good lighting.
Event Atmosphere Documentation (Live Sketchbook)
Concept
A fly-on-the-wall service where the artist captures the architecture, decor, and candid energy of the event rather than individual guest portraits.
Deliverables
- The Masterpiece: Client keeps the original hardbound sketchbook containing all live artwork.
- Volume: 1 detailed double-page panoramic spread plus 4-6 smaller vignette sketches (e.g., entry, food, rituals).
- Digital: High-res scans provided within 48 hours for social media use.
Materials & Coverage
- Medium: Waterproof ink, watercolors, and markers.
- Surface: Premium Hardbound Sketchbook (A5 Landscape or A4, 160+ GSM).
- Duration: Up to 6 hours on location.
- Subjects: Key sequences like Pheras, speeches, or cake cutting, plus ambiance.
Private Urban Sketching Workshop
Format
- Type: Private guided sketching tour for 1 to 3 participants.
- Duration: 3 hours (typically morning slots like 8 AM to 11 AM).
- Locations: Heritage (Chor Bazaar/Fort), Nature (SGNP), or Culture (Dadar Flower Market).
Curriculum
- Learning the ballpoint pen 4-in-1 technique and cross-hatching.
- Capturing moving subjects and perspective on location.
- Direct critique and feedback on sketches during the session.
Material Kit (Included)
- 1 Basic A5 Hardcover Sketchbook.
- Set of Pens (Ballpoint & Fineliner).
- Binder clips.
Notes
Excludes entry tickets to parks/monuments and food/beverages.
About Live & On-Location Sketching
I sketch what I see, right where it happens. My hands do the talking, not a camera. There’s something raw about on-site drawing - the messiness, the energy, the little mistakes that make it real. I started doing this because I missed the feel of pen on paper, and now it’s become my way of telling stories.
What I Offer
- I show up at your event, festival, or favorite spot and draw the vibe as it unfolds. You get a hand-drawn slice of life, not just a snapshot.
- As an event sketch artist, I focus on the mood - the decor, the crowd, the random moments. It’s more about the feeling than the details.
- If you’ve got a place you love, I’ll sketch its character - the people, the architecture, the tiny things that make it special.
- At parties, I do live portrait sketching for guests. These are quick, loose sketches, not perfect likenesses, but they catch the personality and posture.
My Process
- My sketchbook is always with me. I use ballpoint pens, brush pens, and alcohol markers for color.
- I work straight from observation, sometimes starting with pencil but mostly jumping right into ink.
- I don’t aim for perfection. I want to capture the essence, the mood, and the quirks of the scene.
My Style
- Lots of expressive line art, cross-hatching, and texture.
- The beauty is in the imperfect lines and the feeling they carry.
- If you want real-time art documentation that’s honest and a bit rough around the edges, that’s what I do.
Meet your Expert
Shirish Ghatge
39 connects in last 3 months
My Story
You know, as a kid, I’d just stare at those art students by the lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park while my Nanna walked ahead. Never thought I’d be the one with a sketchbook there someday, but here I am, part of Urban Sketchers Mumbai, sitting at the same spot. Got to speak at Rachana Sansad too, my old college. Art’s always been about these moments, not just lines on paper, but memories, people, all mixed up.
My Work
Custom illustrations & live sketching - I do handmade custom illustrations, digital art, and live event sketching Mumbai style, capturing moments as they happen.
Sketchbook stories - Urban sketchbook art is my thing - trains, Chor Bazaar, random thoughts, all raw and honest, straight in the sketchbook.
Workshops for all - I run art workshops for adults and kids. It’s about sharing the process, not making things perfect.
Always handmade, always real - Traditional ink sketches, pencil, markers - I love the unpredictable mess, every mistake is just a new idea.
