Don't just make it, make it Great!

Dancing with Krishna - Oil on Canvas

Though I started this painting an year ago, I spent many hours during past few weeks to take it this far and took a pause, signed and dated. This is the first Painting that when it was still wet in paint, went on display in public, a day after I signed, and before I even posted it on my blog & social networks. Last week, it was displayed at an India classical dance event Shringara Triveni in Littleton, MA, USA which was based on the theme- Love for Krishna. This painting was so appropriate at that event which also had an Art exhibition going on by Kalakruti and students of an Art school. I had put a price-tag of "make your own offer". When people showed interest to buy, it was hard pricing my sincere efforts on this Painting. The enthusiasm this painting created at the show among viewers for Art and Dance was itself priceless for me. Few people asked for the price and many people stopped by staring at it for minutes and talking with me to know many details. One common question that I get these days at shows like this is - Do you teach Painting?. My answer so far has always been: No, I am still a learner. Who knows, what is there awaiting for me in future ;)

Indian Classical Dance has been one of few themes I chose and did a series of Paintings already. My second finished Oil Painting of Dancing Krishna (alone in the universe), created a new theme, Krishna for me for a series. This Painting fits in both the themes: Indian Classical Dance and Krishna. It was only a co-incidence that Krishna continues to dance in this series, but this time, the Love for Krishna joined and seen dancing along with his inseparable Flute and Peacock Feather. It has 4 dancers in it. Also, every painting has an unseen person in it, the Artist him-self/her-self.

Though I signed and dated it already, in coming weeks I will be giving it minor finishing touches before it goes on into a frame and finds a place to live. This is yet another Painting that makes me feel great and inspires me every single time I take a look at it. Of course, it did not happen just like that. It has many many hours of sincere efforts and dedication went into it.

"A great work is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty" - Nadia Boulanger

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Dancing with Krishna
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Keep Going...

Underpainting - Lakshmi - Oil On Canvas

Underpainting Saraswathi - Oil on Canvas

Underpainting is the first step in Oil Painting. Started two at the same time. These two Goddesses: Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi are going to be companion to my previous Lord Vighneswara Painting. Three together are going to be a nice Collection to have in any home they find...
Keep Painting...the only way to get going!!

"As long as you keep going, you'll keep getting better. And as you get better, you gain more confidence. That alone is success."
- Tamara Taylor

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 20" x 20" (50.8 cm x 50.8 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

Follow your dreams...

Glowing Ganesha - Oil on Canvas

Once it was only a dream, and now becoming a reality. Oil Painting was my dream media, and I was dreaming about it for many many years. Zeal was never a constraint, but time and resources were. I won my first battle with time, and it helped me follow my dream.

With each finished Painting, I feel more comfortable with it. And, it comes closer to my dreaming (he)art. This is my third finished Oil Painting. Finished in painting means- stopped & signed. There is nothing like finished in Painting. My previous two oil paintings took several weekends, I finished it in just two weekends. My dreams were so long and I still have a long way to follow...

This is Lord Vighneswara based on a Bronze sculpture I received as a Gift from my Sister Chinni.

Keep Painting, keep following your dreams, never stop! Happy Painting!!

"Follow your dreams, believe in yourself and don't give up." - Rachel Corrie

Details
Title: Glowing Ganesha
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 24" x 30" (60.9 cm x 76.2 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

Vighneswara...

Vighneswara - Oil on Canvas

It's been an year since I touched Canvas with Oils, I still have many pending to finish. Returning to my Dream Media this summer with this Vighneswara Oil Painting based on a bronze idol I got as Gift from my sister Chinni.

This is an under Painting...the very first step forward on this journey with Vighneswara...

March towards your destiny! Never turn back...once turned back, the destiny changes!
Happy Painting!

"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him." - Henry Miller

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 24" x 30" (60.9 cm x 76.2 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

నటరత్న...

నటరత్న - Ink and Watercolors on Paper

"ఆత్మ కీ గౌరవం ఉంటుందనీ...ఉండాలనీ

అది మన తెలుగు వాడికొకింత ఎక్కువేననీ

తెలుగుజాతి ఉనికి దశదిశలా చాటి చెప్పిన

అన్నగారి జన్మదినం..తెలుగువారి సంబరం"

- గిరిధర్ పొట్టేపాళెం

A tribute to my childhood Telugu Hero, Sri N.T. Rama Rao Garu on his birthday that the whole Telugu people proudly remember.

