Behind The Studio
From Hobby to Mastery: The Creative Journey of Shirish Burde
November 27, 2025
Shirish Burde didn’t begin as a man chasing accolades or commissions. He started the way many true artists do—quietly, curiously, with a brush in hand and no intention beyond the simple joy of making marks on a surface. What unfolded over the years wasn’t planned; it grew the way art often grows, slowly and insistently, shaped by instinct and a restless love for culture.
“…anyone who has followed their own obsession knows that hobbies have a way of revealing deeper callings.”
His early relationship with art looked almost accidental from the outside: sketching in spare moments, studying forms out of sheer fascination, and letting curiosity tug him toward India’s folk traditions. But anyone who has followed their own obsession knows that hobbies have a way of revealing deeper callings. In his case, those callings came through Warli, Madhubani, Gond, Pattachitra, and a constellation of indigenous styles that each carried stories far older than any classroom.
The turning point...
…wasn’t a single epiphany. It was a pattern—a growing sense that these traditional forms were not relics of the past, but living vocabularies. Shirish found himself drawn to the rhythms, the symbols, the earthy geometry of each style. He dove into research, studied regional variations, and spent years refining the techniques until they felt as natural as breath. What began as “just trying it out” evolved into an artistic language uniquely his own.
Step into his modest home studio and the transformation becomes tangible. There’s ample natural light, a dependable breeze, and a kind of quiet that lets ideas settle before they take shape. Canvases lean against walls like half-whispered thoughts. Brushes sit in jars, each one softened by years of loyal service. This is not a pristine gallery workspace; it’s a living, breathing creative den—part sanctuary, part laboratory.
Here, Shirish paints on instinct. Sometimes at dawn, sometimes late into the night. Inspiration doesn’t follow a timetable, and he doesn’t force it. When it arrives, he moves quickly, almost meditatively, building stories through lines and patterns that seem to know exactly where they need to go.
The shift from hobbyist to master happened gradually, almost invisibly. Mastery often looks like that—it shows up in consistency, in the ability to conjure meaning from minimal strokes, in the quiet confidence of someone who has lived long enough with an art form to understand its soul. Today, his work bridges tradition and modernity, offering pieces that carry both cultural memory and contemporary relevance.
His journey is a reminder that mastery isn’t a finish line; it’s a relationship. A long, evolving conversation between the artist, the craft, and the centuries of heritage under each motif. And for Shirish Burde, that conversation is still very much alive—still growing, still refining, still welcoming curious visitors into the studio where it all began.
Behind the Studio
A self-taught artist who began painting after retirement and quickly turned it into a passionate second career. His work spans Warli, Mandala, Madhubani, Gond, Pattachitra, and Pichwai traditions. He has earned national and international recognition, including multiple awards and a feature in the art and culture book Mirage. He is dedicated to sharing India’s tribal art with wider audiences at accessible prices.
About Us
Wama Arts is an India-based eCommerce brand creating handcrafted, hand-painted lifestyle products and accessories. We design, produce, and ship unique artisan-made items worldwide with secure payments, reliable fulfillment, and consistent quality.