The Language of Soul...

Multi-talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn 

Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11") 

You soul is your true self. Know the language of your soul, speak to it, feel it and be with it.
Just be you, be with you and refresh your soul!

Every Painting is a challenge to the Artist. Apart from the usual challenges, the main challenge I had in this painting was to show true age of the girl most probably entering her teens.

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul, of the body." ~ Martha Graham

Happy Painting!

Happy being you!!

Details
Title: Natyanjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Face Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Presence in Absence...

"Presence in Absence"   
Watercolors on Paper (13" x 4.5")

Darkness disappears when light appears. Presence of light is the absence of darkness and vice versa. Have your presence even in your absence through your works and through your soul.

Make your Soul grow and glow in what you do!

"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present."

~ Francis Bacon

Happy Painting!
Happy Soul!!

Details
Title: Presence in Absence...
Reference: A picture of Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 13" x 4.5" (33 cm x 12.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Champion your Talent...

"The Portrait of Talent"

Portrait of Karronya Katrynn - Young talented Dancer and Telugu Actress

Watercolors on Paper (16" x 20")

Talent is a built-in and unique ability. Knowing that built-in ability, recognizing it, turning it into a quality, and letting it out is more than talent. It requires constant practice with no boundaries and limitations.

This portrait of talent is done in a unique way by mixing both slow and fast paced watercolor painting styles. Each style comes with its own challenges. With fast-paced style, dealing with color-flow and water control on the surface (paper) is a challenge. With slow-paced style, dealing with mixing colors as they sink in and dry fast into the surface is a challenge. After all, dealing with all those challenges, fixing any mistakes is another big challenge. Every watercolor painting is a new challenge.

Practice is the way, and in fact, the only way to overcome challenges and champion anything. Your talent is your friend, and is also your rival.

"Be a champion of your own talent, champion it with patience and practice."

~ Giridhar Pottepalem

Happy Painting!
Champion your own Talent!!

Details
Title: "The Portrait of Talent"
Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)

Surface: Arches Bright White140LB Cold Press Watercolor Paper 

With Loyal Friend...

"With Loyal Friend..."
Watercolors on paper (12" x 16")   

There is no best friend than a book. Reading is good for mind, body and soul.  A good book leaves a long lasting impact on us. When we read a book, we travel with the writer in our own way.

Reading a  painting is no different than reading a book. One who looks at a painting travels into it with the Artist. A painting is nothing but an Artist's colorful journey with the subject. A colorful journey that viewer can experience as well. At the end, experience is what we carry with us. Be Loyal when you travel with somebody or something. Loyalty is what leaves us with a good experience!

"There is no friend as loyal as a book." ~ Ernest Hemingway

Happy Painting!
Be Loyal to good friends!!

Details
Title: With Loyal Friend...
Mediums: Watercolor Paper
Size: 12" x 16" (31 cm x 41 cm)

Surface: Fabriano Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Challenges...

Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")   

Challenges make you better and grow. If everything is so easy, then everyone does everything so well. If everyone can do everything, there is no fun and no frustration.

“Painting is a never-ending process of challenges and learning.”

~Daniel Greene

Happy Painting!
Enjoy challenges, never give up!!

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Saunders Extra White Watercolor Paper
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Kobe Bryant...

My Tribute to Kobe Bryant    

Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

- Kobe Bryant (Aug 23, 1978 - Jan 26, 2020)

Creativity has no absence...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (12" x 16")   

There is no absence if you have presence of your creativity. Artists never get bored and creativity never gets tired, I keep saying that to everyone. When there is no presence of oneself in time, one gets bored and be absent from it. So, just have a presence in your time and you live in it, not others.

Happy Painting!
Happy Presence of Yourself!!

“There is never a lack of subject matter; just absence of creativity.” ~Lee Hammond

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Saunders Extra White Watercolor Paper
Size: 12" x 16" (31 cm x 41 cm)

Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Be what you are...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11") 

It's not easy to be what you are. Being what you are, you meet your best friend in the world- yourself. The same applies to Art. The most self-enjoyed art-work by an Artist is the Art that one makes for oneself, one's self enjoyment and experiment with paints and brushes. The result will be a soul-satisfying experience and memory!

This year, my Art-resolution is: "Not to compromise on the quality of output". If it is bit hard to get there, I should be doing bit more hard work. After all, I am a strong believer of hard-work, and if I don't challenge myself, there is no fun and enjoyment in doing Art for myself ;)

“Be the artist you are.” ~Cherie Haas

Happy Painting!

Happy being yourself!!

Details
Title: Natyanjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Face Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Beauty of the Soul...

"Beauty of the Soul"
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")    

It is said that eyes are windows to soul. Soul can be seen and heard from eyes as soul reflects and speaks through eyes. Eyes know the language of soul, expression.

