Portrait Painting

12x9

It has been a long time since I painted a portrait in watercolor.This was from a TV grab, I was watching a documentary on Namib Desert.It had a lot of dark skinned African people and elephants- both my favorites.I am also working on an elephant -also from a TV grab from same source.They looked so beautiful on screen- I hope I can bring out the magic on paper,too.

Last week had been counter productive- I worked very hard on a commissioned double portrait in pastels but in the end the client simply didn't like it... I chose to refund her deposit and keep the portrait.Rejection hurts but we have to take it in our stride.Well, another experience gained.

After the elephant I will start a pastel portrait of Lala, the friend who passed away recently.My husband wants to gift it to her father.So do I.

Portrait of a Pretty Girl in Funky Sunglasses

17"x 14" 

A portrait after a long time.This is a friend of my husband and the reference picture was taken at a charity event on a gloriously sunny day as she stood texting away! I had tried a new paper- ''Fabriano Artistico'' for this and though I liked the paper in general; it was difficult to control the paint on large areas...or may be its just me-- I am just not patient enough!:)

Anyway, I am thinking of submitting this one to an upcoming exhibition where the theme is 'recreation'.Texting can be counted as 'recreational activity' ..right?

Spellbound-Watercolor Portrait

watercolor 6"x6"

This morning's work.I am trying to work on darker skin tones...

Senior citizen

Watercolor 7"x 5"

Did some watercolor painting today.I painted two little portraits, one of this aged gentleman whom I captured accidentally, as he sat on the same bench as my son as I clicked the picture...Since he was in the background, the image was blurry; but perfect for a loose watercolor! Same goes with a little blond boy I captured in the park.I will post that one later...These are very small paintings, I rarely paint this size- but I thoroughly enjoyed myself :) 

Oh and I forgot to post my maiden effort at still life:

Watercolor 6"x5"

Blues..Once In a While

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 watercolor on paper , 12"x9"

The Sketch

A practice sketch - I have used a light weight paper for this one and completed it in about half an hour.
I was trying to see if the quality / thickness of the paper made any difference...My conclusion? Once you master your trade, paper will cease to matter - till then, its practice, practice, practice!
 14"X10" 110 lb watercolor paper

Back to Aquarelle

I have tried to achieve the vibrancy of oils through watercolors in this painting.
watercolor on paper, 16"x12"

Happy Birthday Sis

A watercolor of my sister Deepti, who celebrates her birthday today. Its tough to capture people in lines and colors if you know them closely , but I have given it a try...Just hope she likes it!
The tilt of head is her 'trademark' trait:) so is her smile.
Happy Birthday, Sis!

Spiritual_2

Another portrait in Rishikesh series..a sanyasi basking in the winter morning sun ....
watercolor 16"x12"

Spiritual

This was done from a photo that my husband took on our recent trip to Rishikesh, a spiritual Indian town, also my birth place and hometown. My husband took a lot of pictures here , in the early morning sun.It was a time for prayers and meditation. This lady was also busy reading her holy book. She is wearing sffron robs, a color of spirituality, sacrifice and salvation.

The scene around here in the early morning looks very serene with lots of sadhus meditating and praying .
I always love quietly sitting on the ghats or roaming at the riverbank ; its immensely peaceful here. Ganga , or the Ganges, as it is globally called; is purest at this juncture, just flowing down from hills of Himalaya.

watercolor on 16"x10" paper

Youth

This is Meghna, younger sister of my husband.Very vivacious, very charming, always ready to help! She is very fond of posing and loves being clicked....So last time she visited, I took this picture and promised her that I would paint her portrait very soon....I am going to give it to her on Diwali! I think it would make her happy!

I am a little worried about likeness factor..what's your take?

Water colors A3 ( 42cmX30cm) cold pressed 140 lb paper

Kenzie

This is the grand daughter of a dear fellow blogger Sandy . You can see the original photo at her blog.The girl is beautiful and looks like an angel...so I asked Sandy if I could paint her and she agreed --that was very nice of her....So here it goes.I hope Sandy likes it!
Water colors on 200lb paper
10"X14"

She

A watercolor study of female face..12"x9"

Innocence.....again

Innocence sleeps on the
dreaming eyelids of a toddling child
so nascent so fresh
as the drooling dews
on a quivering grass blades
the first morning of cool winter
smiles innocuously.
(courtesy: Tarapada Mohapatra )
A child is an irresistible subject...watercolor study.
9"x12" cold pressed Winsor and Newton paper

Girl in Pink

This is Sneha, the 3 year old daughter of our friends in Reading..a happy child with a sunny smile and sparkling eyes!...
Like all girls of her age , she also loves pink.I complimented her pink flowery dress with a little pink in background, instread of usual brick red.
Watercolors on Winsor and Newton watercolor paper ( 300gsm/140lb) Cold Pressed.
30cmX22cm

IPL captain 6

Yuvraj Singh, the handsome and dashing captain of Kings XI Punjab. To read more about IPL or see these portraits online, Kindly click on http://www.iplnewsonline.com/default_english.aspx
This is same as in series, water color on paper, processed in photoshop. 5"X6"