Good Bye - 2015...

The Journey - 2015

As the year 2015 comes to a close in just few hours, I thought I would end this year with a fast sketch. Once again, my picture-collection-treasure-box became the source of inspiration for my last Art work of this year.

This year also has been a wonderful Art Journey year for me. To depict this journey, I chose to do a sketch of this train going through beautiful mountains. Like a train journey takes us through many stations, life journey takes us through many years in life-time. Each year comes in bringing new hopes, new surprises and leaves us with many memories. As the life journey goes on, we keep collecting memories from each year and cherish those in coming years.

In any journey, we come across new people. We make friends of some. Some, just come and go. I met many wonderful people along this year's Art Journey. Everyone who looks at my Art and expresses their opinion by saying something, takes part in this journey. Some leave me with many Artful memories. I always look back into my past to cherish every such fine moment.

2015 is an exceptional year for me and my Art. With my heart heavily filled with memories, I have to say "Good Bye" now to 2015.

Like many years, I always remember this year!

Good Bye 2015!

Happy painting!

My last Art before saying "Good Bye - 2015"

Details
Inspiration: Random Picture from my Collection
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen and Watercolors on Paper
Surface: Utrecht Smooth Surface Acid Free Paper

Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Classic Art...

Indian Classical Dance - A Sketch

Practice is the only way to improve any skill. Art becomes Classic when it reaches the highest in it's quality and standards. Indian Classical Dance is the best example of such Art.

Practice the skill you have and make it reach "Classic"...

Happy Painting!

Indian Classical Dance - A Sketch in progress

Details
Inspiration: Random Picture from my Collection
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen and Watercolors on Paper
Surface: Heavyweight (80#) Sketching Paper

Size: 11" x 81/2" (28 cm x 21.5 cm)

Sketching to learn...

A Sketch

Sketching is a quick way of visualizing. For Artists, it is a way of quickly studying the subject.

Happy Sketching and Happy Painting!

Details
Inspiration: Random Picture from my Collection
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen and Watercolors on Paper
Surface: Utrecht Smooth Surface Acid Free Paper

Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Looking Back 2015 - another Artful year in my life...

Looking Back - 2015

As the year 2015 comes to an end, to soon become the past in life, I look back into it with my Heart filled with Art.

The year 2015- is yet another Artful year for me. My watercolor exploration continued at it's fastest pace ever cruising into the new year with the first painting done on a Cruise-Ship during my Christmas vacation. I am glad that I took couple of hours away from my busy time for Painting on the Cruise-Ship, leaving my memories mixed with my Art and no scope for regrets.

Looking Back - 2015

Subjects:
I chose various subjects for my paintings ranging from some of my passionate subjects like Portraits, Indian Classical Dance & Hindu Temples through Landscapes & Birds, to even some of my bucket-list specifics.

New Art Mediums:
Also, this is the year, that I can proudly mark in my life by saying- "Yes, I got into my dream medium of Art- Oil Painting" by successfully finishing a couple of Oil Paintings.

Competitions:
I participated in TANA 2015 Art competitions held in Detroit by submitting three of my Watercolor Paintings as entries and all three making into finals and one winning a Prize. This is the first ever Cash prize that my Arts were awarded with.

Looking Back - 2015

Art Exhibits:
This year also I have had a participation in couple of Art Exhibits in Sharon town.

Specials & Surprises:
The opportunity that I got to do four sketches for "Tripaadi Ganga Dance Ballet" by Sailaja garu and her students from Kuchipudi Natyalaya was a very special honor happened to my Arts. And, one of my college-days-drawings of Bhanupriya appearing on TV9 left me with a very pleasant surprise.

All in all, it's been another artful year, which when I look back, makes me feel proud of my efforts in Arts. I learned many lessons along the path. If life is treated as a book, every chapter in it is a lesson. When we closed a chapter, we learned a lesson. When we open a new chapter, we are ready for new learnings. Keep learning from lessons that life goes on teaching!

