The Swadeshi Market Building, Mumbai

Some buildings tell stories not through monuments or museums, but through the lives that pass by them every day.

This watercolor is inspired by the Swadeshi Market Building in Mumbai. With its weathered façade, elegant arches, and bustling street below, the building reflects the city’s layered history. A passing cyclist, the familiar black-and-yellow taxi, and the colourful shopfronts bring a sense of everyday life to this heritage streetscape.

For this painting, I focused on suggesting the character of the architecture rather than painting every detail. Loose washes, broken brushstrokes, and a restrained palette allowed the old building to emerge naturally, while small touches of colour helped bring the street to life. My aim was to capture the atmosphere of a place where history and daily life continue to coexist.

This is my Day 12 painting for July Watercolor Month. One of the things I enjoy most about urban sketching is discovering how ordinary streets can reveal the identity of a city.

“Every old building carries a story. The people passing by add a new chapter every day.”