SUNARTCAFE is a fine art studio and learning platform based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Founded and led by contemporary realist artist and educator Sunitha Gopal, SUNARTCAFE brings together painting, drawing, teaching, and consulting as one continuous, long-term practice.
The studio is built on a simple idea: art should be precise, honest, and lasting. Every decision—from materials to teaching methods to collaborations—is made with stability, continuity, and long-term impact in mind. SUNARTCAFE is not a side project; it is a growing, carefully shaped practice with its own clear direction and future.
Studio Practice
At the heart of SUNARTCAFE is a focused realist studio practice. The work often centres on:
• Cultural memory and heritage objects – doors, utensils, textiles, vessels, and everyday objects that carry histories and stories.
• Animals and living presence – horses, birds, and other creatures rendered with close observation and quiet dignity.
• Light and stillness – controlled lighting, tonal subtlety, and measured contrast that invite the viewer to pause and look longer.
Paintings and drawings are created in oil, acrylics, watercolour, graphite & charcoal, and pastels, using a layered, disciplined process. Composition, structure, and value are given as much importance as subject and emotion. The aim is not drama for its own sake, but controlled intensity: works that feel calm, grounded, and exact, with enough depth to live comfortably in homes, collections, and curated spaces for many years.
Learning & Mentoring
SUNARTCAFE also functions as a learning space for those who want to strengthen their artistic foundations with clarity and structure. The learning wing includes:
• Fundamental drawing and painting training – line, proportion, perspective, value, colour, and composition.
• Short courses and workshops – focused modules that build specific skills step by step.
• Mentoring for serious learners – guidance for students, emerging artists, and professionals who want to refine their practice or portfolio.
The teaching approach is methodical and practice-based:
• Emphasis on observation, repetition, and process.
• Clear demonstrations and explanations rather than vague inspiration.
• Long-term development over shortcuts, trends, or temporary “hacks.”
SUNARTCAFE’s teaching is shaped by years of studio work and university-level experience, with a strong belief that solid foundations give artists freedom later—in style, career choices, and personal direction.
Services & Collaborations
Beyond studio work and teaching, SUNARTCAFE offers art consulting and bespoke projects, including:
• Commissions for individuals, families, collectors, and designers.
• Custom artworks that respond to a specific space, story, or brief.
• Collaborations with institutions, galleries, and brands where fine art, design, and storytelling need to work together.
Every project is approached with:
• Careful listening and clear understanding of context.
• Practical planning of timelines, budgets, and logistics.
• Professional execution, from the first sketch to the final delivery.
The goal is to create work that feels personally meaningful to the client while still staying true to SUNARTCAFE’s aesthetic and standards.
Vision & Long-Term Direction
SUNARTCAFE is being built with a deliberate, long-range vision. Rather than rapid expansion, the focus is on steady, well-timed growth—allowing the studio to mature in depth and quality.
Over the coming years, SUNARTCAFE aims to:
• Strengthen its position as a reliable fine art studio and learning platform in the UAE.
• Develop curated workshops, talks, and small exhibitions that connect serious learners, collectors, and fellow artists.
• Collaborate with institutions, galleries, and cultural organisations that value disciplined craft and thoughtful realism.
• Evolve into a dedicated studio and learning hub: a stable, carefully designed space where teaching, creation, and collaboration can happen under one roof.
The guiding values behind this vision are stability, integrity, and quiet strength. SUNARTCAFE is shaped to grow in its own time—grounded, consistent, and prepared for long-term work rather than short-lived visibility.
SUNARTCAFE | Fine Art Studio & Learning – Dubai
Together in Art.