Don't know what to do...

 

Indian Classical Dance

Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

Sometimes, we get into the state of "don't know what to do, but want to do something". Not knowing that something is what gives an opportunity to explore. There is always something to explore. Never stop exploring your skill and see what more you can do with it.

"Sometimes, not knowing what you're doing allows you to do things you never knew you could do."

~ Nell Scovell

Details 

Reference: A dance video of Karronya

Mediums: Watercolors on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

Children are Masters of the magic - Smile...

"The pleasing magic of Smile"

Portrait of Baby Karronya 

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")

Smile is a pleasing magic. It creates a pleasing moment not just for the person who wears it, but also to everyone around. It multiplies instantly and comes back. There is no greater magic than what a smile does. Just smile even when you are alone and see how your body and soul reflects it back to you.

Children are Masters of the magic - Smile. They recreate the world around you with this magic!

Keep going with Smile!

Keep doing the Magic!!

Giving Thanks also is a magic, not all can give as good as some do.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Children reinvent your world for you." ~ Susan Sarandon

Details 

Title: The pleasing magic of Smile...

Reference: Picture of Baby Karronya

Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

విజేత...

Portrait of Megastar Chiranjeevi   

Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

కష్టపడితే ఎంచుకున్న దారి ఎంత కఠినమైనా ఎదగొచ్చనీ

ఎదిగేకొద్దీ ఒదిగి ఉండటమే ఆ కష్టానికిచ్చే గౌరవం అనీ

చెప్పకనే తన విజయాల బాటలో చాటి చెప్పిన "విజేత"

ఒక్కొక్క మెట్టూ "స్వయంకృషి" తో ఎక్కిన సాదాసీదా మనిషి

ఇక ఎక్కేందుకు మెట్టేలేదు అన్నంత ఎత్తుకెక్కిన "మెగా" మనీషి

ఎప్పటినుంచో "అభిమానం" అనే బాకీని పెంచుకుంటూనే వస్తున్నా

ఇప్పటికైనా ఆ బాకీ ని ఇలా వడ్డీతోసహా చెల్లించేసుకుంటున్నా. . .

Hard-work never fails!

Happy Painting!!

 

"Winning your-self is the greatest win of life" ~ Girdhar Pottepalem

Details 

Title: "విజేత"

Reference: A picture of Megastar Chiranjeevi

Mediums: Watercolors on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

God's Gift...

Portrait of Chi. Karronya Katrynn

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")

Talent is a gift from God. Not every one is gifted, and if you are, you must use it. If you don't use it, it expires with you. If you use it, it will never expire...

"Your talent is God's gift to you.

What you do with it is your gift back to God." ~ Leo Buscaglia

Details 

Reference: Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

దసరా శుభాకాంక్షలు...

Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11") 

దసరా శుభాకాంక్షలు...!

Happy Painting....

 

Details 

Reference: Picture of Chinnaari Karronya as Durga

Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

Pure Heart...

"Pure Heart" 

Portrait of Chinnaari Karronya

Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

The pure heart of a child is visible in the face.

Be a child and purify your heart!

Happy Painting...

Details 

Title: Pure Heart...

Reference: Portrait of Chinnaari Karronya

Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

కంఠేన ఆలంబయేత్ గీతం...

గీతం కంఠంలో పలికించాలి
అర్ధం చేతిలో ప్రదర్శించాలి
భావం కళ్ళల్లో గోచరించాలి
తాళం పాదాల్లో కదలాడాలి...

ఇవన్నీ కలిపి అనుభూతి పొందుతూ చేసేదే నాట్యం...

అన్న అర్ధం తో ఈ బొమ్మకి చక్కగా అమరిన శ్లోకం...

"ప్రతిభ" కి అద్దం పట్టే చిత్రం

ఈ "చిన్నారి" కి ఆశీస్సులతో...

Portrait of Chi. Karronya Katrynn 

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")

Details 

Reference: Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

హస్తేన అర్ధం ప్రదర్శనేత్...

Portrait of Chi. Karronya Katrynn 

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")

కంఠేన ఆలంబయేత్ గీతం

హస్తేన అర్ధం ప్రదర్శనేత్ 

చక్షుభ్యాం దర్శనేత్ భావం

పాదాభ్యాం తాళం ఆచరేత్

Details 

Reference: Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

పాటలో దాచుకుంటానూ...

