Inside Journey...

Natyanjali - my Art with Art
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8 1/2" x 11")  

Life is a journey, we all know that. But most of it just goes with the flow, the flow of routine daily schedule. There are certainly days that go against the daily routine. We register those days as the best days of life. Those are the days that change our routine for good. If that change goes on and continues for a long time, that becomes a journey. When it turns into a journey, it brings in experiences that become memories. Good memories are memories that we often try to recollect as they make us feel happy and great.

No one is alone in this world. Even a lonely person has a companion all the time, the companion of oneself. Oneself is the best companion, and is the only one, one travels most with. The travel with oneself must not be a routine like the travel with others. It must be something special, a special that one can register, remember, recollect, reflect, refresh and restore. The inside journey, is the journey that is more important journey in life. Make it great, make it memorable and make it cherishable!

"The only journey is the journey within." - Rainer Maria Rilke

Happy Painting!
Happy journey with yourself!!

Details
Title: Natyanjali - my Art with Art
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A photograph from Narthanam - a picture collection of Indian Classical Dance

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

రేపల్లె వేచెనూ...

రేపల్లె వేచెనూ...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8 1/2" x 11")  

"శారద" - నాకమితంగా నచ్చిన తెలుగు సినిమాల్లో ఒకటి. ఇందులో కథ, పాటలూ, శారద, శోభన్ బాబుల అభినయం సినిమా అంతా, అంతటా అద్భుతం. అనుకోకుండా ఈరోజు "రేపల్లే వేచెనూ...వేణువు వేచెనూ...వనమెల్ల వేచేనురా..." అన్న పాటని చూసి, శారద అద్భుతంగా ఆ పాటకి చూసిన హావభావాలు, ఎందుకో నా బొమ్మలో చూపాలని చేసిందే ఈ ప్రయత్నం...

"All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for."

- Woodrow T. Wilson

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: రేపల్లె వేచెనూ......
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: Song from Telugu Movie "శారద"

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Experiment and experience...

Indian Woman
Ink and Watercolors on Paper...8.5" x 11"    

Black and white was my very first exploration of Painting when I was a kid. I did quite a few that looked like Paintings, just by experimenting with ink and water on regular notebook paper. That was the ultimate challenge I ever had in Art. At that time I did not know anything about painting. All I wanted was to get a portrait that looked like a Painting.

After a long time, again I am hooked to Black and White, challenging myself again on the paper that is not meant for Painting. This time it is also just one color, not ink, but a professional quality Watercolor paint. It is not the paint, but is the surface that plays major role in Watercolor Painting. Challenging surfaces make you experiment, make you do mistakes, and thus make you experience. After all, it is the experience that teaches you to be a master of anything in life. Keep experimenting, keep experiencing, and keep learning from your mistakes.

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." - Oscar Wilde

Happy Painting!
If you don't experiment, you don't do mistakes. If you don't do mistakes, you don't gain experience.

Details
Title: Indian Woman...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: Random picture from my collection

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

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

Waiting...

Waiting...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper 8.5" x 11"    

There is always a day waiting for you as you are waiting for the day. If you can see yourself beyond today, you will find yourself in peace there.

"When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there."
- George Harrison

Happy Painting!
There is always a day waiting for you!

Details
Title: Waiting...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: Random picture from my collection

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

తీరని ఋణం...

అమ్మతో - Chicago 2000      

అడుగడుగునా జీవిత ప్రవాహాన్ని

ఎదురీది తండ్రీ తల్లీ నువ్వే అయ్యి

ఉన్నంతలో జీవితాన్ని ఉన్నతంగా

తీర్చి దిద్ది నన్నింతవాడిని చేసిన

"అమ్మ"

ఎప్పటికీ నీ కొడుకునయ్యేవరం

నువ్విస్తేనే తప్ప తీరని ఋణం

. . .

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Beauty of Smile...

Beauty of Smile...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper 8.5" x 11"    

Not many women know that the most precious and beautiful Jewel is Smile and it costs nothing. The beauty of Smile is the beauty of the Soul. Soul can only be seen through smile, but of course, can only be touched by Love.

"Love is the beauty of the soul." - Saint Augustine

Happy Painting!
Smile and bring the beauty of your soul out!

Details
Title: Beauty of Smile...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: Random picture from my collection

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

తెలుగుదనం...

"తెలుగుదనం"
Ink and Watercolors on Paper 8.5" x 11"

Being simple and natural is the most difficult in life, now-a-days. When life becomes artificial other things take over the simplicity. Good-old Indian traditions are the most simple yet elegant ones. Indian traditions, and even Girls' outfits have changed overtime. But nothing can be as elegant and as simple as Half Sree- the most beautiful and elegant outfit for Girls, especially for Telugu Girls.

No doubt, this is one of very few sketches I did bit more carefully. I need to make this a habit. My definition of habit is nothing but something that has been followed for years. Also, she is probably the only one I did three sketches in a row. Yet to do many more...

తెలుగుదనం కరువై, రాను రానూ కనుమరుగై పోతున్న ఈరోజుల్లో

ఎక్కడైనా, ఎవరిలోనైనా అది కనిపిస్తే మెచ్చుకుని మురిసిపోక తప్పదు.

“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.” – Amelia Barr

Happy Painting!
Be simple to stay beautiful!

Details
Title: తెలుగుదనం...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: Picture of very talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Portrait of Talent...

"Portrait of Talent"
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Painting portraits is always challenging. Every person has unique features that when not captured nicely make the result doesn't look like the person. Capturing facial features is only one aspect of painting a portrait. Capturing feelings is the essential and the most challenging aspect of it.

This portrait certainly challenged me to the greatest extent. Struggled to get the grasp on it to portray the feel of talent in this Portrait. I think I am very close to capturing the feel of talent in this Portrait, if not captured fully.

"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."

- Oscar Wilde

Happy painting!
Sharpen you talent by practice!!

Details
Title: Portrait of Talent
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration & Reference: A video song of very talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

తెలుగమ్మాయి...

తెలుగమ్మాయి   
Ink and watercolors on Paper

చక్కని తెలుగు అందం..

చిక్కనైన తెలుగుదనం..

కలగలిపిన శుభప్రదం..

ఈ ఉగాది పర్వదినం...

తెలుగుని అభిమానించే, ప్రేమించే అందరికీ
"ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు"!

"The way you dress is an expression of your personality." -Alessandro Michele

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: తెలుగమ్మాయి
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Photograph of very talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

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