Saturday, April 11, 2020

Make your own time...

Natyanjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Ballpoint Pen on Paper 8.5" x 11"  

Don't let your time go blank without collecting some memories. Time becomes memory when you travel into it carrying your passion with it. Make your own time, turn it into your own memories!

"I don't care how busy I am - I will always make time for what's most important to me."
- Kevin Hart

Details
Mediums: Ballpoint pen on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)
Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

Saturday, April 4, 2020

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"...

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"
Oil Painting on Canvas 

A repost to support India's PM call to India to "light up a candle"
as a symbol of "unity" at 9PM for 9 minutes on Apr 5, 2020.

"దీపం - చైతన్యం"

As the entire world of people are facing the toughest time in their life-time for their own survival and existence, the call that our PM Mr. Narendra Modi gave to all Indians to "light up a candle" this Sunday at 9PM for 9 minutes, makes me think. Hope my thoughts in words make others also think.

As long as an act of doing something united with good intentions doesn't harm and hurt anyone in anyway, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to think in a different direction or make fun of it. The direction here for this kind of call, the second time from our PM is very clear and the direction is "FORWARD". So, let's think forward without forgetting backward...

Facebook, WhatsApp ల్లో ఈ పిలుపు మీద వచ్చిన, వస్తున్న జోకులూ, వెటకారాలు చూస్తే మనం ఎటువైపెళ్తున్నామో అర్ధం కాని పరిస్థితి. కొంత మంది రాశులూ, తిథులూ, నక్షత్రాలకూ ఈ పిలుపుని లెఖ్ఖలు కట్టి మరీ చెప్తుంటే, మరికొందరు సైన్సూ, టెక్నాలజీ, దుమారం అంటూ కొట్టిపడేస్తున్నారు. ఇవన్నీ పక్కన బెట్టి ఈ పద్ధతిని వారానికి ఒక్కసారి దేశం అంతా పాటిస్తే వచ్చే లాభం అంతా ఇంతా కాదు. కరెంట్ తోబాటు మరెన్నో కొరతల్నీ అధిగమించవచ్చు. మామూలు రోజుల్లో ఇలాంటి పిలుపుని అమలు చెయటం కష్టతరం. కానీ ఇప్పుడున్న పరిస్థితుల్లో చాలా సులభం, చాలా ఆరోగ్యకరం. అన్నిటికి మించి ప్రజల్లో చాలా చైతన్యం తెస్తుంది, ఇస్తుంది, వస్తుంది, నింపుతుంది. ఆలోచనా పెరుగుతుంది. క్లిష్ట సమయాల్లో అందర్నీ UNITE చేసి చైతన్యపరిచేవాడే నిజమైన "లీడర్".

గాంధి ఉప్పుసత్యాగ్రహాన్ని అప్పుడెందరు పరిహాసం చేశారో తెలీదు గానీ ఇప్పటి తరం తప్పకుండా  పరిహాసం పాలు చేసి నీరుకార్చొచ్చు. ఉప్పుమీద ఆగ్రహం ఏంటి అంటూ జోకులూ వెయ్యొచ్చు, డిబేట్లూ పెట్టొచ్చు. ఎందుకంటే ఇది సోషల్ మీడియా యుగం, మనమెంతో ముందుకెళ్తున్నాం, పురోగతి సాధించామని మనందరి అపోహ. సాధించాం...సైన్స్ పరంగా, టెక్నాలజీ పరంగా. కానీ జీవనపరంగా మాత్రం కానే కాదు. అప్పుడూ సోషల్ మీడియాలోనే అంతా జీవించారు. ప్రకృతితో సోషల్ అయ్యారు. మనిషీ మనిషీ కలిసి పలకరించుకుని మాట్లాడుకునే మీడియా లో బ్రతికారు. ఇప్పుడీ విపత్తు మనిషిని మళ్ళీ నిజమైన ఆనాటి సోషల్ మీడియా వైపు చూసేలా చేస్తుంది. ఇప్పుడు మనిషి జీవనం లో మార్పుకి "ఆలోచన" అనే విత్తనం వేస్తుంది. అది ఏదో ఒకరోజు మొలకెత్తక పోదు, మనషి మారకపోడు.

