Hey there, I’m Preeti!

An environmental consultant and architect by day and a passionate watercolor enthusiast by night.

Late in 2018, I moved from the quaint town of Auroville to Agra. While my professional career was exciting, my evenings were slow. One day, on my way back from work, I stopped by a local stationary shop and picked up an A5 sketchbook and a watercolor pan set. From then on, painting became my nightly ritual. Those evenings were my refuge, something that brought back the ‘balance’ to my mental and emotional states. ‘Samanilai’ is a Tamil word that means balance, and painting became my Samanilai.

I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty and depth of India’s architectural heritage, but it wasn’t until I started painting the jharokhas, jalis, and the gorgeous shadows of the arched openings that I felt a truly magical connection. It’s not just about translating the physical structure onto paper. It’s about translating the emotions it evokes – the stories whispered by the worn stone, the play of light and shadow that dances across arched openings.

Now in Stockholm, I find myself escaping the cold by painting the warm solace of India’s stunning architecture, even more.

Painting these architectural details allows me to step beyond the technical aspects and truly connect with the feeling of the space.