I ended last year with the painting of a sad eye reflecting an unhappy soul. There might be reasons for a soul to be un-happy. But there are no reasons for a soul to be not-happy. Keep your soul happy and let the happiness of your soul be reflected bright in your eyes. Everything in the world looks clearly beautiful for a happy soul through a happy eye.

Connecting last year's last painting with this year's first painting, I took the same subject, Eye. This painting depicts a clear, bright and beautiful eye. If you can look straight into it, you will see the beauty of soul it reflects in it. An eye looks beautiful only when the soul is kept happy. So, keep your soul happy and let the world see it's beauty through your eyes.

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."

- Sophia Loren

Happy Painting !
Happy Soul !!

Details
Title: Beauty of the Soul
Inspiration: My Soul
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...
Watercolors on Paper (9"x 12")    

"  జ్ఞాపకాల వెల్లువలోనే

కరిగి చెరిగిపోతున్నాను...

మెరుపులా మెరిశావు

వలపులా కలిశావు...

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా

నిన్నలలో నిలిచావూ

నిన్నలలో నిలిచావు... "

...

- వేటూరి సుందరరామ మూర్తి

ఇంత గొప్ప సాహిత్యం "వేటూరి" గారు కాక ఇంకెవరు రాయగలరు?

Sometimes, I go blank on what to write when I finish a painting. Of course, this one is one of those. It's been long pending in my to-do list to do a human eye in watercolors. Tried this today as my last painting in this year, 2019.

In few more days, we all say "Good Bye" to this year and say welcome to "New Year" with lot of hopes. Life is just like that. We say "Good Buy" to our old experiences and welcome new hopes...

Nothing is more appropriate for this painting than the above lyrics by legendary Telugu writer Veturi Sundararama Murthy garu. This painting is my tribute to him and his great lyrics and contributions to Telugu cinema. One of my all-time favorite songs...

Happy Painting!
Happy Memories!!

Details
Title: కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

Face (of) the Future...

"తెలుగమ్మాయి"
Watercolors on Paper (9" x 12")    

Today is tomorrow's yesterday. But, that yesterday can meet tomorrow again today by our actions. What we do today impacts and influences tomorrow. So, live today fully. When today becomes yesterday, don't leave yourself in there. Meet yourself again in your future with your past!

As I always learn from my own works and mistakes, this painting taught me many things. The initial pencil sketch came out so good with no eraser used. But it looked odd and bit small on the size of the paper I chose. With no other thought, I had to erase and redo a bigger sketch. I wasn't happy with this sketch as I was with the one I erased, but decided to start painting and fix it along the way.

The reference picture I chose looked just cute. But, an Artist eyes see something that ordinary eyes don't. My eyes saw the charming smile and innocent looks. I just wanted to capture those two beautiful features as my eyes saw. I was quite happy with my efforts. With my never-give-up efforts, this goes into the list of my favorite paintings.

Now, when I look at this painting on any day, I meet myself in the past. When a very satisfied past meets the future, it makes it happy. My past not only meets my future, but makes it happy!

"One faces the future with one's past." - Pearl S. Buck

Happy Painting!
Influence your tomorrow, today!!

Details
Title: తెలుగమ్మాయి
Reference: Niharika - Telugu Actress
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

Happy Birthday Bhuvan...

Happy Birthday Dear Bhuvan!
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Happy Birthday to my Dear Bhuvan!

A gift coming through the heart is a gift that touches the heart. My Art is my heart, and when it comes out from it, it touches two hearts...

"The most important mark I will leave on this world is my son." - Sarah Shahi

Happy Painting!
Happy Memories!!

Details
Occasion: Bhuvan's Birthday
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Stay Talented...

Bharathanatyam - Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")   

Talent put into constant practice keeps you stay talented. Once talented doesn't mean talented forever. Like anything in life including relationships, once started losing touch, talent fades away slowly with time. All top talented people are constant practitioners.

Be a constant practitioner of your talent in privacy and stay talented in public!

"A career is born in public - talent in privacy." - Marilyn Monroe

Happy Painting! Happy Practicing!!

Details
Inspiration: Rukmini Vijayakumar - classical dancer
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Expressive efforts...

Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

You get nowhere without putting in efforts. The more efforts you put in, the more successful you will be. There is no exception to this fact.

This painting is done after adding in more efforts to get it to what it looks like now. Few months ago, I actually did a fast pencil sketch but did not promote it to be a painting with more efforts. The main reason was, I never wanted to paint a female with no smile on her face. I was so sure that a smile on the face in this gesture looks odd. However, Indian classical dance is more than a dance, and is very expressive. Not only the face, but also the body expresses the meaning of lyrics and music.

