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.

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Some more moments captured:

Sketches...

Did some sketches for a Dance Ballet in Boston showing three shades of a woman.

Details
Mediums: Ink
Size: 5.5" x 8.5" (14 cm x 22 cm)

Surface: Strathmore Smooth Briston 100lb (270 g/m) paper

Ink and Imagination...

After a long-time, just tried some imagination with ink and color.

Ink on Paper

Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Details
Mediums: Ink (Staedtler 0.3mm ink pen) and Watercolors
Size: 11" x 17" (28 cm x 43 cm)

Surface: Strathmore Smooth Briston 100lb (270 g/m) paper

Annual Community Art Show...

I am happy to be part of this year's "Lakeside Gallery - Annual Community Art Show" at the Lakeside Gallery, Sharon, MA from Nov 18, 2015 - Jan 13, 2016.

Reception: November 18th - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Address:
    Sharon Community Center
    219 Massapoag Ave
    Sharon, MA 02067
    USA

The following two of my paintings will be on display along with other local Artists' Art works. Both the paintings are for sale if anybody is interested to collect.

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Title: Lord Krishna

Size: 24" x 30" (62 cm x 76 cm)

Details
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Title: Hindu Temple

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Proud moments...

My Drawing on Telugu TV - tv9

I was watching tv9 - Telugu tv last night and there was a program about ShantiPriya. To my pleasant surprise, I saw my Art in there. They used one of my Drawings that I did in my college days. That was originally the drawing of Bhanupriya. I felt happy to see my Art on TV.

Those days that I did many of Bhanupriya's portraits are still fresh in my memory. This one is based on a picture from a Filmfare magazine that I bought on the footpaths in Vijayawada at the Alankar Center on a Sunday evening where there used to be a big sale of old books and magazines.

Here is the original one. I have it framed and seen in my Drawing room. I proudly said many times to many people that I did this one straight with Ballpoint Pen. Now it makes me feel prouder.

Portrait of Bhanupriya

Details
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen
Title: Bhanupriya
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: Photograph from Filmfare magazine

Size: 4" x 6" (11 cm x 16 cm)
Signed and Dated: Sep 19, 1988

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)

Lord Krishna...

Lord Krishna

From my wish-list, I chose Lord Krishna as the subject for my second Oil Painting. Working through the Painting for few weeks, I enjoyed blue colors, all over. Not only just how to paint, I am also learning the Art of Patience through this wonderful painting media. This is also the biggest in size of all the paintings I did so far. Unlike Watercolor Painting, at least for me, Oil Painting takes much longer time to finish.

I am glad that I could finish, sign and date this one.

Happy Painting ;)

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Title: Lord Krishna
Category: Portraits
Inspiration: My dream wish-list

Size: 24" x 30" (62 cm x 76 cm)

Toolkit
Surface: Artist's Loft Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas
Paints: Rembrandt Artist's quality, Winsor and Newton Oil Paints
Brushes: No 1, 5 and 8 filbert, No. 1 rounded
Other Media: Winsor & Newton Liquin Original

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

Good Start...

Ganesh - Oil on Canvas - Sketch

As I was waiting for my other Paintings to dry up little bit, I wanted to get myself going with this wonderful journey of Oil Painting. So, I had to start a new one. From my dream-todo-list, next, Lord Ganesh went onto the canvas. It's just a one-hour under painting, but I like it so much as it almost looks like a finished one. I guess, here, my fast-paced Watercolor Painting skills helped me to work fast with three paintings in just few hours.

It's just the beginning. I know, I still have a long way to go. But, it's a good start. Looking forward for crossing many beautiful mile-stones along the way ;)

Happy Painting!

Details

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

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)

A Tribute to one of the Greatest Indian Souls of our-times...

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam - A Great Visionary of our times

In memory of the greatest visionary of our times from India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam who will remain as a true meaning for great words of Achievement, Success and Humanity in life. His great words will continue to inspire people around the world forever.

"Birthday - the only day in your life...your mother smiled when you cried"

"Dream is not what you see in sleep, dream is something that does not let you sleep"

"When our signature changes to autograph, this marks the success"

"The best teacher is your last mistake"

"One best book is equal to hundred good friends, but one good friend is equal to a library"