Sri S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Legendary Indian Singer

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")   

ఊహ తెలిశాక బహుశా మొట్టమొదట నా హృదయాన్ని తాకిన పాట "బాలు" గారిదేనేమో. నాలుగేళ్ళ వయసు లో "బుచ్చిరెడ్డిపాళెం" లో ఉన్న రోజులనుంచీ విన్న పాటలన్నీ గుర్తున్నాయి. ఆటాలాడుకుంటుంటే ఇళ్ళల్లో రేడియోల్లోంచి వినబడే పాటల్లో ఏ "బాలు" గారి పాట మొదటిగా నా హృదయాన్ని తాకి ఉంటుంది అని ఎప్పుడాలోచించినా తట్టేవి ఈ రెండు పాటలే:

1. నా హృదయపు కోవెలలో నా బంగరు లోగిలిలో (ఇద్దరమ్మాయిలు) ...

2. ఎక్కడో దూరాన కూర్చున్నావూ, ఇక్కడి మా తలరాతలు రాస్తున్నావూ (దేవుడమ్మ)...

ఇప్పటికీ ఈ పాటలంటే అమితమైన ఇష్టం. విన్న ప్రతిసారీ "బుచ్చిరెడ్డిపాళెం" లో ఊహ తెలిసిన నాటి  ఆనందమైన ఆ రోజుల్లోకెళ్ళిపోతాను.

మొదటిగా నా కలెక్షన్ అని నేను "కావలి" ట్రంక్ రోడ్ నుంచి రైల్వే స్టేషన్ కి వెళ్ళే రోడ్డు మొదట్లో ఉన్న రెండు రికార్డ్ సెంటర్లకీ వెళ్ళి వాళ్ళ లిస్ట్ లో ఏరి కోరి 4 TDK (Made in Japan) క్యాసెట్టుల్లో రికార్డ్ చెయ్యించుకుని నాతో 1996 లో USA కీ తెచ్చుకున్న  అధికభాగం "బాలు" గారి పాటలే. అవన్నీ నా చిన్ననాటి పాటలే!

పై రెండు పాటలతోబాటు అప్పటి నా కలెక్షన్ లో ఇంకా:..

అమ్మ అన్నదీ ఒక కమ్మని మాటా అది ఎన్నెన్నో తెలియనీ (బుల్లెమ్మ బుల్లోడు)...

అందానికి అందానివై ఏ నాటికి నాదనవై (దత్త పుత్రుడు)...

అలకలు తీరిన కన్నులు ఏమనె ప్రియా (మా నాన్న నిర్దోషి)...

అనురాగ దేవత నీవే నా ఆమని పులకింత నీవె (ముత్తయిదువ)...

అందాల నారాణి చిరునవ్వులే చిందితే గాలి ఈల వేసింది (రాముని మించిన రాముడు)...

ఇద్దరమే మన మిద్దరమే ఇద్దరమే కొల్లేటి కొలనులో సరికొత్త అలలపై (కొల్లేటి కాపురం)...

ఇది ఎన్నడు వీడని కౌగిలి మది ఎదలను కలిపిన రాతిరి (ప్రేమ జీవులు)....

ఇదే పాటా ప్రతీ చోటా ఇలాగే పాడుకుంటానూ (పుట్టినిల్లు మెట్టినిల్లు)...

ఈ నాడు కట్టుకున్న బొమ్మరిల్లూ (పండంటి కాపురం)...

ఈ రేయి తీయనిదీ, ఈ చిరుగాలి మనసైనదీ (చిట్టి చెల్లెలు)... 

ఎన్నాళ్ళో వేచిన ఉదయం ఈనాడే ఎదురౌతుంటే(మంచి మిత్రులు)...

ఎన్నెన్నో జన్మల బంధం నీదీ నాదీ (పూజ)...

ఎడారిలో కోయిలా తెల్లారనీ రేయిలా (పంతులమ్మ)...

ఎవరికి తెలుసు చితికిన మనసు చితిగా రగులుననీ (మల్లెపువ్వు)...

ఏ దివిలో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో(కన్నెవయసు)...

ఒక జంట కలిసిన తరుణాన జేగంట మోగెను గుడిలోనా (బాబు)...

ఓ బంగరు రంగుల చిలకా పలకవే (తోటరాముడు)...

ఓ చిన్నదాన నన్ను విడిచిపోతావటె (నేనంటే నేనే)...