Art is very expressive. The expressiveness of a Painting goes into it through the efforts of the Artist and comes out through the eyes of the viewer.

Make your efforts expressive! Happy Painting!!

“Much effort, much prosperity.” - Euripides

Details
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Draw into Painting...

Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Drawing is essential to become an Artist or a Painter. It's my opinion that painting is nothing but drawing with brush. One who can draw can paint as well. Unlike pencil or pen used for drawing, brush gives wider, greater and multi-dimensional flexibility.

A successful painter is the one who knows how to use all dimensions offered by the brush. So, first draw, draw until you become good at it, then draw yourself into painting. Painting is certainly challenging, but drawing eases those challenges. I think, I found an intermediate ground where in I blend drawing into painting and painting into drawing, both done with brush on paper where I get to meet challenges offered by both and deal with those.

“Drawing is absolutely essential to becoming a successful artist.” - Mary Whyte

Happy Drawing! Happy Painting!!

Details
Inspiration and Credits: Amrapali Boutique
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Follow your Dreams...

"Follow your Dreams"
Watercolors on Paper (16" x 20")    

It is important to have dreams of future, but more important to follow your dreams to make them a reality. It requires tremendous efforts to get there. A sheer dedication, determination, hard-work and consistency is the only possible way for it.

Inspired by the life-size sculpture works by Luo Li Rong, I attempted one of her beautiful masterpieces in Watercolors.

"When you follow your dreams, you encourage other people to follow theirs."

- Nafessa Williams

Happy painting! Happy dreams!!

Details
Title: Follow your Dreams
Reference: A life-size sculpture by Luo Li Rong
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Fabriano Artistico Paper, 140 lb Cold Press

Be Graceful and Beautiful...

Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Talent is born with you and stays hidden within you, until you identify and put-in efforts to bring it out. Identifying and bringing it out is enough to be talented, but not enough to stay talented. Practice makes you stay there. Those who practice their talent become and stay talented.

So, first identify your talent, then practice to become and stay talented!!

This is a very classic pose in Indian Classical Dance. I made minor changes from the reference picture I took to make it look more like my favorite dancer, who was so delicate, graceful and beautiful by all means in dance. People who know me enough, know very well who that dancer is ;)

Also, this is one of my favorite paintings in recent months. I got what I wanted, 100% in this painting. My initial base pencil sketch went through several erases while progressing towards "Grace and Beauty" that I was aiming for. But keeping up with what I got in pencil-sketch all through the next painting stage was a BIG challenge. The supportive vertical black split-lines I added enhanced it further. But, I spoiled it at one point by adding a drop of orange color to the mix. Like life, painting is a process that takes you through ups and downs. At the end what matters is, how we arise from a downfall and get going towards our goal. I was happy with what I did with colors further to turn what I thought I spoiled into improved.

Best Compliment
One of the best compliments I got in recent years was from an Artist friend on Facebook. His words made my day! He read my heart in this Painting. Click to read his compliment.

Happy painting! Turn down side up!!

"Be graceful and beautiful in what you do, than in what you say." - Giridhar Pottepalem

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Ahead...

Ahead...

Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

It's better to find yourself where you want to be in the future than getting lost in the past. Looking ahead is always brighter than looking back. Make your future bright. Work for it today, everyday, and you will meet yourself a day in there.

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." - Dean Acheson

Happy painting!

Details
Title: Ahead...
Inspiration: Amrapali Boutique
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

'చిరునవ్వుల' నిండుదనం...

"చిరునవ్వుల నిండుదనం"
Portrait of Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

"కట్టూ బొట్టూ కలిసిన

'తెలుగు'దనం...

చిరునవ్వులు విరిసిన

'నిండు'దనం..."

“A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear.” – Marilyn Monroe

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: "చిరునవ్వుల నిండుదనం"
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Fill in the Darkness...

Fill in the Darkness...
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Everyday is a blank canvas given to each one of us along with twenty-four hours of time to paint whatever we want to paint on it. Once that given time is over, the canvas disappears into our memories. The canvas given is full, but empty. We need to fill that full emptiness with colors of our choice picking from dark and light. Whether we choose dark(er) colors or light(er) colors, it's all up to us. The more light we choose to add in, the more it shines in our memories. The darker we make it, the duller it goes in and vanishes faster.

Fulfill your day in light of today for tomorrow. For tomorrow, to re-collect it as a shining star around you, not as darkness into which you will be lost. Fill in the Darkness with Light, the light of your choice!

Happy Diwali, the festival of lights!
Happy Painting!
Lighten up your day as you wish!

"An empty canvas is full." - Robert Rauschenberg

Details
Title: Fill the Darkness...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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