Olympics medals పట్టికలో ఎప్పుడూ వెనకే ఉంటాం అని మనల్ని మనమే అపహాస్యం చేసుకుంటాం, ఇప్పుడూ "కరోనా కేసుల రేసు" పట్టికలోనూ మనము వెనకే ఉన్నాం. ఉంటాం కూడ, మనల్నెవరూ కుట్రపన్ని బలవతంగా ముందుకి లాక్కెళ్లకుంటే. ఇందులో ఇంకా ఇంకా వెనకపడాలనే అందరం కోరుకుందాం. ఈ రేసులో ఎంత వెనకపడితే ఈ ప్రపంచంలో అంత ముందుకొస్తాం, అంత పైకొస్తాం. ఇంట్లో అమ్మచేతి వంట మన చేత్తో తినటం మానేసి, ఎవరో వండింది, ఎలా వండారో, ఎప్పుడు వండారో కూడా తెలీకుండా, ఎందరో ఎన్నిసార్లో వాడి సరిగా కడిగారో కూడా తెలీక, ఇదే చాలా ఫ్యాషన్, చాలా బెటర్ అని రెస్టారెంట్ లో కూర్చుని స్పూన్లు, ఫోర్కులతో  తినే (అ)నాగరికత కి అలవాటు పడిపోయాం. ఆరోగ్యకరమైన అలవాట్లు పాటించి చాలా కాలమే అయిపోయింది. ఇప్పుడు సడన్ గా లైట్లు ఆపి 9 నిమిషాలు దీపం వెలిగించండి అంటే కష్టమే. ఒకప్పుడు రోజూ ఇది పద్ధతే, ఈ పద్ధతి ఇప్పటికీ, ఎప్పటికీ మంచిదే. పాటిస్తే తప్పు లేదు, జరిగేది మంచే, మనలో నిండేది వెలుగే, వెలుగుతో వచ్చేది మార్పే, ఆ మార్పుతో వచ్చేది ముమ్మాటికీ చైతన్యమే.

ఈ పిలుపు వెనక అర్ధం సైన్సూ కాదు, మతం అంతకన్నా కాదు. దీని ముఖ్య ఉద్దేశ్యం "UNITY".

The world has united at last fighting for the same cause, but the human is still divided. The most advanced nations are all struggling to unite people on this. Previous generations of Indians had proven to the world in the past what "UNITY" means. The time has come again for this generation to teach the world how to live, and how to "truly live". There is no country on the earth better than INIDA to teach the world on "how to live".

I appreciate all who support this call understanding the cause behind, and follow it on this Sunday at 9 PM for 9 minutes. This is the respect we give to our Leader and to our Nation.

"వెలుగిచ్చే దీపం చైతన్యానికి రూపం
చీకట్లు చీలుస్తూ మార్గం చూపే దైవం"

(*This is not a post on my Art, this is a post on my thought.)

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Talent inspires Talent...

నుదుట దిద్దిన "జాబిలి"
Multi-talented Dancer and Telugu Actress
Karronya Katrynn

The secret of happiness is using your Talent and creating something that you get inspired from. Talent never runs out of creativity. Inspiration exists in Talent, and Talent always inspires talent. Put your Talent to work and create happiness.

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." - Pablo Picasso

Happy painting!
Do something and keep yourself happy at pandemic times like this!

Details 
Title: నుదుట దిద్దిన "జాబిలి"
Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)
Surface: Fabriano Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Kick your way to...

"Kick"
Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11") .   

Any given day is yours if you kick it in your way and start it.

It's been a while since I did a drawing with ballpoint pen. No one dislikes going back to childhood. Today, I wanted to take myself into my childhood, especially into my teens when I used to do more realistic free-hand-drawings straight with ballpoint pen. I kept my paints & brushes away and picked a ballpoint pen to take myself into my teens.

Drawing is always fun. Ballpoint pen gives a special joy of fine hand movements that Artists enjoy. Sometimes, in Art, it's good to go back and take shots at some basics. It only makes the foundation stronger.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” ~ Wayne Gretzky

Happy Drawing!
Kick your day, you way!!
Kick Carona!
किक करोना !

Details
Title: Kick...
Reference: A Random picture 
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)
Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

Sunday, March 15, 2020

The Language of Soul...

Multi-talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn 
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11") 

You soul is your true self. Know the language of your soul, speak to it, feel it and be with it.
Just be you, be with you and refresh your soul!

Every Painting is a challenge to the Artist. Apart from the usual challenges, the main challenge I had in this painting was to show true age of the girl most probably entering her teens.

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul, of the body." ~ Martha Graham

Happy Painting!
Happy being you!!

Details
Title: Natyanjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Face Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)
Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook, 75 lb/110 gm2 Acid-free Paper

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Nothing is easy...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")  
  

Nothing is easy and nothing comes free either. The more the efforts, the better the result. Any work that requires skill is always challenging. Ones own skill levels vary depending on the mood and surroundings.

Arches watercolor paper is not my preferred surface, but have been trying on this lately to keep challenging myself on surfaces that I think are harder for me. To make it even harder, I tried it on the reverse side of the paper which is usually not recommended. After all, if everything is so easy, what's the point of doing it again and again. Easy ones are the ones that are routine. Harder ones are the ones that make us learn and grow.

