My Sketchbook Stories
My sketchbook is my memory lane, where I collect Mumbai’s everyday moments and tell stories through watercolor and ink. Take a peek at my creative process, from quick street sketches to final pages that document the city I love.
An art reveal video flipping through the pages of my sketchbook. You'll see a variety of subjects, from Ladakhi landscapes and cloudy skies to a portrait of an auto-rickshaw driver.
Another quick sketchbook tour, revealing different illustrations page by page. This is a fun way to see the diversity of work that fills my sketchbooks over time.
A short, satisfying video showing the process of painting a bouquet of flowers with watercolor. It's a reminder that art takes time and patience, even if the final reveal looks quick.
A grid-style layout in my sketchbook capturing different sights from a farmer's market. This is a great technique for telling a bigger story on a single page, which I teach in my workshops.
A collage of elements sketched at the Mexican restaurant Sammy Sosa. I combined the neon sign, food, and decor into one vibrant sketchbook spread to capture the fun atmosphere.
A flat lay of various sketches done during a meet-up at Mindspace Garden. It shows the range of styles and subjects our group explored, from pencil portraits to watercolor landscapes.
A collection of artworks from another peaceful sketch meet. Laying out all the work together at the end of a session is a great way to appreciate everyone's unique perspective.
The beautiful artwork created by our group during the Aarey forest sketch walk, displayed on our portable stools. It’s our own little impromptu art gallery in the middle of nature.
Another view of the collected artworks from the Aarey session. You can see a mix of landscape studies, animal sketches, and architectural drawings.
A look back at my art from the year, starting with this sketch of a bright red building. My sketchbook serves as a visual timeline of my experiences and creative growth.
About My Sketchbook Stories
When you look through these pages, you will notice I do not aim for perfect, clean lines. I prefer capturing the vibe—like the specific lean of a 100-year-old building or the chaotic rhythm of a local farmer's market. If you want to learn how to deconstruct complex street scenes into simple watercolor shapes without the jargon, my process is all about just getting started and having fun with it.
Behind the Pages
My sketchbook is not just a collection of drawings, it is a visual diary of my life in Mumbai. Whether I am sitting at a local cafe sketching the coffee machine or wandering through Bandra to capture heritage facades, my goal is always the same: to slow down and really look at what is in front of me.
How I Work
I primarily use a mix of watercolors, gouache, and fineliners to bring my sketches to life. You will see a lot of layering in my work, starting with a loose pencil outline, moving to ink to define the mood, and finishing with watercolor washes to add warmth. I believe that mistakes are just part of the story, so you will often find tea stains or smudges on my pages—these are not errors, they are memories of where I was when I drew them.
Join the Creative Adda
If you see something here that sparks your interest, you do not need to be a pro to try it yourself. My workshops are designed for anyone who wants to document their own memories. We focus on:
- Urban Sketching in Mumbai: Learning to simplify busy streets into manageable shapes.
- Watercolor Basics: Getting comfortable with color mixing and light without the textbook pressure.
- Grid Layouts: Using different compositions to tell a complete story on a single page, much like my market visit sketches.
Everything I teach is based on the methods I use daily, whether I am sketching a Ganpati workshop or a quiet corner in a garden. It is about building a habit of observation, one sketch at a time.
Similar work from other experts
Browse through Curated picks from other experts on mytribe
My Personal Sketchbook & Urban Art Journal
Inside My Sketchbook: Real-Time Mumbai Art
Inside My Creative Journey: Sketches and Experiments
Live Pencil Sketches of Daily Life
Behind My Art: Process, Sketchbooks & Coffee Paintings
Hand-drawn City Stories and Urban Illustrations
More from Art Workshops & Classes by Divya Bhatia
More services by Divya Bhatia