What dreams may (be)come true...

A tribute to my Dad

A tribute to my Dad...

Lord Rama and Sita by my Dad

I grew up observing closely my Dad's wonderful Indian Ink Drawing of Lord Rama and Sita. This is the drawing that I stared at most in my life.

Later I tried the same with Ballpoint pen and changed it to Radha and Krishna. Doing a full-blown Painting of the same has been in my dream list for a very long time. I finally attempted to make my dreams (be)come true...

Going BIG...

I never tried this big size Painting. Very first time, I tried 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm) watercolor painting. That is big for a painting like this in watercolor. I spent many hours and in fact probably the longest time of all in recent years. Though I started this last week, I struggled today along the way to get it done. More than anything, my struggle was with both faces to get that pleasant look, as close to as pleasant they look in my Dad's work...I know, I couldn't quite get there for obvious reasons :(

At least, I am happy I made a bold attempt. If I had waited further, the time would never have come!

This is my TRIBUTE in many respects...

Never give up with the God's given gift in life. That is the only way to pay respect to God.

Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Radha & Krishna
Category: Random portraits - Admirers
Inspiration: My Dad's Drawing

Size: 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm)

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

Paints: Every single color from my Palette

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

Nātyānjali-8: Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali-8: Indian Classical Dance

TAKEN: $325

This is just a continuation of the series of Paintings on one of my dream subjects- "Indian Classical Dance".

Happy Painting!

Details

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

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

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

Paints: All colors from my Palette

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

Magic of Colors...

Magic of Colors

To make my boring weekend little interesting, I just wanted to play with colors. I started with an intention to do a colorful abstract painting but ended up doing a colorful portrait instead. In the beginning, I thought I was only painting for the bin. I am glad it didn't end up in there.

Colors can truly change moods and can turn a boring day into an interesting day. Boring can also be inspiring sometimes...it's all in our hands ;)

There are no short-cuts to improvement. The only path is PRACTICE!

Keep practicing. Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Magic of colors
Category: Random portraits - from pictures
Inspiration: Boring Day

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, 140 lb Cold Press

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Opera Rose,  Cobalt Turquoise Light, Ultramarine Violet and Ultramarine Blue

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

Happy Women's Day...

Happy Woman

When Women are happy, the world is happy.
Happy Women's Day!!

Happy Painting! ;)

Details

Title: Happy Woman
Category: Portrait
Mediums: Watercolors
Inspiration: A photograph

Size: 15" x 22" (38 cm x 55 cm)

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

Paints: Every color on my Palette

Baby Chick...

Baby Chick

A quick one-hour watercolor painting. Keep Practicing!

Happy Painting! ;)

Details

Title: Baby Chick
Category: Nature
Mediums: Watercolors
Inspiration: A photograph

Size: 11" x 15" (28 cm x 38 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Cadmium Lemon, Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Violet and Neutral Tint

Every attempt...

Butterfly

Every attempt involves some learning. This is an another painting of my practice with colors.

Happy Painting! ;)

Details

Title: Butterfly
Category: Nature
Mediums: Watercolors
Inspiration: A 2 inch photograph from a News paper

Size: 11" x 15" (28 cm x 38 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Cadmium Lemon, Permanent Sap Green, Hookers Green, Cobalt Blue, Opera Rose, Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Violet

Just Practice...

Tulip

This is a quick one-hour Watercolor Painting. An year ago, I couldn't even imagine myself doing a watercolor painting like this in an hour. I believe, constant practice is slowly taking me there. I get the point now why professional artists do watercolor painting very fast.

Enjoy Painting and keep practicing. One can only get better at anything in life by "Just Practice".

Happy Painting! ;)

Details

Title: Tulip
Category: Nature
Mediums: Watercolors
Inspiration: A 2 inch photograph from a News paper

Size: 11" x 15" (28 cm x 38 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Ultramarine Violet, Permanent Sap Green, Hookers Green, Cobalt Blue and Yellow Ochre

Brushes: Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 3 and Raphail 8

Singing of Colors...

Singing Birds

Gifted

Every painting is nothing but an experience of a series of brush strokes. When I started watercolor painting an year ago, I was bit tight on holding the brush and used to have my face even very close to the paper. Some Artists would call it- Painting with the Nose. I still do that little bit when I get to the details of certain portions of the painting. But majority of my paintings these days are done very loosely. Painting with freedom is more important, and then only, one can truly experience the Joy of Painting.

This Singing Birds is based on a photograph that I came across recently. To me, the birds look like they are singing in joy. I added my own singing of colors to the painting around the joyfully singing birds.

Sing along with the colors while painting, it makes it a joyful and enjoyable experience.

Enjoy Painting and Keep Practicing ;)

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Singing Birds
Category: Nature
Inspiration: A photograph by Debashis Das on Facebook

Size: 15" x 22" (38 cm x 55 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Violet, Neutral Tint

Brushes: Da Vinci Kolinsky Round Size 1, 3 and Raphail 8

On the Top...

On the Top

Keep Painting and Keep Practicing ;)

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: On the Top
Category: Nature
Inspiration: A photograph came across on Facebook

Size: 11" x 15" (28 cm x 38 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Opera Rose, Ultramarine Violet, Cobalt Blue, Hookers Green and Olive Green

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

Nātyānjali-5: Indian Classical Dance...

Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance

The Nātyānjali series I started last August goes on with this 5th painting in the series. The much needed  inspiration to start a painting comes for this out of my treasure-box-of-inspirations from my college-days of good-old news-paper-cuttings. It is based on a bhangima (pose) by Versatile Dancer and Telugu actress Bhanupriya.

This takes me back to my Engineering College days. I did a pen sketch of this for our College Magazine during my final-year exams after my juniors requested me saying not to leave the magazine without any of my Arts for that year. I didn't get a chance to look at the printed magazine as it was scheduled to be printed after I finished my college.

Good (g)old memories last longer than (m)any!

I am very satisfied with this painting. Turned a 4" x 6" paper cutting of black & white picture into a big color-painting of 15" x 22". The outcome was very clean and crisp, one of my best so far. Of course, as I always say- The Best is yet to come.

Check my previous paintings in this series here.

Keep Painting and Keep Practicing ;)

Details

Mediums: Watercolors
Title: Nātyānjali - Indian Classical Dance
Category: Random portraits - from my news paper clippings
Inspiration: Pose by Telugu actress Bhanupriya

Size: 15" x 22" (38 cm x 55 cm)

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

Paints: Winsor & Newton Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Red, Opera Rose, Ultramarine Violet and Neutral Tint

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