Hi, I'm Mukul.

I have been drawing, painting and making art for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a small town in India, I was fascinated by the photographs in National Geographic magazines. My family always encouraged me to be creative, explore my imagination and pursue the things I loved.

I eventually earned my Master of Fine Arts degree and built a career as a professional artist. But photography became something very special because it brought together two things I deeply love: making art and being outdoors.

Some of the most meaningful moments of my life have come from being out in nature, watching wildlife, appreciating beautiful light and waiting for those precious moments when everything comes together.

Learning to See Differently

As I became more serious about photography, I realized that the camera was only a small part of making an image. Everything I had learned through drawing and painting mattered just as much, if not more. My career as a lighting artist deepened that understanding, teaching me how light creates atmosphere and influences what we feel. My wife, who is also a multidisciplinary professional artist, has played a huge role in refining my artistic eye and helping me see things from different perspectives.

Over time, drawing, painting, photography, cinematography and lighting all came together, teaching me how to really look at something, understand what I feel about it and express that through my own artistic perspective.

Why I Created The Wild Artist

Photography can feel unnecessarily complicated, with so much attention given to cameras, lenses and settings that we sometimes forget why we picked up a camera in the first place. I wanted to create a place where people could explore the wilderness, learn to see as artists and discover their own creativity without feeling overwhelmed by the technical side of photography. When I teach, I want to help you become more observant, understand light, experiment with ideas and develop the confidence to express yourself through your images. I don't want you to make photographs that look like mine. I want to help you make photographs that feel like you.

A Little About My Background

I am a multidisciplinary artist based near Seattle, working across wildlife & nature photography, and lighting for video games. My journey has taken me through quite a few different creative fields, and each has shaped the way I see and create art.

A few highlights from my journey:

• Photography & Recognition: My work has been recognized by Bird Photographer of the Year, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, Nikon USA, Capture One and the Photographic Society of America, and published by National Geographic Society and BBC Earth. I have also photographed cover photographs and other editorial work for multiple magazines blending natural light with on location lighting that I designed along with my wife.

• Art & Video Games: 15 years of experience leading teams and lighting virtual worlds for video game projects- Guild Wars, Halo, Forza Motorsport, Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons

• Teaching & Mentorship: Taught at Kirkland Arts Center and Cloud 9 Art School, delivered lectures at the Academy of Art University and the University of Washington, and serve on the University of Washington Continuum College advisory board for its photography program.

• Education: Master of Fine Art, Academy of Art university, San Francisco. Master of Computer Applications, Bangalore University, India.

It is a slightly unusual mix of things, I know. But I wouldn't have it any other way!

All these experiences have shaped the artist and teacher I am today, and they are what I bring to every workshop and expedition.

Why the Wild Matters to Me

The more time I spend around wildlife, the more I appreciate how much these experiences have given me. Watching animals simply go about their lives reminds me how extraordinary the natural world is and how much we have to protect. I believe people are more likely to care about nature when they have experienced it for themselves. That belief has made conservation an increasingly important part of my life.

You will often find me out on the Salish Sea, photographing and raising awareness about puffins, whales and other marine wildlife. I also work with the Salish Sea School, supporting their research and education efforts.

When I'm Not Doing Any of That...

There is a pretty good chance I am still outside somewhere with a camera.

I love wildlife, traveling, exploring new places and spending a probably unreasonable amount of time watching animals do completely ordinary things. I also love drawing, painting and playing cricket whenever I get the chance. Despite having spent much of my life making art, I still consider myself a student. I am constantly learning, experimenting and discovering new things.

And I still get ridiculously excited when the light is beautiful.

That sense of wonder has never really left me. I still wake up everyday feeling the same curiosity I felt when I was It is what keeps me going back into the wilderness, and it is a big part of why The Wild Artist exists.

If that sounds like something you have been looking for, come explore the wild with me.

See differently. Create meaningfully.