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| Looking Back 2014... |
It's this time of the year that we look back and also look forward in time; look back into the year that is going to become a
memory soon and look forward for a brand new year that is going to come in with all
new hopes. Of course, one always looks forward for a better year than the previous. As I look back into my
Journey with Arts through this year 2014, I have many
joyful moments to recollect from my
Art World.
Good Start - always puts on a good path...
Like past few years, this year also started with the
BigHelp annual event in which our
Kalakruti members were the Judges for judging
Kids' Art. It was a joyful event from many fronts for a
good cause of helping Kids & Schools in India. It was certainly a good start of my year in Arts.
New Art supplies - come with new learnings...
This year gave me new opportunities for learning. I bought some of the best quality Art supplies including Brushes, Watercolor Paper and Watercolor Paints. I also learned some tips and techniques of Watercolor Painting from books, friends and workshops. I started to notice how much of a difference a good quality
Art Supplies make. Also, this is the year, I started going big in size with my paintings, I did many 16 inch x 20 inch paintings.
Workshops - a great opportunity...
I also attended a 4-day workshop in
Gloucester, MA conducted by one of the
Best Watercolor Painters of our age-
Thomas W. Schaller, which gave me
first-in-life opportunity to observe a professional Artist closely at work. It also changed my style, perspective and the process of Watercolor Painting. I also learned how professional Artists see Art in things around us and more importantly how do they begin the process of Painting and go through it till end. In his words,
Tom, in the very beginning of the First Day's session said, "
The process of Painting actually starts way before you even touch the Brush...". Very true, I learned some invaluable details and techniques taught by
Tom in this workshop. I also tried some of the Paints and Paper that
Tom uses in his Paintings and
fell in Love with the quality. As I already said many times,
I am glad I came across Tom on Facebook.
Not only I attended a workshop, we, the
Kalakrutians teamed up with
BigHelp and conducted an Art Workshop for children from KG-12th Grade. It exceeded all our expectations. We got a wonderful response from the community. It was
more than a joy teaching Kids and watching them doing and fully involved in Art.
I also introduced Watercolor Painting to my 11 year old son,
Bhuvan, who in my opinion has the finest of fine skills in Art. He used to amaze me with his skills when he was not even 3 years old. He always watches me quietly painting in a room and gives the
very first opinion. It was a pleasure introducing Watercolor Painting to
Bhuvan. Now he knows some of the techniques that I have been learning and practicing lately.
Sculpture - year after year...
It's been my
fifth year in a row since I started making
Lord Ganesh from natural clay, all by hands. Year after year, I notice my progressing skills. This year I challenged myself to finish it off faster than earlier. To my surprise, I finished very fast and
got even better at it. This way of celebrating the Hindu Festival -
Vinayakachavithi by making Ganesh is a very pleasant experience to
cherish for many years.
Art show - sets the stage...
I can't say that "My Arts were never displayed to public anywhere" anymore. My Paintings were part of the
very first Art Show of our
Kalakruti group at the Lakeside Gallery in Sharon, MA. It was very exciting to me to be part of this Art Show. It was very well received by
Art Lovers in and around
Sharon town. My colleague and friend also came down all the way from
Somerville on the opening day reception with his Mom who was on vacation to Boston coming from
Germany. It was a pleasure meeting many
Art enthusiasts. I hope this sets the stage for future. ;)
Variations - on the way of finding my own style...
Going out of my style (if I have one yet), I did several Paintings on
various subjects this year, ranging from flowers, birds, landscapes & portraits to Hindu Gods. All in all, I am happy that I finished a few from my
long pending wish list.
Admirers - always the best source of inspiration...
I have been one of the millions of Telugu people who admire
Bapu- the
greatest master of line drawings. His
demise on August 31 this year shook all Telugu people around the world. I was remembering
Bapu by doing a Portrait of him with some of his drawings around his portrait. I have it now framed and is on the wall in our Family Room at our Home. A copy of this Painting was also taken by the
TANTEX(Telugu Association of North Texas) in their monthly
literary event of
remembering Bapu. Thanks to my school-mate and friend
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Urimindi (President Elect.) for giving my painting such an
honor to be a part of it.
This painting also got published in the Telugu magazine "
Nadi". Many many thanks to the editor
Prabhakar Jaladanki.
Towards the end of this year, on Dec 15, I also celebrated Bapu's
very first birthday after he passed away by imitating
his self-portrait in his style which is very difficult. After a great struggle through each inch of each line, I was able to do it to some extent. I was happy celebrating and r
emembering Bapu on his birthday, in this way. This will probably remain the last piece of my Art work done in this year.
Quiet Mornings - the best time of the day...
I had spent many of my weekend mornings
quietly painting in a room with a background music of classical Hindi and Telugu songs. When I look back to recollect my weekend mornings, I feel good that I didn't have that many weekends without me spending my time with Painting. Otherwise, how can one reach to put in
10,000 hours of effort in Art to call oneself an "
Artist"?
Above all, comments by friends on Facebook & Blog, and interest shown by some friends to know the details of my Paintings give me
tremendous joy and make me look forward for another
beautiful and artful year ahead.
Happy Painting!
Happy & Healthy New Year, 2015!
