Stories in paint: This Goan artist is rooted in watercolours

For Goan artist Kalidas Satardekar, art isn’t just about skill or technique—it’s about storytelling. And the stories he tells are deeply rooted in the land he calls home. From crowded local markets to monsoon-drenched streets and the gentle faces of people around him, his watercolours carry the essence of Goa—vibrant, layered, and profoundly human.

“I didn’t always think I had talent,” Satardekar says modestly, recalling his early years. As a child, he would draw cartoon characters and simple sketches for festivals. A Mickey Mouse painted on his father’s Bajaj Chetak stepney turned heads in his neighbourhood, but he thought little of it.

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The turning point came in his late teens, when a colleague noticed a sketch he’d casually drawn at work. “She told me, ‘You have to pursue this,’” he recalls. That encouragement led him to apply to the Goa College of Art, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Fine Art in 2000.

Today, Kalidas is known for his mastery of watercolour—a medium he reveres for its spontaneity and precision. “Watercolour doesn’t give you second chances,” he says. “You have to know when to let it flow, and when to stop. That control, and also surrender, is what draws me in.” Though he works with oil, acrylic, charcoal, and pastel, watercolour is his first love.

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His artistic style is grounded in realism, and his main focus is portraiture. He believes every face carries its own narrative, and capturing that expression is his greatest reward. Satardekar shares: “A good portrait reveals more than likeness—it reflects soul.” His subjects range from everyday Goans to cultural icons, always approached with careful observation and emotional connection.

Beyond faces, Kalidas finds great joy in painting Goa itself. His plein air works, created on location, reveal his deep engagement with the landscape and architecture of the state.

EYE FOR DETAILS: One of Kalidas's paintings beautifully catches the ethos of this temple.

Temples, churches, and mosques appear often in his work—not just as structures, but as symbols of faith, harmony, and shared heritage. “I see them as part of Goa’s unity in diversity,” he says. “Each one tells a story of our collective identity.”

Kalidas’s connection to Goa is also cultural. Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, seasonal transitions, and traditional rituals often provide inspiration. “There’s so much rhythm and richness in daily life here,” he says. “Painting is a way of honouring where I come from.”

Kalidas Satardekar, watercolour artistThere’s so much rhythm and richness in daily life here. Painting it is a way of honouring where I come from

His work has travelled well beyond Goa. Through exhibitions and international art demonstrations, Kalidas’s watercolours have represented him across borders—even when he couldn’t attend in person. “The paintings speak for me,” Satardekar says. “People see the light, the detail, the emotion—and they ask where I’m from. I say, ‘I’m from Goa, and so is my art.’"

IMPACTFUL: Despite the accolades, Kalidas remains grounded.

Despite the accolades, Kalidas remains grounded. For him, the biggest reward isn’t fame—it’s the moment when pigment, paper, and emotion align to create something quietly powerful. “It’s like the medium and I are in sync,” he reflects. “That moment—that’s what I paintfor.”

Through water and colour, Kalidas Satardekar captures the world around him with precision and tenderness. And in doing so, he doesn’t just paint portraits or places—he paints Goa.

BOLD ART: A painting by Kalidas captures bulls in action.

Looking ahead, Kalidas hopes to see greater visibility and support for Goan artists, especially those working in traditional mediums. “There’s so much talent here, but it needs platforms and encouragement,” he says.

He’s particularly passionate about sharing his process with younger artists—offering workshops and demonstrations both in India and abroad. “When students realise the possibilities of watercolour, their eyes light up. I want to keep that spirit alive.”

His dream? A dedicated space in Goa where artists can learn, collaborate, and showcase their work—a hub for the state’s creative soul. “Art shouldn’t just be admired in galleries,” Kalidas believes. “It should live in homes, schools, and communities.”

SKILLFUL SHADES: Kalidas's brush captures Altinho in Panjim with his vivid colouring.

At its heart, his work is about connection. Whether it’s the glint in a subject’s eye or the mood of a misty morning in South Goa, Satardekar wants his viewers to feel something they recognise. “Even if they don’t know the person or place,” he says, “I hope they feel the emotion. That’s when art becomes universal.”

And so, with every brushstroke, Satardekar continues his quiet, luminous dialogue—with his medium, his homeland, and all those who stop to look a little closer.

At its heart, his work is about connection. Whether it’s the glint in a subject’s eye or the mood of a misty morning in South Goa, Satardekar wants his viewers to feel something.

Awards

• 2022 – Global Recognition Award, Global Art Connection (France/Poland)

• 2022 – Merit Award, International Watercolor Masters (IWM) World Contest

• 2023 – 1st Prize for Plein Air Painting, International Watercolor Society, Delhi

• 2024 – 2nd Prize (On-the-Spot Painting Competition), Olympiart – International Watercolor Society, India (Noida)

• 2025 – ‘Kala Vrudhi’ State Art Award, Department of Art & Culture, Government of Goa

• 2025 – Vocational Service Award, for Calligraphy and Painting, presented by His Excellency Shri P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, Rotary Club of Mapusa Elegance