I am looking forward to another colorful, beautiful, artful and heartful learnings from a new chapter in another New Year.

Thanks to all who give me energies!

Happy Painting!

Happy, Safe & Healthy Holidays!

Morning sketching...

It's always very refreshing, doing some sketches on a Saturday morning after a busy week.

Details
Mediums: Staedtler 0.3mm Ink pen Prisma Color Brusk Tip Markers with a touch of watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (14 cm x 22 cm)

Surface: Acid Free paper

When Art meets Art...

 Ganga Kuchipudi Dance with Ganga Art backdrop

Yesterday evening was a memorable experience for me watching the Magnificent Kuchipui Dance Ballet Tripaadi Ganga choreographed, directed and performed by Sailaja Tummala garu with her dance school students at the Collins Center for Performing Arts, Andover, MA organized by World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Sri Kuchipudi Natyalaya.

It was a delighting experience seeing my Art as the backdrop on the stage during this two-and-half-hour long wonderful ballet on the concept of different forms of Ganga - Sweeya, Parakeeya and Saamaanya, beautifully narrated and depicted on the stage through Kuchipudi Dance.

Following are the three sketches done for introducing those three forms:

Sweeya - A woman who loves, marries and lives with one for life

Parakeeya - Marries one but loves another

Saamaanya - One who can be with many

Indian Classical Dance has been one of the subjects that I have been doing series of paintings in both Watercolors and Oil colors. I admire this divine form of Art so much and always get inspired by it. I am truly honored to get this opportunity to do few sketches for this beautiful Kuchipudi Dance Ballet that depicted Ganga in three forms from 1) Born for Lord Shiva (Sweeya) to 2) Living with King Shantanu (Parakeeya) due to Bramha's Curse and 3) Reaching millions of people in India now who live and depend on it's water for daily living.

Many Thanks to Sailaja garu for giving me this opportunity and I was humbled by her words when she mentioned my name and my Art at the end of the show. Not only a wonderful Kuchipudi dancer, she is very inspirational speaker. I am also thankful to Radha Jaldu for introducing me and my Art to Sailaja garu. I am even more inspired now.

It was an evening very well spent and I cherish all those moments and the wonderful experience forever.

---
Some more moments captured:

Sketches...

Did some sketches for a Dance Ballet in Boston showing three shades of a woman.

Details
Mediums: Ink
Size: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 cm x 22 cm)

Surface: Strathmore Smooth Briston 100lb (270 g/m) paper

Ink and Imagination...

After a long-time, just tried some imagination with ink and color.

Ink on Paper

Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Details
Mediums: Ink (Staedtler 0.3mm ink pen) and Watercolors
Size: 11" x 17" (28 cm x 43 cm)

Surface: Strathmore Smooth Briston 100lb (270 g/m) paper

Annual Community Art Show...

I am happy to be part of this year's "Lakeside Gallery - Annual Community Art Show" at the Lakeside Gallery, Sharon, MA from Nov 18, 2015 - Jan 13, 2016.

Reception: November 18th - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Address:
    Sharon Community Center
    219 Massapoag Ave
    Sharon, MA 02067
    USA

The following two of my paintings will be on display along with other local Artists' Art works. Both the paintings are for sale if anybody is interested to collect.

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Title: Lord Krishna

Size: 24" x 30" (62 cm x 76 cm)

Details
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Title: Hindu Temple

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Proud moments...

My Drawing on Telugu TV - tv9

I was watching tv9 - Telugu tv last night and there was a program about ShantiPriya. To my pleasant surprise, I saw my Art in there. They used one of my Drawings that I did in my college days. That was originally the drawing of Bhanupriya. I felt happy to see my Art on TV.

Those days that I did many of Bhanupriya's portraits are still fresh in my memory. This one is based on a picture from a Filmfare magazine that I bought on the footpaths in Vijayawada at the Alankar Center on a Sunday evening where there used to be a big sale of old books and magazines.

