Just be yourself...

Just be yourself...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Much of the world moves on by imitation. A child born learns by imitating people around, starts developing a personality influenced by family and friends. Most of the times we try to be like others, and act for others.

The best of all is none other than you, nowhere else found better than within yourself. Bring out that YOU within you and just be yourself. Smile like you, be like you, live like you, do like you do, and just be yourself...

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Just be yourself...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A photograph 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

Magical Hands...

Hands of Magic...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")  

Magic is nowhere but inside you, inside the work you do, inside the thoughts you have, inside the desire you have and inside the patience you have. All you need is to let it out and perform.

"All good work has magic in it, and addresses the mind in a subtle way." - Duane Michals

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Magical Hands...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: Imagination

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Learn to be...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper 16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)   

Patience is one among many that passion teaches us, as long as we are open to learn. I like doing anything fast(er). I never used to like slow in (m)any thing(s) in life. My passion for Painting is my teacher these days. One of the best things I learned and am still learning from it is patience. When I do things patiently, the results are very different.

Indian Classical Dance is another form of Art that I admire most, I do not know why. The only way I can pay my tributes to this Art is through my Paintings. A dancer with Konark Temple backdrop has been there in my dream-list for a long time, since 2010. This is my attempt with watercolors, patience and hard work. I am happy with the outcome. I will repeat the same in Oil on a huge canvas for my new dream home.

"I've learned that anything in life worth having comes from patience and hard work."

- Greg Behrendt

Happy Painting!
Have patience!!

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A Dancer photograph from my collection and Konark Temple pictures

Size: 16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper

Elegance of Saree...

Elegance of Saree ...
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8 1/2" x 11")   

I painted many times and always enjoy painting Indian woman in Saree, the most elegant and unmatched outfit for a woman. In my opinion it's a talent to wear Saree in a classy way and look elegant. Saree is not just an attire, but also a grace, elegance, and a sign of respect.

"Elegance is all in the mind of the wearer." - Philip Treacy

Happy Painting!
Give your own touch to make it look classy ;)

Details
Title: Elegance of Saree...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A 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

Real Artists practice...

Dancer  
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8 1/2" x 11")

I do not know how practical the rule of 10,000 hours is, in order to master something. But I do know, and I do believe that one has to practice to master. The only path to belief is experience. I am not up to what I am today without practice. My practice keeps me moving, moving in the direction to master.

If you don't practice, you don't learn. If you don't learn, you don't progress. If you don't progress, you don't improve. If you don't improve, you don't become a master. All masters are practicers and learners once.

"Real Artists practice!" - Giridhar Pottepalem

Happy Painting!
Keep practicing ;)

Details
Title: Dancer...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A 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

Less is more and more is less...

With my beloved sister Indira Meka   
Walking in the campus, the Univ. of California San Diego

The trip that has been long overdue for almost two decades happened last weekend as I flew to San Francisco with my son Rithvik to visit my beloved sister Indira Meka and to attend the college graduation commencement of my niece Prathyusha. She is the first one of next generation kid from our family to graduate from the college. We had a very good time that I could never imagine to have in a 3-day short trip. This trip was so special and will remain a memorable one, forever.

Beginning my visit with a warm welcome and delicious home made dinner after 6-hour long flight from Boston to San Francisco.....my oil painting I carried with me finding a new corner place in the living room at the home where several of my original paintings are living including the one I did in 1988.....next day 8-hour drive to San Diego with nature's beautifully painted mountains along the way with an added experience of infamous LA traffic.....the following day, proud moments with my niece Prathyusha's college graduation commencement at the Univ. of California San Diego.....inspiring speech by the former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright at the event.....time well spent with Muktesh who made my day with my first and fantastic drive of Tesla Model 3 car, as I was sold on at that moment for my next car with his introduction to all it's features, thank you Muktesh.....the 8-hour drive back home with all good old Telugu music and childhood memory talks with Indu.....the last day's traditional home made delicious breakfast of Idli & Dosa with a touch of Nellore in a banana leaf-top plate.....short relaxing time in the beautiful backyard with several flowers, vegetables around and a tree swing hanging to the maple tree.....followed by a 4-hour tour of San Francisco city covering stunning views from the Bay bridge, downtown, her office, pier 14 and the Ferry Building, Mahatma Gandhi statue at the pier, the amazing Golden Gate bridge, and the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts.....concluding our trip with a nice dinner at the White Elephant Thai restaurant on the way to airport.....got back with loaded meories and some fresh home grown garden veggies including lemons, beans and Ponaganti koora.

With less number of days spent with you in this trip, and more number of memories to cherish forever....Dear Indu, as you say "less is more" and live by example of that phrase, I would like to say the opposite- MORE IS LESS. Yes, I mean it with my own quote:

"Less is more for living, but more is less for loving". - Giridhar Pottepalem

Thanks for all the affection and love. Sisters are born for it!

Check my Facebook post for the complete pictorial tour.  

Here is a glimpse of it:

Found it's new home

Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco

Mahatma at the Pier, San Francisco

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

My painting done in 1988 living with Indu

Be(come) good at...

Portrait of Talented Dancer Karronya Katrynn
Watercolors on Paper 12" x 15" (31cm x 38cm)

Artists, usually are good-hearted people. That's why they are good at fine-arts. I haven't come across any Artist who is not good-hearted. Once you are good at heart, you are good at many things. Be good at heart, be good at art.

After my recent trending-series of black & white watercolor paintings, I break the trend with this full-color fine-portrait of the finest young actress of Telugu movies, Karronya Katrynn.

"No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart." - Shanina Shaik

Happy Painting!
Be good and become good at heart!!

Details
Title: Portrait of Talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: Photograph

Size: 12" x 15" (31 cm x 38 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper

Smile please...

Smile please...

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

Approach everything with a Smile, and you will be the happiest! Smile is the simplest thing which requires no efforts, but we often forget to do so. The best beauty, the best quality, the best attitude, the best approach, the best of the best is nothing but - Smile. Don't just smile for photos, smile for yourself, smile for your own goodness, smile for your own good health.

Say more often to yourself - "Smile Please!"

"Nothing beats a great smile." - Karl Urban

Happy Painting!
Smile Please ;)

Details
Title: Smile please...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A 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

Simply elegant...

Simply elegant - Indian woman in Saree
Ink and Watercolors on Paper (8 1/2" x 11")  

Be simple to look elegant, and to be elegant. Saree is one of few themes that I have been doing series of paintings. This particular style of sitting is quite common. A woman wearing Saree and sitting in this style looks very elegant. No doubt, it is not the dress but the simplicity that brings elegance and gives elegant looks. Saree is the most elegant dress for Indian woman.

"Simplicity, carried to an an extreme, becomes elegance." - Jon Franklin

Happy Painting!
Be simple and be elegant!

Details
Title: Simply elegant...
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A 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

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