Sundays are typically a time for sleeping in and leisurely activities, but for a dedicated group of sketchers in Pune, the day begins at 8 am. Armed with sketchbooks and watercolor palettes, they gather at various corners of the city. Some capture old buildings, others focus on passing crowds, and many spend minutes simply observing before drawing the first line. For the next two hours, there is no rush.
Pause, Sketch, Find Peace
“I think humans are very detail-oriented, but in the fast-paced world where scrolling has taken over our attention spans, we forget to acknowledge those details,” says artist and coordinator Aniruddha Dighe. “For most of us, sketching is a way of noticing the world.”
This sense of pause keeps many members returning week after week. Interior designer Nikita Vishwakarma, who joined recently through a friend, describes the meets as a mental escape. “Being part of this activity feels peaceful. Nobody judges you here, and you get the opportunity to improve your skills by sketching consistently,” she says. For others, the community reconnects them with creativity that disappeared between adulthood and work schedules.
A Community Built Around the City
“One person motivates another, and everyone learns together,” says architect Sanjeev Joshi, founder of Urban Sketchers Pune. He explains the idea behind the community: “I realized the power of sketching in a group when I did a similar activity in Singapore. That stayed with me, and I thought something similar should be done in Pune.”
Founded in 2015, the group meets every Sunday morning at a different location, from Shaniwar Wada and Pataleshwar Caves to the crowded lanes of the peth areas. What started with a simple Facebook post by Joshi inviting people to sketch outdoors has now grown into a community of around 60 to 70 active members. The Pune chapter is connected to the larger global Urban Sketchers movement, with members attending international sketch festivals and events.
Want to Join?
- Joining the community is free.
- The only rule is to sketch on location.
- Meets happen every Sunday from 8 am to 10 am.
- Demo sessions and artist showcases are held every three months.
- Members’ sketches are also sent to external exhibitions.