Here is the original one. I have it framed and seen in my Drawing room. I proudly said many times to many people that I did this one straight with Ballpoint Pen. Now it makes me feel prouder.

Portrait of Bhanupriya

Details
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen
Title: Bhanupriya
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: Photograph from Filmfare magazine

Size: 4" x 6" (11 cm x 16 cm)
Signed and Dated: Sep 19, 1988

Once again, putting my Soul on Canvas...

Sketch for an Oil Painting

Drawing and sketching is the foundation for Painting!
In my belief, a good-start should lead to a good-finish!

Looking forward for another wonderful experience with the richest of all painting media- Oil Painting. This is the biggest in size that I've ever attempted. Hoping to get all the finest of the finest details in this attempt. Once again, I am putting my Soul on Canvas...

Happy Painting.....Art is my Soul!

As this Painting progresses, I also make a progress!
Enjoying my deep presence with it...

Stage-1

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Size: 24" x 36" (60.9 cm x 91.4 cm)

Lord Krishna...

Lord Krishna

From my wish-list, I chose Lord Krishna as the subject for my second Oil Painting. Working through the Painting for few weeks, I enjoyed blue colors, all over. Not only just how to paint, I am also learning the Art of Patience through this wonderful painting media. This is also the biggest in size of all the paintings I did so far. Unlike Watercolor Painting, at least for me, Oil Painting takes much longer time to finish.

I am glad that I could finish, sign and date this one.

Happy Painting ;)

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Title: Lord Krishna
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: My dream wish-list

Size: 24" x 30" (62 cm x 76 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Artist's Loft Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas
Paints: Rembrandt Artist's quality, Winsor and Newton Oil Paints
Brushes: No 1, 5 and 8 filbert, No. 1 rounded
Other Media: Winsor & Newton Liquin Original

My first Complete-attempt in Oil - Nātyānjali-10: A Tribute to Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali-10: Indian Classical Dance...

Oil Painting has been my dream and is the richest of all painting media. Though I made few attempts in the past, I never came this close to call any of my attempts a complete-attempt.

After gaining some experience with watercolor media lately, I felt like resuming my attempts with Oil Painting. Having done a series of watercolor paintings on few subjects, deciding on what to attempt for my first Oil Painting was a no-brainer for me and I chose my favorite subject - "Nātyānjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance". However, I wanted to do a Painting that can only be attempted in Oil and should also be a challenging.

A Painting in dark colors is something that I have in my wish-list for years. This is obviously something that I couldn't do in watercolors. I did one in the past with just "Indian Ink" though. This idea of 'a painting in dark colors' from my wish-list popped up again and put me into a challenging beginning of my journey with Oil Painting. I took it serious this time and worked on it solely for few weeks, awaiting patiently week-after-week for it to dry up little bit after each phase during the lengthy process of Oil Painting.

I am very happy with my first challenging-attempt of this Oil Painting that I can call - a complete-attempt. Now, I can proudly say, the journey of my soul has just begun on Canvas. Also, my impression of 'Oil Painting is easy' has began to fade and I began to believe that each media poses it's own challenges to the Artist.

In many aspects, it is a complete(d)-attempt and I am quite happy with my efforts and the result.

Happy Painting.
Experience all media to increase your visibility of Art and Artist!

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Title: Nātyānjali - My Tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: My dream wish-list and random pictures

Size: 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Artist's Loft Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas
Paints: Rembrandt Artist's quality Oil Paints
Brushes: No 1, 5 and 8 filbert, No. 1 rounded
Other Media: Winsor & Newton Liquin Original

Good Start...

Ganesh - Oil on Canvas - Sketch

As I was waiting for my other Paintings to dry up little bit, I wanted to get myself going with this wonderful journey of Oil Painting. So, I had to start a new one. From my dream-todo-list, next, Lord Ganesh went onto the canvas. It's just a one-hour under painting, but I like it so much as it almost looks like a finished one. I guess, here, my fast-paced Watercolor Painting skills helped me to work fast with three paintings in just few hours.

