Mumbai Illustrated: Hand-Drawn City Landmarks and Street Scenes
I find joy in sketching Mumbai's everyday magic, from heritage corners to the busiest bhel puri stalls. These sketches are my visual love letters to the city I call home.
A colorful digital sketch of the historic Bandra station, a beautiful piece of heritage architecture. I wanted to capture the feeling of the place on a busy afternoon, with people coming and going under a bright sky.
This watercolor sketch is of Sanjay bhaiya and his bhel puri cart. He inherited the business from his father, and tasting his bhel puri always takes me back to my childhood. It’s these connections that I love to document.
A watercolor and pencil color sketch of a 'Masala Bhandar' or spice shop from a local market. I was drawn to the vibrant colors of the spice containers and the organized chaos of the stall.
A unique, panoramic recreation of Mumbai's Horniman Circle. This piece was an experiment to capture the 360-degree feel of being in the middle of this historic and beautiful public space, surrounded by greenery and architecture.
A black and white value study of Bandra station, done during a sketch walk. This version focuses on the light, shadows, and architectural forms of the building, showing the first step before creating a full-color piece.
About Mumbai Meri Jaan: Illustrations of My City
I use a mix of watercolor and digital brushes to capture these scenes because they preserve the organized chaos of our streets better than a photograph ever could. If you want a piece of Mumbai for your wall, or a custom sketch of your own favorite local spot, that is exactly what I focus on here.
Mumbai is not just a place to live, it is a living, breathing sketchbook. Whether it is the colonial architecture around Horniman Circle or the hum of the crowd at Bandra station, there is always a story to tell. My process usually starts on-site, standing with my sketchbook while the city goes about its day. I love using watercolors for their unpredictability, letting the colors bleed just enough to mimic the humidity and energy of a Mumbai afternoon.
These pieces are more than just prints. They are memories that hold onto the specific, fleeting details of our neighborhood. You will notice that my work often centers on the 'un-pretty' parts of the city that I find beautiful, like the spice containers in a local market or the wear and tear on a train station wall.
I also take on custom commissions for those who want their own slice of the city. Perhaps you have a childhood home, a beloved local hangout spot, or a specific landmark that holds sentimental value. I work with you to translate those stories into a hand-painted or digital illustration that you can keep or gift. My goal is to keep these fading memories alive on paper, ensuring that even in this ever-changing world, we can look back and remember exactly how it felt to be there.
Looking for a different kind of artwork?
You can explore other styles or reach out for custom projects here.
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