Instagram story viewer> @shefali.art> Posts

Shefali Khanna

@shefali.art

1.5K

followers

2045

following

Chicago artist, watercolor studio + plein air paintings & commissions Shows: Wells St Art Fair Old Town June, Artfulframers Lakeview east till Aug 12

POSTS STORIES REELS

Lately I have done a fair amount of custom commissions, and each one has posed a design challenge. For the West Loop homes (first page), it was about being able to tell a story of 3 places on a page, for the Robey Hotel (swipe) it was about how to make the label be congruous with the painting, and for the Bisous bar West Loop it was about how to turn a plain exterior into a Parisian ambience. Some folks think painting is about making pretty pictures, but oftentimes there is a lot of planning & strategy behind it to make it work 😉. See last page for the process of making the @west_loop homes in watercolor. DM if interested in a custom art piece. Materials: @archespapers @winsorandnewton paints #ChicagoHomes #chicagoartist #HousePortrait #watercolorart #WestLoop by @shefali.art

Painted Wicker Park Chicago for @jacksonjunge gallery 10x10 show. This painting aims to capture a perfect fall day: browsing for books at @myopicbookstore, getting yummy Indian food at @kama.wickerpark and finishing off with coffee and sweet crepes at Brü @bruchicago . Swipe ➡️ to see a video of the painting process, which captures it before the construction, used @princetonbrush for painting. The opening reception of the show is Friday Nov 6 and goes on till beginning of Jan. DM for avails. #wickerpark #chicagoartist #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofood #watercolorart by @shefali.art

Painting at Ping Tom Park with @pleinairpainterschicago on location in Chicago’s Chinatown @chicagochinatown . Decided to go a more subtle route, and depicted the historic bridge on a foggy day. Used Arches @archespapers rough paper for this for more texture and watercolors from @danielsmithartistsmaterials. Swipe ➡️ to see art process. While painting, I was also accompanied by a grasshopper :)
#PleinairPainting #Chicago #pleinairmag #watercolorartist #artprocess by @shefali.art

Excited to share a recent commission of the Robey Hotel @therobeychicago in Wicker Park Chicago:) To me, art isn’t about trying to make a painting look like a photograph, it’s about trying to capture the actual feeling of the place. Also captured @bnwickerpark Watch the reel to see the process behind a commission and DM me @shefali.art if interested in having a custom piece made. #contemporaryart #chicago #wickerpark #watercolorart #originalart by @shefali.art

Excited to have been one of 50 juried artists at @bluffstrokes Plein air event! Sold 4 paintings (1 main, the large Art Institute painting, and 2 priors). Thank you to all who make this a great event! DM for avails @shefali.art . Swipe ➡️ to see photos including progress shots. #bluffstrokes #pleinairmag #watercolorart #pleinairpainting #contemporaryart by @shefali.art

Excited to share that my large work ‘Art Institute Chicago Rainy Day’ is at the @bluffstrokes art center during the paint out this week with the opening Wednesday. This piece is inspired by all the rain Chicago has gotten lately, and the new Mary Cassatt exhibit which you can see the signage on the window @artinstitutechi. Swipe ➡️ through to also see prior works that will be available at Steeple Square Dubuque starting Friday. DM me if interested @shefali.art
#artinstitutechicago #watercolor #chicago #contemporaryart #bluffstrokes

Chicago Riverwalk Kayakers available at Steeple Square Dubuque, painted on location at Chicago’s Riverwalk in the summer
#chicago #kayaking #pleinairpainting #watercolor

Chicago Snow Day Little Village available at Steeple Square Dubuque
#chicago #snow #chicagolittlevillage

Dubuque 7 Hills Brewery painted last year Plein air during the paint out, available at Steeple Square Dubuque this week @7hillsbrew
#dubuque #brewery #watercolorart #contemporaryart #pleinair

Dubuque Grain Silos painted Plein air during a prior years paint out, available at Steeple Square Dubuque
#dubuque #farm #watercolor #pleinairpainting by @shefali.art

Excited to share a recent painting commission of Bisous @bisouschicago a Parisian style cocktail bar in Chicago’s Fulton Market in West Loop—where the couple had their first date. As an artist, I wanted to capture the romantic ambience, and added the two of them sitting at the bar and a few extra details to help convey that. If you are interested in a commission please DM :) #westloop #chicagoartist #chicagofoodie #watercolor #artcommission by @shefali.art

[Update: Sold] Have been visiting Oak Street Beach after work (when it’s not raining ;) and was inspired to make a painting of @whispers_oakstreetbeach —Wanted to capture the city in the background, the restaurant, and lots of people enjoying the fun and sun :) Swipe ➡️ through to see close-ups and in progress shots. DM me if interested 🙂 Sketch and first washes on location, finished at home.

#thingstodoinchicago #contemporaryart #chicagoartist #pleinairpainter #pleinairmag by @shefali.art

Meet the 2026 Paint Out Artists! We can't believe how fast summer is going by and before we know it, we will be welcoming our artists for the Paint Out (September 20-26)! All week we will be sharing information and samples from this talented line up.
.
.
.
#bluffstrokespaintout #pleinairpainting #dubuqueart by @shefali.art

Painting kakayers on Chicago Riverwalk with @pleinairpainterschicago. Was drawn to the contrast of the yellow red kayaks from @kayakchicago against the blue green water. It was hard to sketch moving kayakers, but luckily another one would paddle on by! 😊 #chicagoriver #thingstodoinchicago #pleinairmag #watercolor #chicagoartist by @shefali.art

Great time yesterday painting with @pleinairpainterschicago in @lakevieweast. This is a painting of @wildechicago restaurant. It was hard to paint on such a busy street, but aimed to capture the vibrant colors and flags for @pridefestchicago . Added a few details at home. This painting will be at an exhibit at @artfulframerstudios in July. DM me if interested :) #pleinairpainting #lakeviewchicago #watercolor #chicago #contemporaryart by @shefali.art

Excited to share I have been accepted into the Wells St Art Fest in Old Town Chicago Sat & Sun June 13-14! I will be showcasing a collection of original watercolor paintings and giclee prints of Chicago and the Midwest. All paintings are rooted in Plein air, either created from Plein air sketches or painted on location. #chicagoartist #pleinairpainting #watercolor #chicago #contemporaryart by @shefali.art