Dancing Colors...

Bharatha Natyam - Indian Classical Dance

Dance can be colorful on the stage of performing Arts. Colors can dance in the process of an Artist's Painting on the surface. Now, Painting has grown bigger than a hobby and has become part of my life. I feel incomplete if I don't paint anything on a weekend when I am home.

After finishing Ganesh Clay Sculpture well before than expected on this Saturday, I have had whole Sunday to myself. Setting an hour aside for myself to do this Painting on my busy Sunday added a bit of relaxation. The journey of my Painting goes on...

"It's the journey that matters, not the destination. Do not stop your Journey. If you stop, you miss many experiences along the way." - Giridhar Pottepalem

Details
Title: Dancing Colors
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

Spread Wings and Fly...

Nátyánjali-14 - My Tribute to Indian Classical Dance

Watercolors on Paper

After attending two Arangetrams (on-stage debut performances) of Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi, two weekends in a row, I didn't have to think of a subject for my next Painting. I took tons of pictures for my own reference at both the events. This particular one is based on my own picture I took in New Jersey at the Arangetram of Twin Daughters, Deepa and Roopa of my good friend SuryaPrakash Irakam from my High School, Kodigenahalli, AP, India. It was a feast to eyes watching the twins performing on the stage for 3 hours perfectly in sync.

My series on Indian Classical Dance goes on with this 14th one in this series as my Tribute to this wonderful form of Art.

I did it bit differently than my previous Watercolor Paintings, tried in vibrant colors. In order to fly, one needs to spread wings. Spread your wings of skill, fly through the clouds of creativity and reach destinations of your dream!

Keep Painting, Keep the Inner-Joy flowing!

I gifted this framed Painting to my friend, Parakash when he stopped by to visit me. He was so happy to have it. I liked the care he showed when he was placing it in his Car, he was worried that it could get damaged while driving. I am happy, my painting found a new home, the home of one of my childhood best friends, a gift to his twin daughters who are so talented and are inspiration for this painting, also are there in this painting...

Details
Title: Nātyānjali-14 - Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Arangetram by Twin Daughters Deepa and Roopa of my Friend, 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

Don't get lost...

Indian Classical Dance - A classic Mudra (Gesture)

This is a quick watercolor painting done with just one color: black, not the actual black but a substitute for black called Neutral Tint that many Watercolor Artists use. When I don't know what painting to start, but wanted to do something, my first choice always is: Indian Classical Dance.

A weekend day comes and goes faster than a weekday. Weekend gives an opportunity to spend time with ones own soul. Be with it for sometime by doing something you have passion for. Simply, don't get lost in hectic life!

"The purpose of Art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls." - Pablo Picasso

Details
Title: Indian Classical dance - A classic Mudra
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Tools: Watercolors from my Palette
Inspiration: Practice & 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

Getting the hang of it...

Dancing Pair - Radha and Krishna - Oil on Canvas

Nearly after 2 years I resumed my Oil Painting this summer with this Dancing Pair - Radha and Krishna. I still have a long way to go before I finish it. I am happy that I am getting the hang of my dream media- Oil Painting!

Keep the passion alive and keep your soul happy!
Happy Painting!!

Details
Title: Dancing Pair - Radha and Krishna
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts, సాధన...

Size: 24" x 36" (60.9 cm x 91.4 cm)

Surface: Back Stapled Traditional Canvas

Happiness is a state of mind...

Radha Krishna - A sketch with Ink and watercolors

With an intention to come back to Oil Painting, I chose "Dancing Krishna" as a theme for a series of Paintings. I did a painting of Lord Krishna about two years ago which was my second Oil Painting. It's just a coincidence that Krishna was dancing in that Painting too, but he was dancing alone.

This is a quick sketch of exploration and experimentation on Paper with the composition. Sketching is a way to experiment with the composition for a Painting.

I am happy with the outcome and now it will go onto the canvas to become my third Oil Painting.

I always sign on right-bottom-side of the Painting. This is probably the only Painting I signed on the "Left-side" instead. Yes, it left the right side!

"Happiness is a state of mind and has

nothing to do with the external world."

- Lord Krishna

Keep Painting and Keep your soul Happy ;)

Details
Title: Dancing Radha and Krishna
Mediums: Ink Pen and Watercolors on Paper
Tools: Sakura Pigma Micron Pen 005, Watercolors from my Palette
Inspiration: Self Motivation and Passion for Arts, సాధన...

Size: 8 1/2" x 11" (21.5 cm x 28 cm)

Surface: Acid free Paper

Your Passion is your Best Companion...

Indian Classical Dance - A Sketch

Life always takes turns. Just because it took a turn, don't lose your focus and direction. Turn every life-turn into an opportunity and keep going. After all, nobody travels with you in your life-journey. Your passion is your best companion!

Keep Painting and Happy Painting!!

