Watercolour is often underestimated for its apparent simplicity, but mastering the medium requires remarkable discipline and control. This piece explores the work of four contemporary Indian artists—Sumedha Shah, Simran Verma, Jayati Bose, and Archana Valecha—whose practices showcase the versatility of watercolour, from whimsical dreamscapes and feminist narratives to intimate observations of everyday life.
Personally, I think I heavily understated watercolour as a medium. I always assumed they were those little rectangular boxes of paints we used to get as return gifts at birthday parties, paints my mom wasn't bothered by my horsing around the house with. I always thought the boxes of oil paint tubes she would hide in her cupboards were the true, coveted art supplies.
But I have now, over the years, realised my terrible ignorance. Watercolour might seem simple and light, not as heavy-handed as oil paint. But its discipline and art lie in that simplicity. Every single chef, painter, dancer, or artist I have interviewed has reiterated to me that the most difficult things to master are usually the "simple" ones. They look effortless, the kind of thing anybody can look at in a museum and say, "I could've made that."
Watercolour, in its simplicity, can also be extremely intricate, helping you weave out details that make paintings look eerily real. From every eyelash strand to every wrinkle, watercolour manages to get into every crevice on the canvas and bring out a slice of real life. Over the years, the medium has also evolved, with contemporary artists experimenting with everything from their muses to the colours they use, creating their own distinct and vivid artistic language — all while using the humble watercolour.
A Bengaluru-based artist and educator, Sumedha Sah's work feels like stills taken from a young child's dreams. Whimsical, energetic, and extremely singular, her work explores everything from flora and fauna to the human body. As a matter of fact, her art feels like a meeting point of those two worlds, showing how interconnected the natural world is with our bodies and our worlds. Additionally, as she teaches younger children, Shah manages to channel a lot of childlike wonder and imagination, not letting any of her work be categorised into a particular box or taken too seriously, even letting her young students and their minds become sources of inspiration. Follow Shah here.
Simran Verma's muses live inside a pomegranate. With her signature vivid colours of red, yellow, and blue, along with human forms with exaggerated features, Verma has built a signature style that is inherently hers. They say the eyes are gateways to the soul, and in Verma's paintings, you can tell everything about the mood and tone of the piece by looking at the characters' eyes. Their curiosity or disinterest can be gauged simply by their eyes. Verma has transformed the pomegranate's interior into her artistic playground. The restriction somehow leads to endless possibilities, with that annoyingly difficult-to-peel fruit becoming everything from a place for girlfriends to gather to a site of rest and relaxation. Follow Verma here.
Jayati Bose's work shows women at their happiest: in a world devoid of men. Her work uses extremely uniform, simple colours: muted yellows, shades of white, and a pop of colour here and there. The art focuses on featuring women at the forefront, not only in their own lives but also in other women's lives, in both joy and solidarity. From places of play to places of protest, Bose's work passes the Bechdel test through and through, with every detail on the women's bodies, from the way a saree is draped to how hair is braided, considered. Bose is also a sculptor, and the influence of that medium on her paintings can be seen in how structurally she drapes her characters in their clothes, with every crevice apparent. Follow Bose here.
Archana Valecha's practice is marked by a stark attentiveness to everyday life, translating fleeting moments, travel observations, and cultural details into delicate, expressive pieces. Working with a light touch and a keen eye for colour, her paintings balance bring out a sense of spontaneity along with her thoughtful storytelling, turning ordinary scenes into intimate visual narratives. Follow Valecha here.
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