కలువకు చంద్రుడు ఎంతో దూరం కమలానికి సూర్యుడు మరీ దూరం (చిల్లర దేవుళ్ళు)...

కలిసే కళ్ళలోనా కురిసే పూల వానా (నోము)...

కాపురం కొత్త కాపురం ఆలుమగలు కట్టుకున్న అనురాగ గోపురం (కొత్త కాపురం)...

కురిసింది వానా నా గుండెలోనా (బుల్లెమ్మ బుల్లోడు)...

కుశలమా నీకూ కుశలమేనా మనసు నిలుపుకోలేక మరీ మరీ అడిగాను (బలిపీఠం)...

కొమ్మకొమ్మకోసన్నాయీ కోటి రాగాలు ఉన్నాయీ (గోరింటాకు)...

కొండ పైనా వెండి వానా అది గుండెల్లో కొత్త వలపు కురిపించాలీ (ఇంటి దొంగలు)...

గులాబి పువ్వై నవ్వాలి వయసు ఇలాగె మనమూ ఉండాలిలే (అన్నదమ్ముల అనుబంధం)...

చిరునవ్వుల తొలకరిలో సిరిమల్లెల చినుకులలో (చాణక్య చంద్రగుప్త)...

చీకటి వెలుగుల కౌగిటిలో చిందే కుంకుమ వన్నెలు (చీకటి వెలుగులు)...

తనివి తీరలేదే నా మనసు నిండలేదే (గూడు పుఠాణి)...

తనువా ఊహు హరిచందనమే (కధానాయకుడు)...

తొలిసారి ముద్దివ్వమందీ చెలి బుగ్గ చేమంతి మొగ్గ (ఎదురీత)...

దేవుడు చేసిన పెళ్ళి ఇదే ఆ దేవుని లీల ఇదే (పిచ్చోడి పెళ్ళి)...

దోరవయసు చిన్నది లా లా ల ల లా భలే జోరుగున్నది (దేవుడు చేసిన మనుషులు)...

నవ్వులు రువ్వే పువ్వమ్మా నీ నవ్వులు నాకూ ఇవ్వమ్మ (గాజుల కిష్టయ్య)...

నవ్వుతూ బ్రతకాలి రా తమ్ముడూ నవ్వుతూ చావాలి రా (మాయదారి మల్లిగాడు)...

నయనాలు కలిసె తొలిసారీ హృదయాలు కరిగె మలిసారీ (ఛైర్మన్ చలమయ్య)...

నాకోసమే నీవున్నది ఆకాశమే అవునన్నది (అన్నదమ్ముల సవాల్)...

నిన్ను మరచి పోవాలనీ అన్ని విడిచి వెళ్ళాలని (మంచి మనుషులు)...

నీలాలా నింగిలొ మేఘాలా తేరులొ ఆపాలా పుంతలో నీ కౌగిలింతలో (జేబుదొంగ)...

నీ పాపం పండెను నేడూ నీ భరతం పడతా చూడు (బుల్లెమ్మ బుల్లోడు)...

నీలీ మేఘమా జాలీ చూపుమా ఒక్క నిముషమాగుమా (అమ్మాయిల శపథం)...

నేనొక ప్రేమ పిపాసిని నీవొక ఆశ్రమ వాసివి (ఇంద్ర ధనుస్సు)...

ప్రణయరాగ వాహినీ చెలీ వసంత మోహినీ (మాయా మశ్చింద్ర)...

పాల రాతి మందిరానా పడతి బొమ్మ అందం (నేనూ మనిషినే)...

పూలు గుస గుస లాడేననీ సైగ చేసేననీ (శ్రీవారు మావారు)...

మన జన్మభూమీ బంగారు భూమీ పాడిపంటలతొ పసిడిరాశులతొ (పాడిపంటలు)...

మనసే జతగా పాడిందిలే తనువే లతలా ఆడిందిలే (నోము)...

మల్లెలు పూసే వెన్నెల కాసే ఈ రేయి హాయిగా (ఇంటింటి రామాయణం)...

మేడంటే మేడా కాదూ గూడంటే గూడూ కాదు (సుఖదుఃఖాలు)...

మేఘాల మీద సాగాలీ అనురాగాల రాశిని చూడాలి (దేవదాసు - కృష్ణ)...

రాధా అందించు నీ లేత పెదవి (జేబుదొంగ)...

