Pastel Portrait_ Woman in Lemon Shawl

I saw this woman in Rishikesh on my last trip to India earlier this year.She was one among many who flock the banks of river Ganga, seeking peace and embracing spirituality. She was not beautiful in a traditional sense but I liked her weather beaten face and world weary expression.

Woman in Lemon Shawl

Pastel on Pastel Mat 48x34 cm

About a week and a lot of effort was spent on this portrait. I used layer upon layer of pastel pencils to create smooth skin textures. The goal was to create a life like portrait. It was a disappointing moment when I learned that it was rejected by Federation of British Artists for their upcoming Pastel Painters exhibition in London.I was in fact quite hopeful for it.
This is my second rejection from this body and now I don't feel like entering anymore.May be I don't have what they are looking for. A friend suggested that I visit the exhibition to see what kind of work gets selected; but I have my doubts - should I be painting what the judges like to see, or should I follow my heart? I don't know.

In Search

Watercolor on Saunders Waterford CP paper

20''x13''

I have often felt guilty about abandoning my portraits.Well, this is just an effort to get back into the groove.I love to paint people's portrait but lately it has been kind of difficult to find subjects or willing models as everyone is so busy! I hope to get some new material on my next visit to India.Folk over there,especially in my hometown Rishikesh; seem to prefer a slower pace of life.The place is full of spiritual people who would spend hours on the banks of river Ganga, just meditating. This old man was offering his prayers at the river,too.He obliged very kindly when asked for a few pictures.This painting has turned out well so I plan to paint him at least once more, in a different profile.

The Hermit _ Sold

18"x24"

Soft Pastels on Pastelmat

SOLD

I am happy to share this piece of news with you all.This Hermit from India is going to a UK household today.

Frankly speaking, I never thought it would...It is a very peculiar subject ;and not many people would buy portraits that are not their own/family.

But yesterday the CEO of my husband's firm asked to buy it when he saw it at 'FineArtAmerica' website.

So I think I sold my first portrait today which is not a commission! 

Devotee Revisited

                                                                 Pastels on Pastelmat
                                                                          16"x20"
This is hermit from India was my first subject in my pastel portrait journey.Though the first one was appreciated, but as it was on a lower quality paper I was not very happy with the outcome.I have tried to do it differently again,this time I used pastelmat to get as much detail as I want.
Perhaps I went too ambitious with the size -50x70 cm( what you see here is the cropped version) .. in the end it looked unnecessary- I cropped it to publish.
What I am trying to achieve with my pastel work is the happy combination of realism and impressionism.I want my portraits to look as real as possible but not like a photograph.They must have a character of their own.I would leave it to you to decide if I have succeeded...
Have a great weekend, all of you.

Devotee

Charcoal and pastel on toned paper

12"x16"

Glad to share another drawing with charcoal and pastel pencils.Intended to be monochromatic but I could not resist some color and ended up doing a colored drawing instead of a tonal sketch.I must say I am getting the hang of my pastel pencils after all.I am loving building up the color stroke by stroke..just like oil paints.One more thing I like about this medium- I can use white for highlights!So much fun after watercolors' worry about leaving the paper white for highlights.

Please do let me know what do you think of this effort.

Winter Sun

22"x 15"

This week I found some old issues of International Artist Magazine at my Art Club. Among some others greats,there was an article about Joseph Fettingis .I loved this artist's style! Inspired by his art, I came up with this piece.It is slightly bolder than my usual style, isn't it? I have tried to loosen up and 'leave something to the imagination of the viewer'..(though not quite there,yet)!I am trying to find a style which actually works for me.I would love to hear your opinions on the matter :)

BTW, this was created from an old photo from my India trip.In UK, sunlight seems to be a luxury..so I don't get to click good reference pictures that often for my watercolors.I needed sharp sunlight for this kind of portrait, so I dug it out from my archives.

Have a great weekend!!

Watercolor Portrait

  Watercolor on cold pressed paper

11"x15"

An artwork I did to break the monotony of the past few days...I am busy in some animation work ( It gives me a stiff neck but I still do it because it pays for my art supplies;) ) It will be going on for another week or so- but I missed painting so much that I stole a few hours on Saturday and painted this young man from India.It felt so good!....I have painted it big this time, only the face takes up the entire 11"x15" area.

Hope you all like him,too.

Monochromatic Portrait Study

Payne's Grey Value Study

12"x9"

This monotone watercolor study was painted in an hour's time.Reference picture was an archive one , a street vendor from India.His rugged features depict the tough life he leads.This was a quick one;I may sketch him again in graphite- at some point.

Wrinkled- Pencil Portrait of an Old Man

Pencil on Paper

17"x11" Strathmore Bristol Paper

This is the drawing I have been working on since last week.It took me about 16 hours of work, but I enjoyed every hour!The reference picture was taken about 3 years ago, in my hometown Rishikesh, which is  a spiritual town of India.There are many,many of them, like this old man here, sitting around on the banks of the Ganges river; spending their time in a blissful inertia.

Colors of HOLI

Today we celebrate a festival of colors and fun...Holi. Holi is celebrated to welcome spring and it is marked by the spirit of pure fun and enjoyment.People go out and meet each other, sprinkle colors and put Gulal on each other, share sweets and have lots of fun on this day.
Arjun, drenched in colors, poses with a friend,who looked like an angel...she was named Angel,too!