Details

Mediums: Ink Pen and Watercolors on Paper
Tools: Sakura Pigma Micron Pen 005 & 03, Watercolors from my Palette
Reference: Random Pictures from my Collection
Inspiration: Self Motivation and Passion for Arts, సాధన...

Size: 8 1/2" x 11" (21.5 cm x 28 cm)

Surface: Acid free Paper

Find ways...

Kuchipudi - Indian Classical Dance

After hectic weeks of work, one needs a break to regain energies and get going in life. For Artists, Art  helps more than anything to refresh mind, body and soul. Just attempted this to be in my own world for a couple of hours. As long as Art doesn't leave me, I am just fine ;)

When you lose energies, find ways to regain. Never give up!
Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Title: Kuchipudi - Indian Classical Dance
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: A picture I took at a recent Rangapravesam by one of my friend's daughter

Size: 11" x 17" (28 cm x 43 cm)

New Year - New Hope...

Sketch

New Year comes with new hope. New hope gives new energy...

Happy New Year!

Happy Painting!

Details
Inspiration: Sagara Sangamam Movie
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Surface: Strathmore SmoothBristol 100 lb (270 g/m2) Acid Free Paper

Size: 8 1/2" (21.5cm x 28 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)

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:

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)

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

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)

Nātyānjali-10: A Tribute to Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali - A Tribute to Indian Classical Dance

Twelve was the magic number I decided and wanted to do twelve Paintings when I started this series of Indian Classical Dance. Continuing the series on this subject, I am getting close to that number. Painting after Painting, I only tried to challenge myself.

Enjoyed so much of doing it!

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Natyanjali-10
Category: Random portraits - Admirers
Inspiration: A commercial video of Shobhana

Size: 16" x 24" (41 cm x 51 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Opera Rose, Cadmium Orange, Ultramarine Violet, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Cobalt Blue, Neutral Tint, and HWC Yellow Ochre 

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

Nātyānjali-9: A Tribute to Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali- A tribute to Indian Classical Dance

Gifted

Continuing my series on the subject of "Indian Classical Dance", I tried this painting a bit different than any other previously done on this subject. With a mixture of both cool and warm colors, I tried to get some dramatic effect of light coming through the skies onto everything visible in this painting.

Light is what makes our eyes see objects. It is also the light that makes a Painting look interesting and beautiful. Painting after painting, I am still trying to learn the Art of seeing light and the skill of bringing it out from the paper, which otherwise is spread all over hiding the actual Painting in it.

This painting is based on a commercial of Indian Handloom in which the versatile dancer Shobhana danced to the wonderful tunes. This video, so beautifully done, is the source of inspiration for my painting. Here is the link to the actual video.

Happy colorful and de-lightful Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Natyanjali-9
Category: Random portraits - Admirers
Inspiration: A commercial video of Shobhana

Size: 15" x 22" (38 cm x 56 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Saunders Rough High White Watercolor paper, 140 lb Cold Press

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Opera Rose, Ultramarine Violet, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Cobalt Blue, Neutral Tint, and HWC Yellow Ochre 

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

Nātyānjali-7: Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali - Portrait of Kamal Haasan from the
Telugu movie Sagara Sangamam

The series of my paintings on the subject of "Indian classical Dance" will only be incomplete without at least one painting based on the movie Sagara Sangamam - one of greatest Indian movies of all time on the same subject.

This is the movie that inspires me on any given day. The Classical Dancer role played by Kamal Haasan - the most versatile and multi-talented actor of Indian Cinema, is heart-touchingly designed and directed by director Sri K.Viswanath.

As the movie inspires me every single time I watch it, I am happy, now this painting doubles that inspiration every time when I look at it.

In the climax of this movie, as it is rightly ends by saying- THERE IS NO END TO ART!

Keep Getting Inspired and Keep Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance
Category: Random portraits - from pictures
Inspiration: The Movie Sagara Sangamam

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Quincridone Gold,  Cobalt Turquoise Light, Ultramarine Violet and Neutral Tint

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

Nātyānjali-6: Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance

The Nātyānjali series I started last August continues with this 6th painting in the series.
Check my previous paintings on this subject here.

Keep Painting and Keep Practicing ;)

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance
Category: Random portraits - from pictures
Inspiration: A picture

Size: 15" x 22" (38 cm x 55 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Saunders Watercolor Paper Rough, 140 lb Cold Press

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Quincridone Gold, Ultra Marine Blue, Cadmium Red, Opera Rose, HWC Lavender and Neutral Tint

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

Natyanjali-4: Indian Classical Dance...

Indian Classical Dance

Natyanjali - the Series of Indian Classical Dance goes on...Happy to share this fourth Painting of this series.

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Artistico Fabriano Watercolor Paper, 140 lb Cold Press
Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Paints: Holbein Artist Watercolor (HWC) Cadmium Red,
Winsor & Newton Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Blue and Neutral Tint

Brushes: Raphail Mop 8, Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 1 and 5