రాశాను ప్రేమలేఖలెన్నో దాచాను ఆశలన్ని నీలొ (శ్రీదేవి)...

సిరిమల్లె నీవె విరిజల్లు కావె (పంతులమ్మ)...

సిరిమల్లె పువ్వల్లె నవ్వు చిన్నారి పాపల్లె నవ్వూ (జ్యోతి)...

సిన్ని ఓ సిన్నీ ఓ సన్న జాజుల సిన్నీ (జీవన జ్యోతి)...

సెలయేటి గల గలా చిరుగాలి కిల కిలా (తులసి)...

"బాలు" గారి పాటలతో నాకే కాదు, నా బొమ్మలకీ విడదీయరాని "అనుబంధం". ఎప్పటికీ "బాలు" గారిపై నా అభిమానాన్ని ఆయన పాటలతో నా బొమ్మల్లో, నా బొమ్మలతో ఆయన పాటల్లో నా గుండెల్లో పదిలంగా దాచుకుంటాను...

🙏😢

"బాలు" గారి ఆశీస్సులు...

Blessings of Sri S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Legendary Indian Singer

 

 "బాలు" గారిని కలిసి ఆయనతో ముచ్చటించిన ఆ కొద్ది క్షణాల్లో నేనేసిన ఆయన బొమ్మ పైన చిన్న "ఆటోగ్రాఫ్" అడిగితే ఏకంగా "శుభం" అంటూ పెద్ద అక్షరాల్తో "ఇంకా పెద్ద ఆశీస్సులే" ఇచ్చేశారు...

ఇంతకన్నా ఇంకేం కావాలి ఎవరికైనా!

🙏 😢

Sep 18, 2004 Chicago, USA

"దివ్య స్మృతి" కి ప్రేమతో...

Sri S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Legendary Indian Singer

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

నా అభిమాన "బాలు" గారి "దివ్య స్మృతి" కి ప్రేమతో...

యావత్ భారతావనికీ తన పాటలలో స్వరమాధుర్యాన్ని జీవితాంతానికీ నిండా నింపి ఇచ్చి దివికేగిన "బాలు" గారు తెలుగు వాడిగా, మన వాడిగా పుట్టటం, "తెలుగు" తల్లికి ఎప్పుడో గంధర్వులిచ్చి తరించిన "దివ్య వరం".

తెలుగు పాటకే కాదు, తెలుగు మాటకూ, మాట నడవడికకూ వన్నె, గౌరవం తెచ్చిన స్వరం, వ్యక్తిత్వం "బాలు" గారిది.  సంగీతంతో గళం కలిపి లయబద్ధంగా చేసే స్వరవిన్యాసంలో, అక్షర ఉచ్ఛారణలో స్పష్టత తోబాటు, ప్రతి పదానికీ 'భావం', 'అనుభూతి' రెండూ జోడించి, పాడిన ప్రతి పాటకీ జీవం పోశారు మన "బాలు" గారు.

ఈ గాలీ, ఈ నేలా, ఈ ఊరూ, సెలయేరూ, "బాలు" గారిని కన్న ఈ తెలుగు నేలా, తెలుగు భాషా ఉన్నంత కాలం ఆ స్వరం వినబడుతూనే ఉంటుంది, అమృతాలొలికిస్తూనే ఉంటుంది.

కళాకారుడు వెళ్తూ ఇక్కడే వదలి వెళ్ళే ఆ కళ ఆనవాళ్లలో ఆ ఆత్మ ఎప్పటికీ సజీవంగానే ఉంటుంది. అందుకేనేమో (కళాకారుడి) కళకి మరణం లేదు అంటారు.

నా బొమ్మలన్నింటిలోనూ "బాలు" గారి స్వరం మిళితమై ఉంటుంది. ఈ బొమ్మలోని ప్రతి గీతలోనూ ఒదిగిన నా "మనసు తడి" తో బాటు "బాలు" గారి "సుమధుర స్వరమూ" దాగి ఉంది.

అంతటి మహానుభావుడు "బాలు" గారి "దివ్య స్మృతి" కి ప్రేమతో, భక్తితో ఈ చిత్రాన్ని సమర్పించుకుంటూ...

గత నలభై రోజులుగా "బాలు" గారు కోలుకుని నవ్వుతూ రావాలని 

ఆశిస్తూ తపించిపోయిన హృదయాలెన్నో...