Admire good people with no boundaries!
Happy Painting!

"All I required to be happy was friendship and people I could admire." - Christian Dior

Details
Title:  నటరత్న......
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Childhood Hero, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

ఎంత సక్క గున్నావే...

ఎంత సక్క గున్నావే...Ink and Watercolors on Paper

As I finish it today, I recall, the actual pencil sketch I did was a month ago, on Apr 13, 2018 when I landed in Chennai International Airport where I had 2 hours of waiting time to meet my sister Indira who was also coming from U.S. on the same day. Though it was a hectic two-week trip, I am glad I carried my sketch book along with me. Except that time in the AirPort I never got any time to open my sketch book.

Once again, this sketch is based on a still from the Telugu movie Rangasthalam. I did three more earlier from the great movie of this time of that age.

Any achievement involves great efforts and requires time as well. I am happy to spend time constantly on my passion as time goes on. I am hoping, a day will come in my life where my passion makes me feel not just happy, but also great...

"All great achievements require time." - Maya Angelo

Details
Title:  ఎంత సక్క గున్నావే...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: The Telugu Movie: Rangasthalam, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

The Present...

Lord Ganesha - Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Based on a Gift by my sister Chinni

Every day is a gift, a present given to us. But in order to take it, we need to accept it. We only accept it when we actually love it, live in it, and live in it with peace and happiness. Both Peace and Happiness lie within us, cannot be given or taken away by anybody. Any given (to)day needs to be wrapped with Peace and Happiness to turn it into Present. Then only the present becomes a gifted-day.

Thanks to this thoughtful Gift by my sister Chinni on my recent trip to India. A gift that I loved and which turned my today into a present!

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

- Bil Keane

Details
Title: Lord Ganesha
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: A thoughtful gift by my sister Chinni

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

మహానటి...

"మహా నటి" సావిత్రి

"మహా నటి" అన్న తెలుగు పదానికర్ధం
"సావిత్రి" అనే అందమైన అభినయం.

Details
Title: "మహా నటి" సావిత్రి
Mediums: Pencil on Paper
Inspiration: Her True Story Book "మహా నటి" సావిత్రి వెండితెర సామ్రాగ్ని ...

Size: 8 1/2" x 11" (21.5 cm x 28 cm)

Surface: Sketchbook, Acid Free Paper

Dedicated with Love...

Dancing Krishna - Oil On Canvas (Framed)

Few years ago, a professional quality Oil Painting was just an impossibility for me. Now, this framed Oil Painting of Dancing Krishna makes me feel proud as it found it's new home, my own brother, Sridhar's home in Nellore, India.

When my brother expressed interest to have one of my Oil Paintings at his home, the only finished Painting I had was this and I promised I would give it to him. I am so happy that I made efforts and took this along with me on my recent trip to India. This is in fact, my second finished Oil Painting. The first one recently secured it's place on a wall at my own home in Sharon, MA, US.

Indian Classical dance has been the subject that I did more Paintings on than any other. Lord Krishna, also known by my name Giridhar has been my childhood hero in many stories told by my Grandma (Baamma) who was also a devotee of Lord Krishna. When I got my first job and started earning, I asked my Baamma what was one thing that she would like to get from me. All she asked for was an Idol of Lord Krishna. I didn't fulfill her wish. The sweetest person in my life, my Baamma who was the very first person in my life to notice me drawing a crow with a chalk on the floor at the age of 2 years, and used to recollect with me that first drawing of mine whenever she saw me drawing in my teenage, is physically no more with us. She is living in our Hearts with us.

This Painting is now living in the Living Room at my brother's home in Nellore. Also, there are many souls of the past, the present and the future living in it.

* * * *

With Baamma and Anna (1993)

Dear Baamma,
I couldn't buy you an Idol of Krishna you had asked for. But, I dedicate this Painting of Lord Krishna to you, done by your Govardhan Giri, with all the love and respects from the bottom of my heart & tears in my eyes for all you did for us, and your life you dedicated to us for giving us a better future. The future became present and now you are not there with us in it. We now live in it, with many comforts that are nothing but direct results of your life dedicated to us and sacrifices you made  for us.
Miss you so much!
With Love
Govardhan Giri

At the Framing Shop next to Narthaki Theatre in Nellore.
Interestingly it was surrounded by framed Hindu Gods' pictures.
Also, dramatically captured my image reflection in the mirror,
taking a picture with my phone.

