After joining the Government College of Art and Craft at Kolkata in 1950, Kar formed a group called The Artist's Circle. He began experimenting with etching in the early 60s and engraved on wood blocks, ply wood, sun mica and even card board. He is recognized as an innovative and sensitive printmaker, especially in wood intaglios. His figurations have a lyrical quality and a dreamlike mood pervades his work. It is his ability to play with textures that gives him an edge and mastery over his craft. The shimmering colours, grainy, mottled surfaces simply create a visual magic that never fails to enthrall the viewer. He has had solo shows in Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Besides, he participated in Tokyo Biennale in 1976, Festival of India, Takaoka Municipal Museum and Meguro Museum of Art, Japan in 1988, Bengal Foundation at Dhaka in 1999. In 2000 he had his retrospective at Kolkata. His works are kept as a collection with Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, Punjab University Museum, Patiala, and several private collectors. He was conferred the International Print Exhibition Award, AIFACS, New Delhi in the year 1978, 84, and 92. Shiromani Puraskar was given in the year 1996 and Kala Vibhushan in 1997.