మనల్ని వీడి దివికేగిన ఈరోజు బాధతో బరువెక్కిన గుండెలు ఇంకెన్నో...

కంట తడి పెట్టి చెమర్చిన కళ్ళు మరెన్నో...

తడిసి ముద్ద అయిన అభిమానుల మనసులు ఎన్నెన్నో...

"బాలు" గారిని అభిమానించే "ప్రతి మనసు" కీ

నా అభిమాన "బాలు" గారి "దివ్య స్మృతి" కి ప్రేమతో

అంకిత భావంతో గీసిన

ఈ చిత్రం అంకితం!

🙏😢

~~~  ~~~ ~~~ 

"బాలు" గారితో, Chicago, USA, Sep 18, 2004

నా అభిమాన గాయకుడు "బాలు" గారిని ప్రత్యక్షంగా చూడటం జీవితంలో ఒక్కసారే Chicago లో వెళ్ళిన 3 గంటల Music Concert లో కలిగింది. కలవటానికి ఎవ్వరికీ అనుమతిలేని ఆ సాయంత్రం, నేను గీసిన "బాలు" గారి బొమ్మ, జయలక్ష్మి చూపిన చొరవతో నన్ను ఆయన దరి చేర్చింది. "బాలు" గారితో అలా ఓ పది నిమిషాలు గడపగలగటం నా జీవితంలో కలిగిన అదృష్టంగా, ఆ క్షణాలు మిగిల్చిన అనుభూతుల్ని "గొప్ప వరం" గా ఎప్పుడూ భావిస్తూనే ఉన్నాను, ఉంటాను...

నిన్న గాక మొన్నే "బాలు" గారి పుట్టినరోజని ఆనందం FB లో పంచుకున్నా...

మన అభిమాన "బాలు" గారినీ, ఆ మధుర క్షణాల్నీ మళ్ళీ తలచుకుంటూ....

Win with a Smile...

Portrait of Chi. Karronya Katrynn

Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")

Smile is beautiful, the beautiful God-given gift to humans. We often forget to use it. Win any given day with a smile. Win any given difficult situation with a smile. Win not only others, but also yourself with a smile.

Smile is the happiness of the heart and soul. Capturing a smile in Art is like capturing the happy heart. It must be captured as beautiful as the smiling soul. Smile is the only weapon that can bring peace instantly.

"Peace begins with a smile." ~ Mother Theresa

Keep smiling, keep drawing and painting with a smile, keep winning with a smile...

Details 

Title: The winning smile...

Reference: Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

నవ్వుల పువ్వుల వెన్నెల...

Portrait of Chi. Karronya Katrynn 

Watercolors on Paper (12" x 16")

నవ్వుల పువ్వుల వెన్నెలా...

వెన్నెల నవ్వుల పువ్వులా...

పువ్వుల వెన్నెల నవ్వులా...

ఈ "చిన్నారి" కి "పుట్టినరోజు శుభాకాంక్షలు"!

Happy Birthday Chi. Karronya!

I believe this painting unquestionably moved me one step up in both Watercolor painting and Portrait painting. It was very challenging to capture the beautiful smile of Chi. Karronya as beautiful as it was.

I am extremely happy with my efforts. Of course, best efforts give best results. I always used to say 'my best is yet to come`. I can now proudly say, "one of my best has come".

Happy Painting! Happy Memories!!

"Be at your best, beat your best."

- Giri Pottepalem

Details 
Title: నవ్వుల పువ్వుల వెన్నెల...

Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 12" x 16" (30.5 cm x 40.5 cm)

Surface: Fabriano extra-white Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

Day 9 of 10 - KAPIL DEV(IL)...

Kapil Dev - 1987
Poster colors on Paper (8" x 10")     

Kapil Dev Nihankj - one of India's finest Cricketers of all-time, led the Indian Team to win its first World Cup in 1983. A passionate, stylish, and talented Cricket player, he always played with the spirit of winning for the Country. He was my favorite Cricketer since my 5th class until he retired in 1994.

Got introduced in School...

I have had many memories of Cricket game from the days of listening radio commentary to watching live matches on TV. In our school, one of the cooks in the kitchen was our source for Cricket scores. We used to hang around a window in our recess time while he was cutting vegetables with his transistor radio on inside the kitchen. We got introduced to Cricket in our school at the age of 9 by playing. Our school had nice & big grounds, and all the Cricket equipment. Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were the two super-heroes of the Indian Cricket at that time.

My memories of Kapil Dev...

In my Intermediate in Vijayawada, once I went with my friends to watch "Deodhar Trophy" one-day match between North and South. Kapil Dev was supposed to be playing on that day for North, but due to some reason he couldn't make it. We were bit disappointed. Roger Binny entertained the crowd with his batting and bowling. I missed the only chance I got to watch him play on the Cricket grounds.

On my first overseas trip to London in 1994 on a TCS project, I was super thrilled to spend a day in "Tunbridge Wells" - a small and beautiful town, one hour from London. That was the place where Kapil Dev created a history, played an unforgettable innings with his unbeaten 175 which lifted India’s team spirits and kept India alive in the World Cup. Unfortunately, his batting on that day was not live-telecasted as BBC cameras were on strike.

A great all-time Cricketer, Kapil was named "Indian Cricketer of the Century". I bought the book "World of Kapil Dev" by Kapil and his wife Romi Dev, came out in the market soon after he retired holding the world record of most number of wickets in Test matches surpassing Richard Hadlee. I still have it with me. I also have a "Thums Up Flip Book", when flipped pages one side rapidly shows Kapil's bowling in action. Flipped the other way, shows Kapil drinking "Thumbs Up" drink and showing his  thumbs up at the end.