I got it framed in Nellore, India, my native place. A very talented boy who was framing pictures in just a matter of minutes by sitting on the floor with hardly any tools, did a fantastic job by making a museum-quality-frame for this Painting. It costed a fraction of money that I usually spend in US for a similar quality of material and Craftsmanship. India has no shortage of talent in any field in any given era of times.

"The dedicated life is worth living. You must give with your whole heart" - Annie Dillard

Most effective way...

Ink & Watercolors om Paper

The most recent Telugu movie I saw, Rangasthalam has been haunting me so much with my childhood memories and I just can't stop painting inspired form it. The village I grew up is the only best memory that has one impression that never changes in my heart. The most effective way to remember something is to take that into us.

"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." - Amelia Earhart

Happy Painting! Keep Going!!

Details
Title: Indian Village Woman
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: The Telugu Movie: Rangasthalam, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

Indian Village Woman...

Indian Village Woman - Inspired by the movie Rangasthalam
Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Inspired by the wonderfully narrated Telugu Movie, Rangasthalam in which the director beautifully narrated Indian Village on the silver screen, this is a sketch of a Telugu Village Woman in Ink and Watercolor.

Get inspired by any thing around you. Keep Painting!

Details
Title: Indian Village Woman
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: The Telugu Movie: Rangasthalam, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

A Spiritual Journey - CD Cover...

CD Cover Illustration
Mirabai - Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Thanks to Shuchita Rao Garu for giving me an opportunity to design a cover page for her CD.

Details
Title: A Spiritual Journey - Illustration for a CD cover
Mediums: Ink and watercolors on Paper

Size: 14" x 11" (35 cm x 28 cm)

Surface: Canson Watercolor Paper, 140 lb Cold Press

Let your works be your memories...

Krishna with Flute
Watercolors on Paper

Days just come and go. What we do each day which is close to our heart is the one that becomes a memory. A diary is nothing but a record of memories. For an Artist, his memories are his Art.

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." - Pablo Picasso

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Krishna with Flute...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Strathmore 400 Series, 140lb Watercolor Paper, Cold Press

A Dream come true...

Nātyānjali - My Tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Oil on Canvas, 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)

Oil Painting had been the longest dream of my life. It had begun in my high school with the good collection of Art books and magazines that we had access to in our School Library. Also, there were quite a few wonderful Oil Paintings seen on the walls of classrooms and dormitories in the school campus done by our then Art Teacher Sri. M. Venkateswar Rao. Once an year, we would get bookshop on the truck into our school campus and we would get class wide turns to step inside, explore and buy books of our interest. Much of the books were of Soviet Union, Moscow publications/prints with top-notch paper and some were with full of amazing Oil Paintings.

My dream of Oil Painting continued through my Engineering college-years in Vijayawada, India, wherein the college library had a good collection of foreign Art Books and Magazines exclusively on Oil Painting. I was probably one of very few Engineering Students to flip all pages of every single Art book found in that library. I even bought a Soviet publication book of Russian Artists Oil Paintings, the one and only one book I could find in a book shop which was as expensive as our Singapore edition of Computer Programming books priced in Dollars but sold in converted Indian currency. My search for Oil Painting books & magazines even went on and on along the foot-paths(side-walks) in front of Alankar Theatre in Vijayawada on Sunday evening book sales. I could hardly find any though. My search for Oil Painting Books continued in Sunday book market on the side walks in Koti, Hyderabad after I graduated and started working. There I found several small 20 page Art Magazines on Oil Painting and bought several of those.

Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad probably was the very first place where I had seen any framed original Oil Paintings the very first time in my life. I visited this museum few times when I was working in Hyderabad exclusively for Painting & Sculpture Galleries.

I still remember the day I went straight from the Railway station to and spent few hours of my time at Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery in Mysore, India when I reached Mysore about 8 hours before the scheduled pickup time for my very first job interview for Air Force, India. That is still one of my sweetest memories to recover on any given day.

My first overseas visit on my professional job to London, UK, left me with few full-weekends of unforgettable memories filled with just me staring in front of wonderful original Oil Paintings by renowned Artists fount at Tate Gallery, National Gallery and British Museum in London. The countless hours that I spent at the The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago downtown are still fresh in my heart where I used to go every Tuesday evening after office-hours to spend my time sketching & studying by sitting on the floor in front of selected paintings and sculptures. My quest for Oil Painting continued in Chicago and pushed me into an Oil Painting course at a Community College which helped me more on learning how to study Paintings of Masters rather than Oil Painting itself. I attempted few oil paintings during this course but none of them I claim that I finished.

