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.

Old Man with a Praying Wheel

Old Man with a Praying Wheel

Watercolor on Paper, 12"x9"

I have decided to work more on my watercolor.So far the dilemma has been, 'how much detail?' For the time being, I will be going with detail.Lets see if the realism suits my temperament.I have put in some effort here with the detail, considering that its a relatively small artwork.I think I will be working more on some smaller but more detailed work in near future- though I am not ruling out the pastels as yet.
Its a Pilgrim from Ladakh region of India spinning a prayer wheel. These hand held praying wheels are used by Buddhists of Tibet, Nepal and Ladakh. It is a metal cylinder containing a tightly wound scroll printed with a mantra.It is believed that spinning a prayer wheel is just as effective as reciting the sacred texts aloud.
Reference picture was provided by a friend who visited the region some time ago.
I welcome any comments and suggestion, as always.

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!!

Nostalgia

Watercolor 

15"x 22"

Another one in a bigger dimensions. In fact I am liking this size - bigger IS better(though framing these would be a costly affair). This is a portrait of a friend's grand mother. I have met her many times and I just love her face.She must be in her late eighties- but doesn't look her age. I am fortunate that my friend is a photographer and allows me to use some really nice shots of her to paint!

'Venerable' -Portrait of a Friend's Mom

9"x12"

watercolor on paper

This is a watercolor sketch of my blogger friend Liz Holms' mom.This elegant lady suffers from Alzheimer,and Liz has been taking care of her for as long as I know her.I have always admired both of these ladies; its been a while since I asked Liz if I could paint her ( since Liz is a terrific painter herself, it felt awkward) but she obliged very graciously...this is just a sketch that I did on a 90 lb paper- I wanted to prepare for a bigger painting- but it turned out so well that I am sharing it here with all of you.As you can see, I have tried a different palette this time, ditching my usual yellow and blue!

Innocence2

watercolor, 10"x7"

Somehow I can not come up with the title other than "innocence" when its a small child !They have this expression oozing out of their lovely faces.This is my niece Diva, daughter of my younger brother.She was 8 months old when I took this picture.Now she has completed her first year, but the 'innocence'  still sits there, nice and pretty! My brother had been asking for her portrait for quite sometime, so in a way, it was overdue :)

This was painted earlier this month, I am posting it today as a filler because currently am working on a pencil drawing, which will take up another week of my time...( 11 hours so far and its still 1/3 complete!) I can finish a watercolor within 2-3 hours but pencil work involves a lot of detail work.Its a pity that I can't work on that as much as I would because my elbow and shoulder muscles start hurting after a few sessions. IS it called 'Artists's elbow"?!

Portrait of a Friend

Watercolor on paper

This is a friend and ex-colleague of my husband who had been visiting us from India last week.She had beautiful big eyes and I tried to highlight the fact while taking her pictures.I painted this from a picture that I took in the glorious daylight, though I painted it at night :) But the next day was not so sunny and when I photographed the painting it came out rather dull and flat - so I had to resort to using digital media to rectify it.(Should I call it 'Mix media' now?!)

I have been rather busy lately, working on the next New Year calendar for my sister's company as well as on my ongoing animation project.It will keep me busy for the rest of December, I guess.But I will keep popping in time to time..though not as active on blogosphere as I should be.

Wish you all Happy Holidays!

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.

"Unwind" completed

Watercolor on 600gsm paper

15"x22''

This painting has taken about nine hours to complete, spread over 3-4 days.

I was not sure what was I going to do when I started out; paper was big and this picture had a background which was integrated with the main subject.I don't usually paint the backgrounds in detail .After much deliberation, I decided to go with my instinct- painting almost everything I saw.
I think it looks rather nice as a whole scene; what's your take?

For my friends who are not familiar with Indian customs; this old lady is wearing a saree ; a traditional Indian attire.A Saree is basically an unstitched piece of cloth of about 5 meters in length which is draped around the body in various styles.Its very elegant dress and I also wear it on occasions.Younger women will wear stylish, decorative, embroided or printed ones.What this lady is wearing is a simple version- a plain cotton one which isa comfortable daily wear.The color is also significant.Saffron color is a symbol of  devotion and sacrifice.This woman is among the hundreds who have come to Rishikesh to spend their twilight years, leaving their families behind...Thus you often see this color in my paintings of sages and devotees from Rishikesh.
Hope that helps in understanding this painting.

Autumn of Life- Portrait of an Elderly Indian Woman

                                                            Watercolor on Paper
                                                                  16"x12"
I have worked on my instinct this time, using dry brush more than wet here.This portrait took me about five hours, in two sitting.There were a lot of details in her face which I wanted to capture.I guess it has come out good and I am going to submit this one for the Art Show.
This will also be my last post this month, I am off to India tomorrow...
See you all in a few weeks' time.

Self Portrait

I was not really serious when I started this,but it looked decent enough to share in the end....It was painted in Raw Sienna ( I spent half of my tube!) Each color behaves in a different manner.So I guess there will be more studies, each in different color.It would be a good exercise, don't you think?

Everyday Art_Portrait

I10"x7"

I did this one after the little boy below...I felt I was going with colors too strong!And, I am so much in love with the 1.1/4 inch flat brush that I bought a few days ago.I loved painting the background in bold strokes with that.It was like painting in oils....I miss my oil colors....!Hopefully some day I am going to find a space where I can spread my oil colors and my canvas, painting on my dining table is not much fun!

Manu _ Revisited

I have been into 'experiment mode' lately.Usually I like my watercolors to be quick and spontaneous, but I was wondering if I was missing something. May be working more patiently and with layers would produce better results? So I gave it a try.Susan Harrison does realistic watercolors and she suggests a method that involves working in sections and 'priming' the paper every time."Priming' here means giving a double wash of clear water everytime you put a color wash in an area.Then letting the paper dry completely before putting colors in it again..Well the task was daunting to me, being an impatient one, but I wanted to see if the colors are absorbed more in this way, as Susan suggests.
I found out that going the whole way was not possible for me as I lost patience after putting two washes on her face.Than I reverted back to my own style to create details in her face, wet in wet.I painted the hair in my style, in one go, combining wet and dry brush.
Results? The colors do get absorbed more of you prime the paper again and again.It wont be lifted easily.But really I can't wait for the paper to dry after every wash! I think its better to combine both methods and create a new one :)
This is my niece Manu, an old photo of her.I have painted it before; even made a pencil portrait of it.But she is so beautiful,I am never tired of painting her!
Watercolor 14"x10"

Sydney

Some more practice...this is Sydney- the beautiful little daughter of my husband's friend; looking happy as she sits in her pillow bunker surrounded by countless pillows!.. Incidentally, Sydney is expecting a baby brother very soon, and I will be having a new model - depends on whether her mom likes this portrait !
Watercolour on paper, 14"x10"

ArtEveryday_6

I know I am very much off-target! No paintings in whole week that has gone by.Actually I did some dabbling but nothing was good enough to post.Plus I had an animation assignment which took up most of my time.The quick watercolor sketch above is of Adora.I can call it a commissioned portrait as her father asked to me to do it for her blog .He got her at the age of 56 and now he has devoted and entire blog to put her daily portraits done by various artists in their individual styles! You can check out this blog to get the whole story!my theme was 'Adora in Indian Saree' and the dad likes it very much!He will be posting is soon.
So this is my work of yesterday, now I am going to splash some paint again ( having spent a small fortune on my art supplies this morning)
Have a great weekend, you all....