Back to 1987...

The initial days of my watercolor exploration with Camel Poster colors is clearly visible in this one of my very first paintings done in 2nd year Engineering in Vijayawada. This painting was based on an Ad printed in Sports Weekly. I think the Ad was for a shaving cream and so he is seen with a towel on shoulders. I was so accurate at portraits in pencil and ballpoint-pen by then already. This was the first portrait in Watercolors which gave me some level of self-confidence that I could also paint portraits.

Later, I added India map and his name - KAPIL DEV. My classmate Bhanu Murthy - a hardcore fan of Kapil came up with several captions when he saw this, I chose Kapil Devil and extended the name by adding (IL).

"Kapil Dev" was the first of a sportsmen I did a portrait. I also did fast sketches of Ravi Shastri and Tendulkar.

This painting in my Art portfolio always takes me back to my school and college days of playing Cricket. I was a good medium pace bowler, bowling with good line and length. I did introduce Cricket to both of my Sons, Rithvik and Bhuvan at young age of 8 and 6. I brought a pair of bats, wickets, gloves and balls from India. Weekends, three of us used to go to grounds to play Cricket, Soccer and Baseball. We also used to play on our driveway with tennis balls. Both are good at sports, picked up Cricket in no time. Rithvik is very stylish at batting, Bhuvan is a very fine bowler & batsman.

Cricket is a nice sport, 2nd widely followed and watched sport in the world, after Soccer.

Still, America ignores it ;)

Day 7 of 10 - My experiments in Art...

Pooja Bedi - 1991
Poster colors on Paper (11" x 14")    

Experiment leads to discovery, and discovery leads to invention. An Artist goes through this process of natural phenomena if continued to experiment with Art for a longer period of time. I had gone through this process in my own way for many years. Now, when I go back and look into my early years of drawings and paintings, I do discover my experiments in many of those.

Back to 1991...

Change is always good. With change comes new energy, new ways to experiment, new opportunities to explore, new experiences to go through, and new knowledge to gain. There is no better place than "A Home" on earth. That statement holds good even for experiments. Home is where we live and our life is deeply connected into.

After my college, we moved to our new home in Janata Pet; Kavali, leaving away all my childhood Art memories at that rented home we lived in for 10 years, of course I did carry with mr in my (he)art. Till then, I used to come home 2 or 3 times a year, for every school/college vacations. Soon after I finished my Engineering, I got into my first job and used to come to my home in my home-town, Kavali for only Sankranthi festival or for any special occasions. All through those years, our home was my Art place for many of my Art works, and my vacation was my full-time art period.

My experiments...

This painting of "Pooja Bedi" was done during my short Sankranthi vacation at our new home in Kavali. It was based on a picture I found in a 12 page picture-wall-calendar, I think it had 12 different poses of "Pooja Bedi" exclusively done for McDowells Ad. This one inspired me to experiment with the same opaque "poster colors" that I used to.

Till then I used to leave all the space around a portrait untouched. I started experimenting by adding different kinds of backgrounds. This one was first-of-its-kind with horizontal lines. Later I extended my experiment to few more paintings by adding a similar background of stripes, in different angles, with different widths and spaces in between. Interestingly some came out very nicely and helped the subject to stand out.

I didn't know any of art vocabulary like composition, value, subject, stand-out etc, and knew nothing about standard sizes. Unknowingly, I was trying to make my subjects stand out in this by adding some kind of background. Also interestingly, the size of this Painting was done in a standard size of 11" x 14", my own cut-size for this particular painting. I used my then favorite "Ivory Board", a wedding card thick paper for this. That paper used to come in large standard watercolor paper of size 22" x 30", called "full-size" (learned this standard word used in watercolor painting, few years ago). I used to cut paper into the size I'd like to, no standards. I still remember, sometimes when I did not have a scale/ruler handy, I used to make my own by folding a newspaper, several folds, and used to use that to cut the paper or even for drawing any straight lines.

I also started to get some of my Paintings framed around that time. I remember my search for a good framing shop in Hyderabad. After enquiring and searching a lot, found a framing shop in Abids along the road of CHERMAS, and one more in Kachiguda near the railway station. I got this painting laminated in a thick plastic paper at Sangareddy, my first-job-place. This was the only painting I went for lamination. Don't know why, I guess I was experimenting with ways to protect and hang my paintings onto walls. Also, I guess, I could afford as I started working. ;)