My dream of Oil Painting continued to haunt me from time-to-time and finally in 2015 I made it come true with this very first painting that I claim as my very first-ever finished Oil Painting forever. As my dream took such a long time to come true, framing it took quite sometime and finally I think I found a perfect frame for it. It now appears in our family traditional Dining room and makes me feel proud every single day.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

Put your Heart into work and get it done which should make you feel proud of yourself when you look back!
Happy Painting!!

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

Conquer your-self...

Indian Classical Dance - Hands Mudra

It is not easy to get the love towards anything going for a long-time especially when it is not part of your day-to-day life. Unless you dedicate your "self" from time to time, it is very hard. You need to conquer your "self" first to be dedicated. Once you conquer your "self", you can get going to reach your goal!

"If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self." -Napoleon Hill

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Indian Classical Dance - Hands Mudra
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: Random Picture from my collection
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 12" x 18" (30.5 cm x 46 cm)

Surface: Arches 140lb, Cold Press

Use the talents...

Indian Classical Dance - Hands Mudra

The most striking feature of Indian Classic Dance is the use of Mudras, meaning gestures shown by the head, hands, and legs. These gestures are mixed with dance in order to express the meaning and expressions of the background music and song lyrics.

Anybody can learn fine-arts. But one who possesses natural talent stands out. This natural talent can easily be found in Indian Classical Dance. Possessing talent is only one thing. Practicing and using the talent is more important than possessing it. Talent not used is no better than not having a talent!

It's been one of my dreams to paint several such selected Mudras in my Paintings. Though I tried one few years ago, I never finished it. I am quite happy to start this series with this very first one in this series.

"Use what talents you possess, the woods would be a very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." - Henry Van Dyke, poet (10 Nov, 1852-1933)

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Indian Classical Dance - Hands Mudra
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: Random Picture from my collection
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 12" x 18" (30.5 cm x 46 cm)

Surface: Arches 140lb, Cold Press

Indian Classical Dance - Kuchipudi...

Indian Classical Dance - Kuchipudi

Watercolors on Paper

Happy Painting ;)

Details
Title: Indian Classical Dance - Kuchipudi
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: Bhanu Priya  (Aalaapana) from my own collection
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Arches 140lb, Cold Press

Live for the love of it...

Live for the Love of your passion - Watercolors on Paper

Each day comes, much of it pre-filled with day-to-day routine stuff. We get very occupied and at the end, only feel tired. Living is not racing with time, it is living the way you want, doing things you want to do, and enjoying what you do.

Everything doesn't happen the way you like to. But you can certainly make certain things happen the way you like. If you find those things, you should continue to spend both time and effort for those. Once you do, you will not regret when you look back.

I am glad to keep alive my passion, my best-friend in my life, which will not go away from me. When I am with it, I am fully living my life, my life with it and in it!

Live for the love of your passion, and simply love it!
Happy Painting!

"If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." - John Irving

Details
Title: Live for the love of it...
Reference: Shobhna's video (South Indian Actress)
Category: Nātyānjali - Indian classical dance
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Strathmore 400 Series, 140lb Watercolor Paper, Cold Press

Keep yourself occupied with your passion...

Lord Ganesha with Sitar - Watercolors on Paper

Third Painting of Lord Ganesh in just few weeks, the future I was hoping to do series of Paintings of this Hindu God who is worshipped most has finally come. Hoping to do a series of Lord Ganesh with several musical instruments.

"I never think of the future - it comes soon enough." - Albert Einstein

Keep yourself occupied with your passion. Happy painting!!!

Details
Title: Lord Ganesha with Sitar
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 12" x 15" (31 cm x 38 cm)

Surface: Arches 140lb Watercolor Paper Block, Cold Press

Use your ability...

Nātyānjali-13 - Indian Classical Dance - GIFTED
Watercolors on Paper

My Nātyānjali goes on with this Watercolor Painting which is 13th in this series. Though it is not as big as previous ones on this subject, I am quite happy with the result. The best way to expertise anything is - practice. Natural abilities only help to some extent in getting there. But it is the sheer practice that takes you there.

"We all have ability. The difference is how we use it!" - Charlotte Whitton

Details
Title: Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Ink Pen & Watercolors on Paper
Tools: Micron 01 Ink Pen, Brush and Watercolors
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft 140 lb / 300 g/m2 Acid Free, Cold Press watercolor paper