Krishen Khanna: My Sketchbook in Colour

For decades Krishen’s quandary has been ‘to paint or not to paint’. Krishen has often said ‘When I draw, I feel I should leave the drawing as is and also wish to paint it in colour’.

The foundation of these works is derived from this ever-present dilemma that Krishen has experienced throughout his career. A selection of Krishen’s important drawings that still hold the yearning to be painted have been reproduced thereby producing three prints of each of the drawings. These large prints have then been hand painted in detail creating unique artworks while preserving the drawings that they have emerged from, which are displayed alongside these colourful artworks, displaying the origin of these paintings. Krishen’s desire to add paint to these sketches has been accomplished. It may have taken him time, but Krishen has finally figured out how to have his cake and eat it too.