“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s why they call it artWORK!” 
~Lee Hammond

Happy Painting!
Enjoy hard-work!!

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)
Surface: Arches Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Presence in Absence...

"Presence in Absence"   
Watercolors on Paper (13" x 4.5")

Darkness disappears when light appears. Presence of light is the absence of darkness and vice versa. Have your presence even in your absence through your works and through your soul.

Make your Soul grow and glow in what you do!

"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present."
~ Francis Bacon

Happy Painting!
Happy Soul!!

Details
Title: Presence in Absence...
Reference: A picture of Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 13" x 4.5" (33 cm x 12.5 cm)
Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Let your Talent blossom..

"The Portrait of Talent"
Portrait of Karronya Katrynn - Young talented Dancer and Telugu Actress
Watercolors on Paper (10" x 8") 

Having talent is only one thing. Putting it to work is everything. Let your talent be working, and working hard for your success. If talent is a flower, success is its fragrance. Blossom your talent like a flower with the fragrance of success.

"If you have talent, then success will come to you." ~ Kartik Aaryan

Happy Painting!
Happy working with your Talent!!

Details

Title: "The Talent with Flower"
Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 10" x 8" (25 cm x 20 cm)
Surface: Arches Bright White140LB Cold Press Watercolor Paper 

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Learn from Masters...


Anna Marinova
Limited Edition

A page from the book...   

I am glad to receive a copy of Anna Marinova's personally signed book, a limited edition of 500 copies . Anna Marinova is one of the two Artists of our times whom I follow, want to learn Oil Painting from, and admire most. The other Artist is Vladimir Volegov. I want to watch, learn, paint wit both of these Artists by attending a workshop (if such an opportunity ever knocks my door). Till then, my only source of learning from them is: taking a closer look at pictures of their works, and watching short videos that they shared and available online.

I have had wonderful time with Oil Painting last year. This year I have higher ambitions with my own bar-raised. As I get ready to start "My 2020 journey with Oil Painting", this book remains a source of inspiration and reference. Many thanks to Anna Marinova, for being highly responsive in my communication with her and getting this book into my hands with the utmost care taken in packaging and delivery, all the way from Vsevolozhsk, Russia.

I love people who are responsive by nature!

"To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person." 
~ Bruce Lee

Happy Painting!
Happy learning from the Masters!!

Friday, February 21, 2020

Champion your Talent...

"The Portrait of Talent"
Portrait of Karronya Katrynn - Young talented Dancer and Telugu Actress
Watercolors on Paper (16" x 20")

Talent is a built-in and unique ability. Knowing that built-in ability, recognizing it, turning it into a quality, and letting it out is more than talent. It requires constant practice with no boundaries and limitations.

This portrait of talent is done in a unique way by mixing both slow and fast paced watercolor painting styles. Each style comes with its own challenges. With fast-paced style, dealing with color-flow and water control on the surface (paper) is a challenge. With slow-paced style, dealing with mixing colors as they sink in and dry fast into the surface is a challenge. After all, dealing with all those challenges, fixing any mistakes is another big challenge. Every watercolor painting is a new challenge.

Practice is the way, and in fact, the only way to overcome challenges and champion anything. Your talent is your friend, and is also your rival.

"Be a champion of your own talent, champion it with patience and practice."
~ Giridhar Pottepalem

Happy Painting!
Champion your own Talent!!

Details

Title: "The Portrait of Talent"
Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 16" x 20" (41 cm x 51 cm)
Surface: Arches Bright White140LB Cold Press Watercolor Paper 

Monday, February 17, 2020

With Loyal Friend...

"With Loyal Friend..."
Watercolors on paper (12" x 16")   

There is no best friend than a book. Reading is good for mind, body and soul.  A good book leaves a long lasting impact on us. When we read a book, we travel with the writer in our own way.

Reading a  painting is no different than reading a book. One who looks at a painting travels into it with the Artist. A painting is nothing but an Artist's colorful journey with the subject. A colorful journey that viewer can experience as well. At the end, experience is what we carry with us. Be Loyal when you travel with somebody or something. Loyalty is what leaves us with a good experience!

"There is no friend as loyal as a book." ~ Ernest Hemingway

Happy Painting!
Be Loyal to good friends!!

Details
Title: With Loyal Friend...
Mediums: Watercolor Paper
Size: 12" x 16" (31 cm x 41 cm)
Surface: Fabriano Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Challenges...

Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14") 
  

Challenges make you better and grow. If everything is so easy, then everyone does everything so well. If everyone can do everything, there is no fun and no frustration.

“Painting is a never-ending process of challenges and learning.”
~Daniel Greene

Happy Painting!
Enjoy challenges, never give up!!

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Saunders Extra White Watercolor Paper
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)
Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2