Paintings by Shashank Nakate

I am Shashank Nakate, a fine artist based in Pune, Maharashtra (India). My artwork revolves around wildlife and landscapes. However, I like try out subjects new to me such as abstract and portraits.

The world of fine art is enigmatic, enthralling, diverse and vast in its expanse. One learns so much every single day by experimenting and venturing into different styles, methods and the painting media being used. Fine art holds the power to stretch the boundaries of your imagination and to enhance your capabilities by offering unlimited space to grow. It is blissful and satisfying to practice your art every single day.

I enjoy writing, reading and travelling apart from painting. For me, painting is a process which creates positivity and a general feeling of joy and happiness. It gives me a sense of purpose and brings out the best in me. Painting is liberating as well as binds us to things earthly; it keeps us humble and grounded without losing the desire to reach great heights and a sense of childlike wonder which keeps us alive.

This website helps you explore my artwork on different themes including wildlife and natural landscapes. Also, please check out the 'Work In Progress' tab to see my upcoming works.

Oil-on-canvas is the medium I primarily use. I would like to try out acrylics in the future. I sell my artwork through my registered business, Parees Expressions (OPC) Private Limited - located in Pune, Maharashtra (India). My paintings are available for viewing and purchasing at my business address.

If you are interested in buying my paintings or simply taking a look at them in person, please drop a message at shash08@live.in or +91-8308944937. You are welcome.

lion oil painting
lion oil painting

Oil Painting on Canvas - Lion

Artist: Shashank Nakate

Dimensions: 58 cm x 38 cm x 2 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Year: 2023

Oil Painting on Canvas - Tigress & Cubs

Artist: Shashank Nakate

Dimensions: 70 cm x 53 cm x 2 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Year: 2023

Oil Painting on Canvas - Deer

Artist: Shashank Nakate

Dimensions: 70 cm x 53 cm x 2 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Year: 2023

Oil Painting is Fun and Forgiving

When you are just starting out in your painting journey, many questions related to what medium to choose, learning the basics of art and even how to be persistent without losing interest, etc. tend to pop up. One important thing to remember is to take that first step irrespective of where you stand in your painting journey. You can learn through observation, from literature about art and most importantly by practicing regularly. Maintaining a sketchbook where you draw and doodle helps greatly. Once you master the basics, you can get into complex techniques and styles of painting; you would then be experimenting with mix media, layering, glazing, etc. There is no limit to what you can learn when it comes to painting or any art for that matter. It requires patience and passion in equally.

Oil is amongst the most beginner-friendly media of them all. It tends to dry slowly therefore, allows for more time to complete your work compared to other media like the acrylics. You can make changes with ease and without the fear of messing up the artwork. Acrylics dry quickly, therefore, they can be utilized best once you are focused enough to stick to your theme or the basic sketch/skeleton till the end of the painting process. If you need more flexibility, oil can definitely help in making changes quickly. It makes life easier and the painting brighter. Oil is therefore, a friendly medium in my opinion.

Painting is joyful and it offers the freedom to express yourselves in a variety of ways through different forms, themes and styles. Drawing inspiration from nature, beautiful pieces of architecture and fauna and flora for your artworks is something which makes them wholesome and rich. In a way, these itself are artworks created by nature and man which we draw inspiration from. Simply looking at the sunset, sunrise, mountains, lakes, trees, birds or even the sea waves crashing on the shore fills your heart with awe and a kind of gratitude for nature and its bounties.

Creating a work of art is an organic process which requires patience and an aesthetic sense of beauty to attain desired results. Such a process is an evolution of a kind which transforms raw energy into something refined, sophisticated and elaborate. Art is a world in itself. A given artwork can be looked at from different angles and understood in different ways by different people. Symbolism and abstract ideas infused in art make it even more interesting to decipher for the observer. It can be a healthy exercise to read paintings just like you read poems or beautiful passages from prose. Just that the language changes here. Learning the language of visuals and symbols and images can be as fun and exciting as reading a novel. You just need to give it some time.

For an artist, drawing that first line, making that first brushstroke is the first step in the journey into the unknown; the journey can be quite exciting. What would become of the that first brushstroke, by the end of the painting process, may not always be clear at the very beginning; however, once a seed of thought is sown, things tend to get clearer; the result is that some structure and definiteness is brought to the work. There are elements which you would add, tweak and build on later. However, a thread of continuity of theme persists, ideally, till the end of the whole process.

Joy of Painting

As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Also, a picture is a thousand expressions packed together, and probably an entire story told in the space of a single frame. A person can see a picture and imagine thousand different ways to interpret it. It depends on the outlook, preconceptions and overall knowledge one gains over the years. One could simply savor the beauty of an artwork instead of analyzing it like a professional critic. Such being-in-the-moment happiness is sometimes fun and worth more than going the intellectual way. However, there can be benchmarks or parameters on which one might want to judge art. The underlying idea would be to give it some structure without losing the freedom to express ourselves.

Spiritual Nature of Art

Determining the quality of a product or inherent value it possesses can be difficult at times. Similarly, it is quite tough to elaborate on or to determine an artwork's quality. It is, however, relatively easier to point out highlights or the bright side one observes. Such qualities or features which evoke joy or bring out happiness in the heart is what one tends to appreciate in an artwork. A piece of art holds the power to evoke emotions to take you down the memory lane; it can offer a glimpse into the enigmatic spiritual world or simply lighten up the mood after a hectic day's work. Art is closely associated with that which arises from the realm of the soul, spirit or something that is inherent. It can incorporate symbolism from the external world to support or manifest itself into the physical world. However, the true source or nature of an artwork is the spiritual or higher self.

We live a life of creative expression throughout our journey on planet earth. We may not realize, at times, that our day-to-day life is a constant process of shaping, re-shaping, moulding and in a way recreating our personality, environment and even our entire being. As we understand the process of how our actions, thoughts and speech shape our journey, we make necessary amends and improvements to them. Such activities may not, at once, appear as creative as writing poetry or making a magnificent painting. However, despite commonly held beliefs, even mundane activities, which hold the potential to improve our lives, can be called creative expressions in their own right.

One has the capability of thinking creatively in a variety of ways without limiting their potential. It is possible to build great things from scratch through a great vision, sincere efforts and perseverance. It is therefore, important to take that first step towards your dreams.

Universe of Painting and Creative Forms of Art

Finding your purpose or calling can be a turning point in your life that leads to an amazing world of happiness and joy. Your interests, skills, capabilities and dreams can converge into something called purpose.

The depth of your thoughts give meaning to your day-to-day life. You need to give some time to introspect and contemplate and understand what you are best at. When you commit to practicing your craft and art with persistence and a clear vision, your life begins to improve. It opens up avenues of a beautiful and prosperous life; when you put your efforts in the right direction, it can lead to great results.

What is Your Life’s Calling?