Digital Melancholy

Anirban Mishra

Kolkata, India

I was inspired by artist David Hockney’s iPad drawings to create the series of digital artworks presented here. I used Autodesk Sketchbook and Infinite Painter on my Android tablet. I find this process of
art-making to be very challenging and different from my usual practice and skills.

To create artwork with digital tools and software, I could only use on-screen colours, brushes, paper, and canvas. When I can only visualize and can’t physically touch the work, I find it very difficult to connect with the materials. This is very different from painting my usual way, where I frequently use my fingers and my hands to touch and feel the colours, textures, and surfaces that give me pleasure. However,
I also love exploring and creating artwork in new and unconventional ways.

Digital art is a fast-growing medium in contemporary life. It offers many new possibilities. I am
fascinated by experimenting with different tools and ways of working, like this one.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

I am Anirban Mishra from The Indian College of Arts and Draftsmanship in 2017, and completed my M.F.A. in painting from Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad in 2019. I participated in several painting and photography exhibitions nationally and internationally
in the last few years and participated in many workshops. My work was featured in a solo exhibition
at the Akara Art Gallery in 2022 and also in an online solo exhibition with Emergent Art Space.
I received the best exhibit award in painting at the State Academy’s annual exhibition in 2019
and the India Book of Records in 2020. My works are published by Google playbooks.