It's just the beginning. I know, I still have a long way to go. But, it's a good start. Looking forward for crossing many beautiful mile-stones along the way ;)

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Unless you stretch yourself...

Krishna - Oil on Canvas - Sketch

As I go through Oil Painting bit seriously this time, I learn the fact that I just cannot have one Painting started and get it going until I finish. It takes several weeks and even months before I get to finish one painting. After every stage, I need to wait at least few days for it to dry little bit before I continue to work.  Unlike watercolor, it is a very slow process.

As I am used to the fast pace of watercolor painting lately, I find it hard to slow down and wait patiently. So, I decided to have multiple paintings going on at the same time so that I can go at my desired speed switching from one to another, working on all in parallel. I might be highly ambitious with Oil Painting in the beginning itself, but...hey, unless I stretch myself, I don't know how far I can reach.... ;)

I will keep posting the progress here...

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Size: 24" x 30" (60.9 cm x 76.2 cm)

My Soul On Canvas...

Oil Painting - A Sketch - the very first step

Oil Painting - has been my dream for the longest period in my life. In the era of no(n)-internet, when I was working in Hyderabad, India, I tried all reachable resources: Books, Friends, City Central Library in Chikkadapally, Art stores etc. to get myself little educated with the material and the process of Oil Painting. But my efforts had no luck.

Though I tried Oil Painting almost 15 years ago when I was living in Chicago, I did not get into it seriously. Five years ago, I made another sincere attempt, but kept it aside and got more into  Watercolor Painting. Some of my friends even said I should revisit my blog title "My Soul On Canvas". Now, finally, I revisit it. I revisit my dream, with much more discipline, much more determination, much more sincerity and much more self-motivation-and-inspiration.

I learned the fact, the hard way: unlike Watercolor Painting, Oil Painting requires more time & effort. It is also often said that if one can do Watercolor Painting, Oil Painting should be easy. I am not entirely sure on that, but, I do believe, each one comes with it's own challenges.

After making my initial investments of my time, efforts and money to put my Soul On Canvas; with this Painting, I start putting my baby steps into it. Soon, I am hoping to learn how to walk first before I will try to run.

I sincerely believe in Sincere Efforts. This time, I will try to be more sincere than ever.
Efforts will never go waste...after all, at the end if we don't succeed, we at least learn.

Underpainting:

Stages:

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Size: 22" x 28" (55.8 cm x 71.1 cm)

A Tribute to one of the Greatest Indian Souls of our-times...

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam - A Great Visionary of our times

In memory of the greatest visionary of our times from India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam who will remain as a true meaning for great words of Achievement, Success and Humanity in life. His great words will continue to inspire people around the world forever.

"Birthday - the only day in your life...your mother smiled when you cried"

"Dream is not what you see in sleep, dream is something that does not let you sleep"

"When our signature changes to autograph, this marks the success"

"The best teacher is your last mistake"

"One best book is equal to hundred good friends, but one good friend is equal to a library"

I always enjoy...

Beautiful Indian Woman Hairstyle

TAKEN: $450

Whether it is a sketch, a drawing or a painting, I always enjoy doing hair in a Portrait. Whenever I do hair, I always recollect my college days of doing fine photograph-like hair in my drawings and paintings. Couple of Professional Artists and few of my college-friends used to compliment my works saying that I get hair done so nicely and so accurately.

Though I never did a Painting of just hair, in this Painting I challenged myself to see how I do it in a Watercolor Painting. I think, I could do it ;)

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Beautiful Indian Woman Hairstyle
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: Random Pictures

Size: 16" x 18" (40 cm x 46 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Artistico Fabriano Watercolor Paper, 140 lb Cold Press,

Paints: Daniel Smith Extrafine Quinacridone Purple, Red and Sienna, Winsor & Newton Neutral Tint , Opera Rose and Quinacridone Gold, and HWC Lavender

Brushes: Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 1, 3, 5 and RAPHEL Pure Squirrel Mop Brush (N0. 8)

My Best Friends...

