Kolkata Artists Transform Workshops into Nature-Infused Creative Journeys
A fresh wave of creativity is sweeping through Kolkata and its surrounding areas. Artists are moving their workshops out of traditional studios and into natural settings. They host sessions under open skies, by lakesides, in gardens, and among trees. These are not ordinary art classes. They are slow, sensory encounters designed to reconnect people with nature, creativity, and community.
Working Directly with Natural Elements
These workshops actively involve participants with materials from the environment. At Ishwari Basu's iOnearth Pottery, people press leaves and flowers into soft clay. The pieces are later fired and glazed. Basu notes that nature sometimes adds its own touch unexpectedly. She recalls a cat's paw print that became a permanent part of a finished artwork.
Mukulita Ganguly of Liminal Spaces uses sunlight as her primary medium. She employs cyanotype, one of the oldest photographic printing techniques. This process relies on ultraviolet rays from the sun. Ganguly says cyanotype makes people notice the fine details around them. She often includes a small gratitude ritual for the sun to ground participants during the session.
Nature as the Core of Artistic Practice
For artist Tamal Bhattacharya, founder of Studio Calyx, nature is inseparable from ceramics. He explains that the clay material comes directly from the earth. The motifs artists work with also draw inspiration from nature. Bhattacharya believes that working with clay in a natural environment amplifies both the experience and the final artistic outcome. He emphasizes that his workshops function as collective creative exchanges rather than just skill-based lessons.
A similar philosophy drives Megha Jalan of Studio Kathanika. Her outdoor painting sessions originated from her personal need to sit in nature and paint. Jalan observes that many people want to create, but daily routine and self-doubt often hinder them. Her free sessions feel like art picnics. Participants walk, settle in a spot, and paint without strict rules or pressures.
Art as a Holistic Experience
For those who attend, these workshops offer much more than simple art instruction. Saptarshi Roybardhan, who spent over thirty years in corporate finance, describes the experience as deeply personal. He reflects that at some level, all humans are primitive beings. Creating art while belonging to nature adds a profound dimension to the creative process.
Gunjon Dasgupta points out how apartment living often pushes art to the sidelines. He stresses that the true value lies in the experience of creative exchange. These workshops bring together people of different ages and skill levels. They form temporary communities where art, music, conversation, and nature blend seamlessly.
Essential Tips for Participants
Artists provide helpful guidance for anyone joining these unique sessions:
- Wear comfortable clothes that can get messy. Both art and nature are wonderfully unpredictable.
- Bring curiosity and an open mind. Workshops often explore beyond the main art form.
- Engage fully with your surroundings. Sunlight, leaves, and textures become integral parts of the creative process.
- Work at your own comfortable pace. The focus is on the experience, not on achieving perfection.
- Share and collaborate openly. Music, movement, or storytelling can enrich the session for everyone.
Organizers typically provide all necessary materials. They charge only a minimal fee to ensure everyone can participate. Each workshop often evolves into a unique collective and creative exchange.
"Clay imprint workshops are usually conducted in the spring and summer months, when the blooms are at their best. The final pieces are fired and collected later," says Ishwari Basu, ceramic artist and instructor.
"Nature is where creativity begins," affirms Megha Jalan, artist and founder of Studio Kathanika. She recently hosted a painting workshop at Rabindra Sarobar.
"Cyanotype art works best on organic and absorbent surfaces," notes Mukulita Ganguly, a multidisciplinary movement artist and yoga teacher.
These artists in Kolkata are redefining what it means to make art. They invite people to step outside, feel the earth, and create in harmony with the natural world.