Change leads to experiment, experiment leads to discovery, discovery lead to invention and invention leads to innovation.

Be changing, experimenting, discovering, inventing and innovating...

Day 4 of 10 - Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...(cont'd)

Kamal Hassan - 1987
Camel Poster Colors mixed with Acrylic on Paper (12" x 16").   

Continuing my exploration of Painting from yesterday's post...

Portrait of Kamal Hassan done in 1987. A small portion of a light pole leaning against can also be seen. I had this painting pasted on the wall in my Engineering hostel room, and thus it got damaged. So, I had to cut the paper around it losing the date below my signature.

Going back 2 more years, 1987...

As I was progressing, my signature was also undergoing some changes ;) This was one of my very early paintings of that time. The thickness of the paint on paper is clearly visible. One reason for that was, I was happily mixing white fabric color unknowingly with every color, and that was also causing patches. I was that ignorant. I did know that fabric color was for cloth painting, but didn't know that it was not good for mixing with poster color.

Resources - Art material

There were no resources available to get any details about art material and where to buy if available. I spent too much of my time going around almost to every single bookshop in Vijayawada including some on the unknown streets in one-town (the whole-sale business area) with very narrow roads. A bookshop guy in Patamata told me to check one-town area, and that's how I ended up searching for shops even in an area that was full of whole-sale warehouses where in they wouldn't sell anything in small numbers/quantities.

Vijayawada one-town was a big area and was known for it's whole-sale business.It was also very difficult to navigate in and out. Once you enter, you won't be able to come out, back to the place where you entered. One had to walk and would only get lost somewhere deep inside.

After making a couple of trips, all the way from one end of the city to another, by taking infamous Vijayawada city buses, I somehow managed to find a whole-sale business stationery warehouse with a small shutter room at the front which was open. The person I met there at least did not put a puzzling face when I asked for art material like watercolors, paper, palettes and brushes. He went inside and brought a box of Camel Poster Colors and said that's all he had. I already had a few colors that I bought in my hometown Kavali. I bought a few more just because I went all the way over there and that guy at least showed me something. I returned to my hostel very disappointed with my mind clearly set, I was done with my exploration of watercolor painting material. Whatever I got by then, I had to just explore my watercolor painting with.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Resources - Artists

I tried my best to find an artist or a watercolor painter. The only media available was newspapers. I still remember, one Sunday morning I took bus to the other end of the city after I saw some details about an Art exhibition in a newspaper. I did meet the Artist there who displayed her beautiful European paintings done on china (పింగాణి) plates. They were absolutely beautiful and stunning. She copied many European masters' paintings and painted those on china plates. But, she did not help me in giving any details that I wanted to know about painting in general.

Another instance I met an Artist was, few days before a new year eve, a poor Artist came to our hostel to sell greeting cards he painted. They were all original post-card size paintings done in a unique style. I was very impressed with his works and bought a bunch, about a dozen or so. I think each one costed Rs 5 /-. He felt so happy that at least one bought some of his cards. I showed him some of my paintings and asked him few questions about the material he used and how he did his paintings. He did not reveal any details at all, and said- he was from a poor family, learned some techniques from his father and hence would not tell anyone as he was making a living by selling his cards. He made a point not to share any details about his works. I didn't know at that time Artists' world was bit secret and they wouldn't reveal their techniques. I never came across any other Artist in my college life, other than the same one coming in for a couple of years in a row, and I became his customer.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Resources - Books

When finding Computer Science text books itself was hard, how could one expect to find Art books? Our college library had a couple of foreign art books and magazines. I did refer to those many times to learn on "how to paint watercolors". The funniest thing was, those all were on oil-painting. ;) But those books planted a seed of desire in me for Oil Painting.

