Live Sketching and Custom Illustration Portfolio
My sketchbook is a visual diary of the places I visit and the people I meet. From busy markets to quiet park corners, here is a collection of moments I have captured live on paper.
This is the place where my art journey began. As a child, I used to visit Sanjay Gandhi National Park with my father and watch art students drawing by the lake. Decades later, I found myself sitting in the same spot, sketchbook in hand. This video captures that full-circle moment, from the initial pencil lines to the finished ballpoint pen sketch of the park's serene landscape.
I love capturing the energy of Mumbai's iconic locations. This video takes you through a weekend sketching session at Chor Bazaar, a place filled with history and stories. You can see me finding a spot amidst the chaos and translating the vibrant atmosphere of the antique market onto the pages of my sketchbook.
Live sketching at festivals allows me to capture the spirit of the celebration as it happens. Here is a ballpoint pen drawing of a Ganesha idol, sketched on-site at a local Durga Pooja pandal. The background shows the actual pandal, giving a sense of the lively environment I work in.
There is a special connection formed when you draw a place while you are in it. I held up my finished sketchbook to show my pen drawing against the real boating lake at Sanjay Gandhi National Park. My goal is to capture the essence of the scene, not just a perfect copy.
Inspiration can strike anywhere, even on a train. I saw a fellow passenger in a meditative pose and felt compelled to draw her. This video shows my process, starting with a quick pencil outline, adding bold color with alcohol markers, and finishing with expressive ink lines to capture the moment.
This is a full two-page spread from my sketchbook after a day at Chor Bazaar. I filled the pages with drawings of various antiques, architectural details, and a portrait of a shopkeeper I met. It’s a collection of small moments and objects that together tell the story of the place.
Here I am, completely absorbed in the process of live drawing at a Durga Pooja celebration. Finding a quiet corner, I focus on observing and translating the details and the mood of the event into my sketchbook using my trusted ballpoint pen.
About this collection
When I am drawing live at an event or a location, my goal is not a polished, realistic recreation. I look for the character in a scene, the quick posture of a passerby, or the energy of a festival crowd. You will see ink lines that wander and marks that capture movement, because that is where the truth of the moment lies. If you want art that feels alive and honest, this is how I work.
My journey back to traditional art started because I wanted to feel the resistance of pen on paper again. Digital tools are useful, but they lack the raw unpredictability of ink. Whether I am sitting in the middle of a bustling market like Chor Bazaar or sketching guests at a private gathering, the approach is the same. I work fast, observe deeply, and try to translate the scene before me without overthinking.
For events, this means I am not just creating portraits; I am documenting the vibe. You might find me tucked in a corner at a Durga Pooja pandal or sketching the architecture at a venue. For my portrait work, I focus on the essence of the person. I look at their posture, the way they hold their head, and the little details that make them who they are.
I primarily use ballpoint pens and alcohol markers. This setup allows me to be mobile and responsive. If you look closely at these pages, you will see corrections and overlapping lines. These are not mistakes; they are part of the story. I invite you to browse through this selection to see how I handle different environments and subjects. If you have an event or a specific project in mind where you need someone to capture the atmosphere, let's talk.
Shirish Ghatge
I am an illustrator based in Mumbai who prefers a sketchbook to a camera. My process is raw and on-site, focusing on the character of a place or person rather than perfection. I draw what I see as it happens.
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