My Best Friends

My Best Friends- a new set of Oil Paints and few Special Watercolor Paints have just arrived from BLICK.

I am excited to have these Art supplies bought with my first-ever-prize-money of winning an Art Competition conducted by TANA recently. This is a nice addition of Rembrandt Artists' Oil Paints and Daniel Smith Quinacridone Watercolors to my Art supplies.

My Art tools & supplies are my Best Friends. They make me learn, make me feel good, make me get better and better, make me feel proud, give me joy, forgive me if I do a mistake, and stay with me till the last drop of their life. They reciprocate the same care & love to me in the form of creating beautiful paintings. I can't wait for making my "Dreams come True" of doing some serious Oil Painting this summer.

I Love my Art tools & supplies, they will never make me go wrong!
Happy Painting ;)

TOP - Left to Right - Watercolors
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Quinacridone Red 15ml
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Quinacridone Purple 15ml
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Quinacridone Sienna 15ml

BOTTOM - Left to Right - Rembrandt Artists' Oil Paints

Rembrandt Oil Color - Titanium White (linseed) 40ml 

Rembrandt Oil Color - Indantherene Blue 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Cobalt Blue 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Cadmium Yellow Lemon 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Vermillion 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Olive Green 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Permanent Madder Brown 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Yellow Ochre 40ml
Rembrandt Oil Color - Burnt Umber 40ml

My Dad - My Hero...

My Dad - My Hero

It was my dream in my childhood to draw pictures like my Dad and to have a printed handwriting like his. I grew up observing couple of his drawings neatly framed, hanging on the walls of our new house that he designed and built as his dream house in our village. Also, I used to observe his handwriting so closely at times when I was learning how to write with hands. At that age, unknowingly, the dreams I used to have- "I wanted to be like my Dad", are still my dreams of today.

As his Son, he definitely would have had dreams of seeing me in many things that he never got an opportunity to be in his short-life. I was not even of that age to know about what his dreams were, what he wanted me to be and what he wanted to see in me as a grown up. All I know by hearing from other people was- He was a great person with many modern-human-thoughts about the society, a great Teacher helping poor students, a great Artist who didn't have enough life to fulfill his dreams. My Mom still says that he used to say, "A Dad should be like a Teacher to his kids when they are young and a Friend to them when they are grown ups".

The time I spent with my Dad in my dreams is even longer than the time I really spent with him in my life. I was very unfortunate to miss him from my life in my childhood. I only have a couple of years of my early-childhood-memories with him to cherish rest my life. I missed him being my Teacher and Friend in my life.

He was my "First Guru" who planted the "Seed of Art" in me. I feel, growing that seed of Art he planted in my heart with his Arts, is the way of respecting him. I never had any proud moment with him in my life seeing any of my successes in his eyes.

If at all there is another life, I wish my Dad will be my Dad in that life and be my Teacher and Friend for his full-life.

With all great respects, I remember "My Dad" - My Hero, in this Painting from my heart through the  passion he planted in me and the skill he passed on to me, on this "Father's Day".

Happy Father's Day!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Dad
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: My Dad and his loving memories I cherish in my life

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Artistico Fabriano Watercolor Paper, 140 lb Cold Press,

Paints: All colors form my Palette

Brushes: Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 1, 3, 5 and RAPHEL Pure Squirrel Mop Brush (N0. 8)

Lonely Bird...

Lonely Bird - GIFTED

An unplanned and casual Painting of a Lonely Bird.

Practice never goes waste...keep practicing!

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Lonely Bird
Category: Nature- Birds
Inspiration:

Size: 12" x 18" (30 cm x 46 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Arches Watercolor Block, smooth surface, 140 lb Cold Press,

Paints: All colors form my Palette

Brushes: Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 1, 3 and 5