Also, I used to go to buy old books and magazines on the footpaths near Alankar theatre on Sunday evenings. Found a bunch of foreign magazines, but all were on oil-painting. So, I had no luck in finding any books/magazines on watercolor painting.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

To be continued in tomorrow's post when I share how I found my watercolor painting "Guru"...

Day 2 of 10 - The beautiful portrait of Divya Bharati...

The beautiful "Divya Bharati" - 1993
Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

How many still remember the very short-lived and very beautiful Bollywood actress, Divya Bharati who became so popular in no time? I guess, everyone who lived in 1990s or born after 1990 remembers her. It was a shock for many including me to know from the news that she was no more on the day she left the world.

Back to 1993...

I still remember, in Hyderabad, a day after that sad news, when I returned from office in the evening, my roommates were all talking about her, reading an article published in "Deccan Chronicle" daily news paper, evening edition. The article had a beautiful black and white picture of her published. This portrait was based on that specific picture published in Deccan Chronicle.

It was an instant, very casually done portrait, straight with a ball-point pen on a used computer printout I found on my books. In fact, it was a dot matrix printer paper with holes on both sides for the printer to hold the paper. The front side of the paper had my one-page resume printed and the back side was all blank. I was not prepared to do a drawing, actually, to even find a good paper for it. The instinct was that instant.

I can probably attribute this work to very few instances at which I did an Art work while both my skill and concentration levels were working at their best. I myself say "beautiful" whenever I look at this work of mine. Sometimes, an art work looks more beautiful than the actual photograph. This one is surely and truly an example of such.

At that time, we had no media for individuals, and social media was not even an imaginable technology to wish the soul with a personal rest and peace kid of messages. Now, while I recollect those moments when a write this post on "The beautiful portrait of Divya Bharati", I don't want to use the traditional three letter acronym. I would rather say- 

You will be "Remembered In Peace" forever, Long live in the hearts of your fans!!

"Be so good they can’t ignore you." ~ Steve Martin

Be Stylish...

"Be Stylish" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn
Ballpoint Pen on Paper 8.5" x 11"

Be traditional, and stylish. Add your own style to everything you do. You are unique in the universe, and your style is also unique. Add a bit of it to everything you do and create your own signature.

"Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light."

~ Tori Amos

Happy Painting!

Add your style to anything you do!!

Details 
Title: Be Stylish...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer, Multi-talented Artist & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

Beautiful...

"Beautiful" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Ballpoint Pen on paper 8.5" x 11"

You are the Artist of your life. Paint it beautiful.

I have been trying to be more accurate lately with portraits I do. Portraits are challenging to do. In order to get it right, every minute detail needs to be done so accurately. A small inaccurate detail changes it to look very different than the actual person. Doing a portrait of a beautiful girl challenges even further. To get it as beautiful as the girl, every detail needs to be not just accurate but also beautiful.

This is again the portrait of multi-talented Telugu upcoming actress, the beautiful Karronya Katrynn. I picked Ballpoint Pen this time for doing this. I truly believe that to be a well-rounded artist one should not stick to one media.

"Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art."

~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Happy Painting!

You are the Artist of your life!

Details 
Title: Beautiful...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer, Multi-talented Artist & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

బుట్టబొమ్మ...

"బుట్టబొమ్మ" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Watercolors on Paper 16" x 20"

Excellence is nothing but qualities of a person. It's not one quality that can be attained by practice. It's a quality of many qualities. Possessing attitude, gratitude, giving, learning, hard-work, smile, values, forgiveness, appreciation and many such good qualities put together is "Excellence".

"Next to excellence is the appreciation of it." ~ William Makepeace Thackeray

Happy Painting!

Appreciate Excellence!

Details 
Title: బుట్టబొమ్మ...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB