Happy Girl...

Happy Girl

Oil on Canvas (22" x 28")

India is uniquely known for its rich cultural diversity and traditions. Rajasthan a northern state of India with its own traditional attire for woman named Ghagra.

A Happy Rajasthani Girl in traditional Ghagra, a full-length embroidered and pleated skirt that typically comes in variety of colors and prints is depicted in this painting done in Oil on Canvas.

వినాయకుడు...

"పూజ వినాయకుడు"

Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"

ఏ కొత్త పని మొదలుపెడుతున్నా హిందువులు మొదట పూజించేది వినాయకుడినే. 2010 నుంచి దాదాపు పదేళ్ళపాటు ప్రతి  "వినాయక చవితి" కీ మట్టితో వినాయకుడిని చేస్తూ, అది ఒక సాంప్రదాయంగా మలుచుకుని పాటిస్తూ వచ్చాను. నాలుగేళ్ళక్రితం ఆ సాంప్రదాయానికి స్వస్తి పలికేశాను.

వినాయకుడిని ఆయిల్ పెయింటింగ్ వెయ్యాలని ఒకటి రెండు సార్లు మొదలుపెట్టినా అవేవీ పూర్తి కాకుండానే నిలిచిపోయి, నా డ్రీమ్ ఆయిల్ పెయింటింగ్స్ లో వినాయకుడిని వెయ్యలేదన్న లోటు ఇప్పడిదాకా అలాగే ఉండి పోయింది. ఇనాళ్ళకి పూర్తి చేశాను అన్న తృప్తి ఈ పెయింటింగ్ లో దాగింది.

My soul lives in my Art...

My Oil Paintings lined up in my Art Studio before they go on to the walls.

My dream of “Oil Painting” was born in my heart when I first visited “The Salarjung Musuem” in Hyderabad when I was 15 years old. The European Gallery over there took my breath away for a longtime. It was chasing me inside me since then for years wherever I went whatever I did.

Now I feel proud to be surrounded by “my dream come true!”.

“My soul lives in my Art” ~ Giridhar Pottepalem

"శ్రీ రామ చంద్రుడు"...

"శ్రీ రామ చంద్రుడు"

Oil on Canvas - 24" x36" (2' x 3')

ఊహ తెలిశాక నాన్న వేసిన మూడు శ్రీరామ చంద్రుని బొమ్మలు రోజూ మా ఇంట్లో చూస్తూనే పెరిగాను. తన పన్నెండేళ్ళ వయసులో నాన్న పుట్టిన ఊరు "దామరమడుగు" లో పెరిగిన ఇంట్లో మిద్దెమీద నున్నటి తెల్లని సున్నపు గోడమీద రంగులతో చిత్రించిన బాణం పట్టుకుని ఫ్రేమ్ లో ఇమిడి చక్కగా నిలబడి ఉన్న "కోదండ రాముడు" మొదటిది. అదే గోడపైన పక్కనే రెండవది రంగుల చిత్రం, చెట్టుకింద "సీతారాములు", ఎదురుగా బంగారు లేడి ని చూపిస్తూ పట్టి తెచ్చి ఇమ్మని చెయ్యి చూపెట్టి అడుగుతున్న సీత. మూడవది నాన్న B.Ed Training చేసిన కాలేజి "Vijaya Teachers College, Bangalore" లో ఉన్నపుడు ఆ కాలేజి మ్యాగజైన్ ముఖచిత్రం కోసం వేసిన ఇంట్లో ఫ్రేమ్ కట్టించి ఉన్న "సీతారాములు" పోర్ట్రెయిట్. ఈ మూడు బొమ్మల ప్రభావం పోర్ట్రెయిట్ అంటే ఇలానే వెయ్యాలి అనేంతగా నా బొమ్మల్లో ఇప్పటికీ ఉంది, ఎప్పటికీ ఉంటుంది.

ఆధునిక భావాలున్న నాన్న కి దేవుడంటే నమ్మకం ఉండేది కాదు. అయినా వేసిన కొద్ది బొమ్మల్లో "శ్రీరాముడు" బొమ్మలే ఎక్కువ ఉండటం విశేషం. నాన్న పేరు "రామచంద్రయ్య", బహుశా ఆ పేరు ప్రభావం నాన్న మీద ఉండి ఉండొచ్చు.

చిన్నపుడు "బుచ్చిరెడ్డిపాళెం" లో నాన్న హైస్కూలు టీచర్ గా ఉన్నపుడు మేము ఎక్కువగా వెళ్ళిన చాలా సువిశాలమైన పెద్ద దేవాలయం "శ్రీ కోదండ రామాలయం". ఆ దేవాలయం తిరునాళ్ళు అప్పట్లో చాలా గొప్పగా జరిగేవి. నా నాలుగేళ్ళ వయసులో చూసిన "తెప్పోత్సవం" రాత్రి కోనేరు చుట్టూ చేరిన ఆ జనం మధ్య కోనేటి నీళ్ళల్లో "తెప్ప" మీద ఉత్సవం ఇంకా గుర్తున్నాయి.  శ్రీరామ నవమి ఉత్సవాలప్పుడు పది రోజులపాటు రోజూ వేకువ ఝామున ఊరేగింపు వచ్చే రాముడి ని మా చిన్నపుడు మమ్మల్ని నిద్రలేపి రోడ్డు మీదికి తీసుకెళ్ళి చూపించి మా కళ్ళకి హారతి అద్దిన మా "బామ్మ" చేతి మీద "శ్రీ రాములు" అన్న పచ్చబొట్టు అక్షరాలూ ఇంకా గుర్తున్నాయి. చిన్నపుడు ఎప్పుడూ బామ్మ చెయ్యి చూసి, బామ్మా నీకు కృష్ణుడంటే ఇష్టం కదా అయితే "శ్రీ రాములు" అని ఎందుకు పచ్చబొట్టు వెయ్యించుకున్నావ్ అని అడిగేవాళ్ళం. రామాయణ ఇతిహాసం "బామ్మ" చెప్పిన కథల్లో ఊ కొడుతూ విన్నాం. ఇప్పటి తరం కి ఆ ఇతిహాసాలు తెలీవు, కథలుగా చెప్పే బామ్మలూ లేరు, ఉన్నా వాళ్ళ  దగ్గర పెరిగే వీలూ లేదు. భారతీయ ఇతిహాసాల్లోని మహావీరులకన్నా పాశ్చాత్య కామిక్ బొమ్మల వీరులే బాగా పరిచయమైపోయారు.

భారతీయ సంస్కృతి, ఇతిహాసాల్లో "శ్రీ రాముడు" ని ఆదిపురుషుడు గానూ పిలుస్తారు, కొలుస్తారు. ఈమధ్య వచ్చిన పాశ్చాత్య కామిక్ ప్రభావంతో వచ్చి మెప్పించలేకపోయిన "ఆదిపురుష్" సినిమా ప్రభావంతో వేసిన పెయింటింగ్ మాత్రం కాదిది. దాదాపు రెండేళ్ళ క్రితం ఒక పేరు తెలియని శిల్పి చేతిలో చెక్కబడ్డ "శ్రీరాముడు" చెక్క శిల్పం బొమ్మ ఆధారంగా మొదలుపెట్టిన ఈ "శ్రీ రామ చంద్రుడు" ని ఇప్పటికి పూర్తి చెయ్యగలిగాను.

అన్నిటికన్నా మిన్నగా ఈ పెయింటింగ్ కి నేను పెట్టుకున్న పేరు, నాన్న పేరూ రెండూ ఒక్కటే - "శ్రీ రామ చంద్రుడు"!

ADIPURUSH - from my Art Studio (preview)...

The work in progress.

Oil on Canvas (2 feet x 3 feet)

A piece of my Soul found a new home . . .

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance

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

Soul lives beyond life. My Soul is my Art.

We, a small group of Indian Artists started our group Kalakruti's association and our journey with Learn Quest Academy of Music in 2015. Since then our presence has been there every year at their Annual Event, "A 3-Day Festival of Indian Classical Music".

I still remember all the hard-work we did to make the room look better, the very first year when Learn Quest organizers gave us the room called "Black Room" to display our Art works, wherein the Musicians and Singers come out into, during breaks to meet their fans. Year after year, it got so better and our Kalakruti's presence over there has become an integral part of this event.

After a three year break that the Pandemic had given to the Planet, human-life started getting back to normal, so as several events, gatherings and energies too. This year we had our 6th presence in a row at their "15th Annual Music Conference in Boston", and we filled the "Black Room" again with our Art energies. It was nice and great feeling to be around with Artists and Art lovers.

I had my 3 Paintings displayed this year. And, one found a new home. Many thanks to Dr. Megha Joshi and her husband who bought this painting taking it as a gift to her Sister-in-law's Dance School in California. Also, thanks to Learn Quest Organizers. This is an Oil Painting I did back in 2018. I was very happy that a-piece-of-my-soul found it's new home to live longer.

Original Art goes with a "piece of life" in it. It's not merely a physical a piece of work. It is a piece of work that has a piece of life-time, skill and effort put in the creation of it. Unlike a machine made work, it has life in it and brings back life in any room at any place.

"Life expires, Soul doesn't." ~ Giridhar Pottepalem

 

Father and Son time...

Portrait of Geno Smith, American Football Seahawks Quarterback player

Oil on Canvas 24" x 36"

Father and Son Time

"Dad, I wanna do some Oil Painting of this over my Spring break." - got a message from my son Bhuvan, last Sunday, a day before he was scheduled to fly from Detroit to Boston for a 5-day Spring break, coming home. Along with the message, he sent me a picture of American Football player - Seahawks team  Quarterback, Geno Smith.

"Sure Boo babu, I will teach you.", I replied.

I was looking forward to the moment. He arrived Monday night. Tuesday morning he wanted to start his very first Oil Painting. Of course, he watched me several times doing Oil Paintings.

Day-1, Tuesday

All my Art material, framed paintings, blank canvases were still inside boxes in the basement in our new house we moved into 2 months ago. I took a 30 minute break after my morning meetings to open up the boxes, finding all required for him to start painting. I was able to locate and find all needed.

In the afternoon break, I quickly showed him on a canvas size newsprint paper, how to start sketching with a pencil, then outlining with a single Oil Paint, and then start underpainting. I even showed him how to hold the brush for an ease of hand movements. Bhuvan has been a keen observer right from his childhood. He picked up all in no time and then get going all by himself.

His underpainting looked very good in just one color of some brown shade. He followed all what I said identifying 3 different areas of light: leaving white canvas in the lighter areas, covering dark areas with paint, and covering light areas with lighter shade of the same color. He was on the right track.

Day-2, Wednesday

He asked me about how to proceed with the next steps. I explained him how to choose colors, mix colors on the palette, start painting the first abstract layer. He continued along the path.

Day-3, Saturday

Two days he didn't touch it, and as he was leaving Sunday morning, he was determined to finish it on Saturday afternoon. He focused on details, changed background the way he was visualizing the finished painting. He was on a mission that afternoon to complete. Indeed he finished and signed. He was so happy of his accomplishment at the end; took lot of pictures with it.

He came to me after dinner and shared his most happy moment, saying- "Dad, do you know that I posted this painting on Instagram and tagged "Geno Smith" and he liked it.", showing me that. I know that a sports star responding to an unknown fan's post/story on social media is a defined moment. I was extremely happy for Bhuvan.

Carrying forward the Legacy...

Kids watch us very closely, learn, and follow. I still remember the only one incident of my Dad doing an art work of "Swami Vivekananda" that I watched a little bit when I was 6 years old. That was a "defining moment" which put me on my Art journey with a life-long passion for it.

I am quite happy that my son started getting back onto his early developed childhood Art sense. Once you feel the "kick" of how satisfied you will be from your creation, you want to experience it again and again. That's an amazing feeling in any Art!

For me, it took 3 months to finish my very first oil painting. Bhuvan did it in just 3 days, working few hours each day. Also, it's big in size, 2 feet x 3 feet. I did not have any master to learn from. That's the difference. Learning from a master is like learning years of his experience in just a very short-time. One must be lucky to have this kind of opportunity. I am lucky to have my Son learning years of my experience.

I am with an amazing feeling now - my soul lives longer with my Son in his first Oil Painting, a first of it's kind experience.

"When my Son carries my legacy, I extend my life."

~ Giridhar Pottepalem

"స్పందన"...

"స్పందన"

Oil on Canvas (16" x 20")

నా చిన్న నాటి మిత్రుడు "మల్లయ్య" కి పువ్వులన్నా, ప్రకృతి అన్నా, కళలూ, సాహిత్యం అన్నా ఎంతో ఇష్టం. వీటిని ఇష్టపడే, ఇవంటే స్పందించే హృదయాలన్నిటినీ ఒకచోట చేర్చి రోజూ ఎన్నో ఆహ్లాదకర విషయాలు తెలుసుకుంటూ, పంచుకుంటూ, ఆహ్లాదంగా సాగిపోయేదే "స్పందన" వాట్సప్ గ్రూప్. 

అందులో ఒకరోజు మల్లయ్య తన ఇంట పూలకుండీలో విరబూసిన పువ్వులని ఫొటో తీసి పెడితే "చాలా బాగుంది మల్లయ్యా" అన్న నా స్పందనకి ప్రతిస్పందిస్తూ "ఇది పెయింటింగ్ వెయ్యి గిరీ" అని అడిగిన మాట ప్రేరణగా, గుర్తుగానూ వేసిన "ఆయిల్ పెయింటింగ్" ఇది. ఒక గంట అవుట్ లైన్స్, ఇంకో ఐదారు గంటల పెయింటింగ్ పని. నేను అత్యంత త్వరగా పూర్తి చేసిన కొద్ది ఆయిల్ పెయింటింగ్స్ లో ఇదీ ఒకటి.

ఆర్ట్ కూడా పువ్వులంత సున్నితమే. ప్రకృతికి స్పందించే గుణం ని పుణికి పుచ్చుకున్న పువ్వుల్లా, ఆర్టిస్ట్ కీ భావనలకి స్పందించే గుణమే ఎక్కువ. మా "స్నేహ స్పందన" ల గుర్తుగా అతిత్వరలోనే ఈ పెయింటింగ్ ని ఫ్రేమ్ చేసి "మిత్రుడు మల్లయ్య" కి నా చేతులతోనే ఇచ్చే రోజు కోసం ఎదురు చూస్తూ...

"స్పందించే హృదయం ఉంటే ఆహ్లాదం తనంతట తనే వెతుక్కుంటూ వస్తుంది." - గిరిధర్ పొట్టేపాళెం

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నా చేతులతో మిత్రుడు మల్లయ్యకివ్వాలని అనుకున్నట్టూ, మాట ఇచ్చినట్టుగానే జనవరి 2022, సంక్రాంతి రోజున నెల్లూరులో పండుగ జరుపుకుంటున్న మా ఇంటికి "తిరుపతి ప్రసాదం" తోబాటు "వెకటేశ్వర స్వామి" నీ తీసుకుని కొడుకుతోనూ వచ్చిన "మల్లయ్య" ని కలవగలగటం, కలిసినపుడు ఈ పెయింటింగ్ ని నా చేతులతోనే ఇవ్వటం ఎన్నటికీ మరచిపోలేని అనుభూతి. 

"మన పని ఏదైనా దాని విలువని గుర్తించి దాన్ని గౌరవించే వారిని చేరినప్పుడె అది సాఫల్యం అవుతుంది." - గిరిధర్ పొట్టేపాళెం

"ఏ పనికైనా ప్రేరణ ఒక్క మాటలోనో, ఆలోచనలోనో దాగి ఉంటుంది. దానికి స్పందించే గుణం ఉంటేనే అది కార్యరూపం దాలుస్తుంది." - గిరిధర్ పొట్టేపాళెం

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Details 

Title: స్పందన

Reference: Picture by my friend Mallaiah

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Size: 16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"...

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"
Oil Painting on Canvas 
A repost to support India's PM call to India to "light up a candle"
as a symbol of "unity" at 9PM for 9 minutes on Apr 5, 2020.

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"

As the entire world of people are facing the toughest time in their life-time for their own survival and existence, the call that our PM Mr. Narendra Modi gave to all Indians to "light up a candle" this Sunday at 9PM for 9 minutes, makes me think. Hope my thoughts in words make others also think.

As long as an act of doing something united with good intentions doesn't harm and hurt anyone in anyway, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to think in a different direction or make fun of it. The direction here for this kind of call, the second time from our PM is very clear and the direction is "FORWARD". So, let's think forward without forgetting backward...

Facebook, WhatsApp ల్లో ఈ పిలుపు మీద వచ్చిన, వస్తున్న జోకులూ, వెటకారాలు చూస్తే మనం ఎటువైపెళ్తున్నామో అర్ధం కాని పరిస్థితి. కొంత మంది రాశులూ, తిథులూ, నక్షత్రాలకూ ఈ పిలుపుని లెఖ్ఖలు కట్టి మరీ చెప్తుంటే, మరికొందరు సైన్సూ, టెక్నాలజీ, దుమారం అంటూ కొట్టిపడేస్తున్నారు. ఇవన్నీ పక్కన బెట్టి ఈ పద్ధతిని వారానికి ఒక్కసారి దేశం అంతా పాటిస్తే వచ్చే లాభం అంతా ఇంతా కాదు. కరెంట్ తోబాటు మరెన్నో కొరతల్నీ అధిగమించవచ్చు. మామూలు రోజుల్లో ఇలాంటి పిలుపుని అమలు చెయటం కష్టతరం. కానీ ఇప్పుడున్న పరిస్థితుల్లో చాలా సులభం, చాలా ఆరోగ్యకరం. అన్నిటికి మించి ప్రజల్లో చాలా చైతన్యం తెస్తుంది, ఇస్తుంది, వస్తుంది, నింపుతుంది. ఆలోచనా పెరుగుతుంది. క్లిష్ట సమయాల్లో అందర్నీ UNITE చేసి చైతన్యపరిచేవాడే నిజమైన "లీడర్".

గాంధి ఉప్పుసత్యాగ్రహాన్ని అప్పుడెందరు పరిహాసం చేశారో తెలీదు గానీ ఇప్పటి తరం తప్పకుండా  పరిహాసం పాలు చేసి నీరుకార్చొచ్చు. ఉప్పుమీద ఆగ్రహం ఏంటి అంటూ జోకులూ వెయ్యొచ్చు, డిబేట్లూ పెట్టొచ్చు. ఎందుకంటే ఇది సోషల్ మీడియా యుగం, మనమెంతో ముందుకెళ్తున్నాం, పురోగతి సాధించామని మనందరి అపోహ. సాధించాం...సైన్స్ పరంగా, టెక్నాలజీ పరంగా. కానీ జీవనపరంగా మాత్రం కానే కాదు. అప్పుడూ సోషల్ మీడియాలోనే అంతా జీవించారు. ప్రకృతితో సోషల్ అయ్యారు. మనిషీ మనిషీ కలిసి పలకరించుకుని మాట్లాడుకునే మీడియా లో బ్రతికారు. ఇప్పుడీ విపత్తు మనిషిని మళ్ళీ నిజమైన ఆనాటి సోషల్ మీడియా వైపు చూసేలా చేస్తుంది. ఇప్పుడు మనిషి జీవనం లో మార్పుకి "ఆలోచన" అనే విత్తనం వేస్తుంది. అది ఏదో ఒకరోజు మొలకెత్తక పోదు, మనషి మారకపోడు.

Olympics medals పట్టికలో ఎప్పుడూ వెనకే ఉంటాం అని మనల్ని మనమే అపహాస్యం చేసుకుంటాం, ఇప్పుడూ "కరోనా కేసుల రేసు" పట్టికలోనూ మనము వెనకే ఉన్నాం. ఉంటాం కూడ, మనల్నెవరూ కుట్రపన్ని బలవతంగా ముందుకి లాక్కెళ్లకుంటే. ఇందులో ఇంకా ఇంకా వెనకపడాలనే అందరం కోరుకుందాం. ఈ రేసులో ఎంత వెనకపడితే ఈ ప్రపంచంలో అంత ముందుకొస్తాం, అంత పైకొస్తాం. ఇంట్లో అమ్మచేతి వంట మన చేత్తో తినటం మానేసి, ఎవరో వండింది, ఎలా వండారో, ఎప్పుడు వండారో కూడా తెలీకుండా, ఎందరో ఎన్నిసార్లో వాడి సరిగా కడిగారో కూడా తెలీక, ఇదే చాలా ఫ్యాషన్, చాలా బెటర్ అని రెస్టారెంట్ లో కూర్చుని స్పూన్లు, ఫోర్కులతో  తినే (అ)నాగరికత కి అలవాటు పడిపోయాం. ఆరోగ్యకరమైన అలవాట్లు పాటించి చాలా కాలమే అయిపోయింది. ఇప్పుడు సడన్ గా లైట్లు ఆపి 9 నిమిషాలు దీపం వెలిగించండి అంటే కష్టమే. ఒకప్పుడు రోజూ ఇది పద్ధతే, ఈ పద్ధతి ఇప్పటికీ, ఎప్పటికీ మంచిదే. పాటిస్తే తప్పు లేదు, జరిగేది మంచే, మనలో నిండేది వెలుగే, వెలుగుతో వచ్చేది మార్పే, ఆ మార్పుతో వచ్చేది ముమ్మాటికీ చైతన్యమే.

ఈ పిలుపు వెనక అర్ధం సైన్సూ కాదు, మతం అంతకన్నా కాదు. దీని ముఖ్య ఉద్దేశ్యం "UNITY".

The world has united at last fighting for the same cause, but the human is still divided. The most advanced nations are all struggling to unite people on this. Previous generations of Indians had proven to the world in the past what "UNITY" means. The time has come again for this generation to teach the world how to live, and how to "truly live". There is no country on the earth better than INIDA to teach the world on "how to live".

I appreciate all who support this call understanding the cause behind, and follow it on this Sunday at 9 PM for 9 minutes. This is the respect we give to our Leader and to our Nation.

"వెలుగిచ్చే దీపం చైతన్యానికి రూపం

చీకట్లు చీలుస్తూ మార్గం చూపే దైవం"

(*This is not a post on my Art, this is a post on my thought.)

Less is more and more is less...

With my beloved sister Indira Meka   
Walking in the campus, the Univ. of California San Diego

The trip that has been long overdue for almost two decades happened last weekend as I flew to San Francisco with my son Rithvik to visit my beloved sister Indira Meka and to attend the college graduation commencement of my niece Prathyusha. She is the first one of next generation kid from our family to graduate from the college. We had a very good time that I could never imagine to have in a 3-day short trip. This trip was so special and will remain a memorable one, forever.

Beginning my visit with a warm welcome and delicious home made dinner after 6-hour long flight from Boston to San Francisco.....my oil painting I carried with me finding a new corner place in the living room at the home where several of my original paintings are living including the one I did in 1988.....next day 8-hour drive to San Diego with nature's beautifully painted mountains along the way with an added experience of infamous LA traffic.....the following day, proud moments with my niece Prathyusha's college graduation commencement at the Univ. of California San Diego.....inspiring speech by the former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright at the event.....time well spent with Muktesh who made my day with my first and fantastic drive of Tesla Model 3 car, as I was sold on at that moment for my next car with his introduction to all it's features, thank you Muktesh.....the 8-hour drive back home with all good old Telugu music and childhood memory talks with Indu.....the last day's traditional home made delicious breakfast of Idli & Dosa with a touch of Nellore in a banana leaf-top plate.....short relaxing time in the beautiful backyard with several flowers, vegetables around and a tree swing hanging to the maple tree.....followed by a 4-hour tour of San Francisco city covering stunning views from the Bay bridge, downtown, her office, pier 14 and the Ferry Building, Mahatma Gandhi statue at the pier, the amazing Golden Gate bridge, and the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts.....concluding our trip with a nice dinner at the White Elephant Thai restaurant on the way to airport.....got back with loaded meories and some fresh home grown garden veggies including lemons, beans and Ponaganti koora.

With less number of days spent with you in this trip, and more number of memories to cherish forever....Dear Indu, as you say "less is more" and live by example of that phrase, I would like to say the opposite- MORE IS LESS. Yes, I mean it with my own quote:

"Less is more for living, but more is less for loving". - Giridhar Pottepalem

Thanks for all the affection and love. Sisters are born for it!

Check my Facebook post for the complete pictorial tour.  

Here is a glimpse of it:

Found it's new home

Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco

Mahatma at the Pier, San Francisco

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

My painting done in 1988 living with Indu

2019 RISCA State Asian Art Exhibit...

Paintings on Display @ Atrium Galley
One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI, USA
May 6, 2019 - Aug 4, 2019.  

With great pleasure and many thanks to India Association of Rhode Island, I share that FOUR of my paintings will be showcased at the "2019 RISCA State Asian Art Exhibit" co-presented by India Association of Rhode Island and Hmong United Association of Rhode Island in association with  RISCA - Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

If you live around or going be around Providence RI USA, this summer, please, make a visit to support and encourage "Indian Art and Artists" in USA.

Moments of Gallery Night Reception May 16, 2019

Details
Exhibit Runs: May 6, 2019 - Aug 4, 2019
Gallery Night Reception: Thursday, May 16, 2019 6:00-8:30pm
Location: William E. Powers Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI, USA

Towards your destiny...

Dancing Feet

Oil on Stretched Canvas 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)
 

Destiny is not something that we reach by accident or by luck. It is something that we know very well about. But, what we don't know is how to reach. Efforts, efforts, efforts....that is all we need to put in for reaching it.

I have turned many of my thoughts and actions into habits by constantly doing. I always tell myself and others that once something becomes a habit, it is hard to live without it. Thought Art has been my primary hobby since my childhood, I turned it into a habit by re-starting it with sketching. Sketching for almost 2 years every single day on my commute to work on the train, and then constantly practicing every weekend for more than 6 years till date, now it is part of my life. I can't live without doing it. My weekend is not complete without it. It is now that much into me and my life!

This one is a continuation of my series of Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance. I've lost track of the running number of this series already, and cannot count on my fingers and toes anymore. It must be in twenties by now. This is my 12th finished Oil Painting and 3rd this year. If I can reach the magical number 12 by the end of this year, I would reach my goal, 1 per month on an average. That's an aggressive goal with much of time is taken by the busy life of profession, family, friends, books etc.

"Your beliefs become your thoughts.

Your thoughts become your words.

Your words become your actions.

Your actions become your habits.

Your habits become your values.

Your values become your destiny."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Painting!

March forward steadily towards your destiny!!

Details

Title: Dancing Feet, Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Oil on Stretched Canvas

Reference: A photograph from my collection

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Friends until the end...

Friends forever

Oil Painting requires patience, at every phase of it. It's more like cooking. If you do not have patience in cooking, you turn out to be a bad cook and most likely remain a bad cook for your life. If you only enjoy cooking, but not cutting vegetables before and cleaning dishes after, you are still not a good cook. A good cook needs patience at all phases and must enjoy the complete process of cooking. Similarly, Oil Painting requires quite a bit of setup before you get to touch the canvas with brush. At the end, cleaning brushes & palette is a real test to your patience. I have heard Artists saying- "I hate cleaning brushes". Well, if you hate cleaning brushes, you are not enjoying the process fully ;)

Like many beginners in Oil Painting, I went through the struggles of cleaning palette and brushes. With not knowing techniques, I spoiled expensive brushes and palettes. I also tried disposable wax-coated papers and plastic palettes, and was not happy with either. I do have a couple of wooden palettes, but am scared to touch those as I do not know how to clean dried-up painting on wood. Recently, after watching a youtube video, I made my own palette from a glass, removed from an old frame. I even spent my time quoting one side with gray acrylic paint and adding a thin border all around with duct tape. This one worked out to my best satisfaction and I am quite happy. Cleaning is as easy as scrapping the paint. Of course, I had to visit hardware stores finding a good paint scrapper. Don't try to scrape any other way, nothing works better than a good paint scrapper ;)

You have to learn by experimenting in order to arrive at what works best for you. It's a scientifically proven fact, that the best option is always the last one. To arrive at it, you will have to try all other options. Life is meant to work that way only. If it works any different for anybody, that person is an extraordinary person ;)

After experiencing and knowing what I want, I've decided to invest my money & time to buy expensive palette. This new New Wave Posh Tabletop Palette with corner guards and gray-coated on one side, is my new friend I have now in my journey of Oil Painting.

It's a false belief that only people have hearts. Non-living things do have hearts; only if you can feel. Unlike living people, non-livings do not hurt. All they need is little care, they always give their best to you.

My dear new friends, new palette and brushes, I promise to give you a good care. Let's start our colorful journey on the path of Oil Painting, and make it a memorable journey together...

Happy Painting! Happy caring!!

"Caring- about people, about things, about life- is an act of maturity."

- Tracy McMillan

Dancing Saree...

Dancing Saree
Oil on Stretched Canvas 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36"; 60 cm x 91.5 cm)
 

When you stop doing, you stop learning. So, don't stop. Keep going, going....and going...

There is an abandoned Painting underneath this painting. I Gessoed and started this over that.

This is my 11th finished Oil Painting and 2nd this year. I decided to change my signature from now on by joining brush and my name. Don't know why I did, I guess it only looks more professional now ;)

"I am still learning." - Michelangelo

Happy Painting!

Details

Title: Dancing Saree
Mediums: Oil on Stretched Canvas

Reference: A photograph from my collection

Size: 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36")

Surface: Artist's Loft Stretched Canvas board, Gesso'd to cover an abandoned sketch

Just enough is more than enough...

A Sketch for an Oil Painting
Oil on Canvas, 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36")

I see some of my Artist friends spend too much time in getting more details into a sketch for an Oil/Acrylic Painting. From my learnings, failure & successful experiences, sketching is an important first-step in Painting, but it must be fast and fairly accurate. It is the beginning phase with which an Artist can quickly decide on the composition and do quick outlines of the main objects with just minimal details.

Oil Painting, particularly is relatively longer anyways, and offers opportunities for corrections at any and every given stage. So, there is no need to spend too much time upfront on the details. Even if you put in all the details, they go away covered by paints once you start painting. As long as the composition and proportions look fairly accurate and good to you, that is good enough. I wouldn't spend more than 15 to 30 minutes on sketching for an Oil Painting.

Many professional oil-painting Artists do sketches very quickly. If a more detailed study is needed they do it separately on a Paper with a pencil or a pen. Good Painters are also good at drawing and sketching. I have seen and heard people saying that Painting doesn't require any experience with drawing. That is a complete-lie and totally wrong. It's like saying, you don't need to know how to walk in order to run. Drawing skills are basics in Art. Aspiring Artists must practice and keep practicing basics. There might be shortcuts for earning money, but not in learning. Practice is the only way! The more you practice, the more you learn and the better you will be.

Learning is a life-long process. The moment we step into this world, our learning starts. We only graduate in life moments before we die, if we live a full-life, of course. Those who don't make it that far are only dropouts.

This sketch with left over oil-paints is fairly big in size, 2 feet x 3 feet (24" x 36") and I spent about 30 minutes to do both my sketch and underpainting. I am all set now for another colorful journey, can't wait to get my hands dirty with Paints all over ;)

"He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough." - Lao Tzu

Happy Painting!
Do not stop learning, do not stop growing!

The progress - Step by step

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Reference: A photograph from my collection

Size: 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36")

Surface: Artist's Loft Stretched Canvas board, Gesso'd to cover an abandoned sketch

Grow young...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance

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

You are born only once and you celebrate your birthday each year. But, you can be reborn and celebrate it everyday with your passion. There is a reason behind every life in nature. Everything that happens in and around your life is only supportive for that. It takes long time to find it out. Once found, live with a passion for it. Then only you will grow, and grow young...

This Oil Painting is my Gift to myself on my Birthday today. I worked hard to finish it by today. Happy to start my day by giving finishing touches to it, finished and signed.

This is my 10th finished Oil Painting, first this year. The color combination was bit challenging. I changed background colors few times and finally settled with the same prime colors of the main painting. First time on this brand of canvas, it challenged me to great extent.

"It takes a long time to become young." - Pablo Picasso

Happy Painting!
Grow young and stay young forever!!

Details

Title: Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph from my digital collection

Size: 22" x 28" (55.8 cm x 71.1 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft, Level-2, Stretched Canvas board

Enjoy the outcome..

Oil on Canvas - work in progress

Video Credits: Bhuvan Pottepalem

Several people have been saying to me lately that it's easy for me, and I do Paintings just like that. No, that's not true. In fact, nothing is easy for me in life. There is only sheer hard work behind every result and every success of mine.

"The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest." - Deepika Padukone

Happy Painting!
Work hard and enjoy the outcome of it!!

Details do matter...

Details - Oil On Canvas 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)
A tiny portion of my new Painting

Details do matter. A big picture is a sum of many details, with each detail crafted carefully and blended into another. Each day in life is nothing but a detailed memory. A series of memories becomes an experience. Not giving importance to details is like neglecting memories.

Artists take viewers into details at various levels. Abstract or detailed, it doesn't matter in Art. A painting of any kind takes viewers into its own level of details. An abstract painting may take into higher level of details, while a detailed painting may take into the deeper levels. A viewer can feel the experience of an Artist only when gone inside, into the details of it.

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life."

- William Morris

Don't be abstract in life, give details, and pay attention to details!
Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Size: 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Looking back 2018 - The Year of Oil Painting with a Soulful experience...

Looking Back 2018
The Year of Oil Painting with a Soulful experience

As another year goes into history books, it is that time of the year to look back before saying "Goodbye". The year 2018 is a great year for my Art with remarkable memories and milestones along the path. Following are just some of those to cherish forever:

• Accepted the challenge and did a live painting in 30 minutes organized by Calcutta Club, USA. The painting was auctioned at the end to raise funds for a charity. It was the first live painting experience for me and I enjoyed it fully.
• Also, performed another live painting at Sanskriti 2018, an Indian Book Fair and Literature Festival at which Shobha De was the keynote speaker.
• Approached by TANA to do a cover page for Ugadi issue, TANA magazine. Very first time for my painting to appear on a cover page for a magazine, was certainly an honor.
• My Engineering classmate and one of my good friends, Kiran dedicated a song sung by him to my Art, what an honor by another talent!
• Exhibited my Paintings along with fellow Kalakruti Artists at a couple of events including the annual conference,  Learnquest Music Academy in which one of my watercolor paintings got Sold. Thanks to Mrs. Sukanya Lahiri Soderland from Winchester, MA who owned my painting.
• Designed a CD cover for a spiritual music album done by Mrs. Shuchita Rao which was officially released at this year's Learnquest Music Academy annual conference. Thanks Shuchita Rao garu for approaching me giving me this opportunity.
• Did a series of watercolor paintings inspired by the movie, Rangasthalam. with the first sketch done at Chennai Air Port on the way to my hometown Nellore while I had to wait for an hour for my sister Indira. 
• Took Dancing Krishna painting with me to Nellore, India, got it framed and gifted to my brother Sridhar. Dedicated it to my beloved Baamma without whom I wouldn't have been what I am today.
• Visited my favorite book-stall ChelvaPilla Book Stores, Kavali after nearly 25 years. Buying a pen and a pencil selected by the owner Lakshmi Narayana garu was the most memorable experience of this year.
• Painted Lord Ganesha, based a gift that I got from my sister Chinni, both in Watercolors and in Oil.
• Created special morning time during my summer Canada trip with the family, and did sketches from the hotels we stayed in Quebec City and Montreal, Canada.
• Made two sculptures Lord Ganesha and a Woman bust with Natural Clay.
• Visited two Art Museums: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• Gifted a few paintings to friends and family.
• Painted statues of Goddess Durga, Radha and Krishna at Sri Sai Chavadi Temple, Canton, MA.
• Displayed two of my paintings selected in a juried Art Show organized by Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Pawtucket, RI.
• Concluded this year with an Oil Painting as my tribute to Indian Classical Dance.

I am absolutely pleased with my dedication, efforts, participations and museum visits this year. My summer visit to two Art museums, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA hooked me to Oil Painting. I did more Oil Paintings this year that I could ever imagine to do in the shortest possible time. The sizes vary from small (11" x 14") to very big (3 feet x 2 feet). Also, styles vary from realism to abstract.

That's a fantastic soulful of satisfaction. With several professional-quality Oil Paintings done, this year, I took my Art to new levels. I can certainly declare 2018 year as "The year of Oil Painting" in my life. Once a dream media, Oil Painting, is not a dream media any more. I am glad that I could live up to the title of my blog My Soul on Canvas. When I started this blog, my heart-felt title is fulfilled now. I am looking forward to put more of my soul on the canvas in 2019 with new goals set at new heights.

Thanks to all friends on Facebook for their likes and encouraging comments. Thanks to people who took time to visit my paintings & read my writings (my another passion) on my blog and shared their feelings by comments. Also, thanks to Art lovers on Instagram who loved my Arts.

“Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” - Dave Mustaine

Thank you very much 2018, a Soulful Goodbye!

Welcome to 2019! Happy New (Painting) Year!!
నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు!!!

Bonded with Love...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance

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

I wanted to end this year with a Painting that I would be bonded with love. I never struggled this much to start a new Painting. I started a couple of underpainting sketches on canvas, but was not happy and scrapped those at the early stages.

I already had a rough underpainting sketch done for this Painting about a month ago, but I was not happy with my start. As I messed up body proportions, I kept it aside. I picked it up again and said to myself, 'this is the subject close my my heart, and I cannot leave it like that, I will have to complete it'. I corrected proportions as I was progressing. The size is bit small for getting this kind of output, and I had to put more efforts to get the outcome I wanted.

I am glad that I picked up this and I am quite happy with the result. This is my 9th finished Oil Painting, and 7th one this year alone. With that, I conclude this year, 2018. This is not the first time I leaned the fact that 'when we add love to what you do, we achieve excellence'.

"Love is the bond of perfection." - John Winthrop

Happy Painting!

Keep up the good work!!

Details

Title: Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph of Dream Girl - Hema Malini from my collection

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board