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 

16"x12"

This portrait is based on a photograph by my friend Vikram. I did it in pencil also but liked it enough to try watercolors! Have a great weekend.

Watercolor study

Old Lady with Red Hat

14"x11"

I am getting a little rusty, after a long time spent without painting...life feels empty even as I am busy with a lot of things..just because there has been no painting!

This is a study to begin all over again...I hope you all are doing good...

Restless

Restless, watercolor and pastels on paper

12"x 14"

I am posting after a long time today and its not in a very cheerful state of mind.This Saturday I received a very sad news of a dear friend having died untimely in a road accident.I painted to divert my mind and to ward off the tears that evening.They still threaten to roll down, every now and then , as I think of him.I had known him for 20 years.I would describe him as a restless soul, naive,a man-child,trying to fit in the world as it outsmarted him in so many ways.He couldn't achieve what he aspired for and many people considered him a loser.Not everyone gets the golden pot at the end of the rainbow.I liked him despite all those flaws and he cared about me.Thats all I know.I want to remember him as the friend who would lighten up my evening whenever we met, who would laugh and sing songs that he wrote himself. 

May be he is better off in another world..

Thanks for listening.

Shades of Gray

Watercolor on paper

9"x12"

A magnificent animal painted in some interesting hues.. my way of relaxation.

Twin Trees in Pastels

Pastels on paper

10"x14"

The struggle with pastels continues....I like the textures and bright colours, not to mention the freedom that comes with this medium.I know the results are not very dynamic as yet- but I like this medium enough to keep trying.I did this one on watercolor paper with  acrylic underpainting of dark blue.A few more trials and if I get some good results, I may be tempted to invest in expensive pastel paper and more shades.

Any tips and suggestions from those who work in pastels are welcome

Have a great Sunday and Happy Halloween...

The Blue Door

"The Blue Door"

Watercolor 

11"x15"

Latest watercolor work.I saw this old wooden door on my last trip to Rishikesh.The paint was peeling-I couldn't decide which color was used to cover the other!The door was also modified and cut on the bottom to adjust with the slope of the ground.It was a modest dwelling with moss covered walls but an artist's eye can spot beauty in strange places....Don't you agree? Have a great Sunday.

Life in Pastel

Soft Pastels on Gray Tinted Paper

15"x22"

It started out as a black and white charcoal sketch on a gray paper....First I put charcoal in dark areas but when I tried putting highlights in white, she looked like a ghost!Hastily I took out my box of pastels to rescue her and after an hour or so covered her in color!At least she looked presentable :) What do you think?

I have used a painterly approach this time, almost like an oil painting.

I would call this my maiden attempt at portrait in soft pastels...still getting to know them!

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.

WIP

After not being able to paint for almost a month...this is the work in progress that I have started recently.An aged woman from my old Rishikesh pictures.In my hometown, local people come to the banks of the river Ganga to meditate or to pay respect.Its a daily ritual for some of them.This woman was also following her ritual- I clicked her as she sat resting under a tree afterwards.

I have decided to paint big, and add the background also.Will keep you posted!

Have a great weekend..

Watercolor 15"x22''

Opening Evening_ Art Show

We had a great opening of the show with so many people attending.I had dragged my son Arjun this time,along with my husband; (with a promise of Pizza party afterwards) He got bored very soon and I had to leave early.Next time I am not taking him!Husband is more accommodating, he cancelled his golf for my exhibition ;)
Here are some pics for you:

Back in Basingstoke

I am back from my vacation to India.It was great meeting all the friends and family; but it was also exhausting.We pretty much ate out every day, kept running around to meet each and everyone and finally I was glad to be back to the peace of my home!......
On 6th September my son turns 13 ( you know teen-age has arrived when they start treating you like retards) We had been assigned to buy a new phone for him as a birthday gift; but it is proving to be a herculean task (we decided to change the provider).Numerous trips to the shop/ wasted phone calls and still no phone! Son is annoyed that his parents are not clever enough to buy him a gift on time!....Lets hope we manage to seal the deal this evening ;)
My Group Show starts on the same day; two of my works are being displayed in the exhibition which will run till 29th September.I am so glad to be a part of this community.Will post the pictures on Thursday, for all those who can not attend.Opening is on 6th, at 6.30 in the evening.
Add to this a sleepover of my son's friends on Friday at our place and a visit by my husbands' friend on Saturday; and my hands are literally full!
I hope all of you have been doing well, give me some more time to visit you individually :)

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.

A Window to the World

                                                                           12"x16"
                                                                   Watercolor on Paper
I have been busy -I think I will post a few paintings before I go...This was done from a photo taken by my friend while on his recent trip to Leh, (India)A young Monk stares out of his window; who knows what goes through his mind...

As much as I would like to paint all day, I won't be able to do it for the rest of this month.I will be leaving on a vacation to India soon.But before leaving, I have to submit some artworks  for an upcoming exhibition of my Art Club in September!( I need time to improve my paintings but the exhibitions are cropping up so fast)...I need to prepare at least two more paintings for selection in this week.
Its tough to work when you feel pressured to deliver...but I shouldn't be complaining- the Art Centre's director personally asked me to submit my work before I leave- he wants my work to be in the exhibition..... that's an honor!
I guess these are little perks of living in a small town...I love you, Basingstoke!

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?

Value Study

This is a value study in Payne's Gray.My first attempt,to be honest.I have read so much about the importance  of value study but never really did it.This weekend I loaned Charles Reid's " Watercolor Solutions".Now I loaned this book about an year ago, too.But at that time it did not inspire me as much as it did this time.So whats the good news here? I am progressing!...Charles has a great style and I would love to be able to paint in the same loose, uninhabited way,some day.The most important thing that I need to learn right now is how to lose some edges and how to find some!There are not going to be any lines and boundaries in these studies, just the mass,the value! I will be doing more tomorrow, keep watching!

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!