Don't just make it, make it Great!

Dancing with Krishna - Oil on Canvas

Though I started this painting an year ago, I spent many hours during past few weeks to take it this far and took a pause, signed and dated. This is the first Painting that when it was still wet in paint, went on display in public, a day after I signed, and before I even posted it on my blog & social networks. Last week, it was displayed at an India classical dance event Shringara Triveni in Littleton, MA, USA which was based on the theme- Love for Krishna. This painting was so appropriate at that event which also had an Art exhibition going on by Kalakruti and students of an Art school. I had put a price-tag of "make your own offer". When people showed interest to buy, it was hard pricing my sincere efforts on this Painting. The enthusiasm this painting created at the show among viewers for Art and Dance was itself priceless for me. Few people asked for the price and many people stopped by staring at it for minutes and talking with me to know many details. One common question that I get these days at shows like this is - Do you teach Painting?. My answer so far has always been: No, I am still a learner. Who knows, what is there awaiting for me in future ;)

Indian Classical Dance has been one of few themes I chose and did a series of Paintings already. My second finished Oil Painting of Dancing Krishna (alone in the universe), created a new theme, Krishna for me for a series. This Painting fits in both the themes: Indian Classical Dance and Krishna. It was only a co-incidence that Krishna continues to dance in this series, but this time, the Love for Krishna joined and seen dancing along with his inseparable Flute and Peacock Feather. It has 4 dancers in it. Also, every painting has an unseen person in it, the Artist him-self/her-self.

Though I signed and dated it already, in coming weeks I will be giving it minor finishing touches before it goes on into a frame and finds a place to live. This is yet another Painting that makes me feel great and inspires me every single time I take a look at it. Of course, it did not happen just like that. It has many many hours of sincere efforts and dedication went into it.

"A great work is made out of a combination of obedience and liberty" - Nadia Boulanger

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Dancing with Krishna
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Raj Kapoor and Nargis...

Raj Kapoor and Nargis - Watercolors on Paper

Dedicated to Javed Akthar Ji for his wonderful lyrics from the movie Silsila.

मैं और मेरी तन्हाई, अक्सर ये बातें करते हैं

तुम होती तो कैसा होता, तुम ये कहती, तुम वो कहती

तुम इस बात पे हैरां होती, तुम उस बात पे कितनी हँसती

तुम होती तो ऐसा होता, तुम होती तो वैसा होता

मैं और मेरी तन्हाई, अक्सर ये बातें करते हैं...

"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet." - Plato

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Portrait of Love
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Raj Kapoor, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Let your today be...

Ink and Watercolors on Paper

Let your today be an inspiration for you, tomorrow. When you open your book of past and flip through pages of days, let those touch your inner spirits and wake them up again and again. The only one who is con(si)stantly there with you and for you in this world is "yourself". Don't lose your-self...

Happy Painting!

"In the struggle between yourself and the world, second the world."

-Franz Kafka, novelist (3 Jul 1883-1924)

Details
Title:  A portrait
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Random Pictures Aishwarya Rai came across, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

From Montreal, Canada...

French Shops in Old Quebec City, Canada

It was a wonderful experience in Canada walking along the streets of Old Quebec City and Old Montreal City. Both cities are totally French filled with all French restaurants, shops and architecture. This is a quick sketch of Old Quebec French shop, done in Montreal, on a fine morning. The day started with this quick sketch, another day to go visiting Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...

Keep Painting, Keep experiencing life.

"It's a lovely experience walking around a museum by yourself." - Brad Pitt

Details
Title:  French shops
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: French culture in Old Quebec City and Old Montreal, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

From Quebec City...

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Old Quebec City, CANADA
Ink & Watercolors on Paper

It's been wonderful experience visiting all French Structures in Old Quebec City, CANADA. This is one of the beautiful sculptures in front of Fairmont Le Chanteau Frontenac that I couldn't resist doing a fast sketch in Quebec City, as a memory of my visit to this city.

Great experience and now that went into my Art...
Keep Painting, Keep experiencing...

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."
- Camille Pissarro

Details
Title:  Fairmont Le Chanteau Frontenac
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: French Sculpture and Architecture, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

ఎవరికోసం...

Based on a picture of Mehreen (Telugu Actress)

Ink & Watercolors on Paper

ఎవరికోసం ఈ బొమ్మలన్నీ

ఎందుకేస్తున్నానో

వేస్తూ ఎక్కడికెళుతున్నానో 

నాకే అర్ధం కాదు

కానీ వెయ్యాలి

ఏదో వేసెయ్యాలి

ఏవేవో గీసెయ్యాలి

అదే తపన

అలా రూపుదిద్దుకునేవే

ఈ పిచ్చి గీతలూ..వాటికద్దే రంగులూ

. . . .

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." - Dale Carnegie

Gifted this to one of my good friends Kumar, who actually wanted to buy it as a memory!
When I did this, I was wondering why I was painting at all. Thanks Kumar for the affection you showed to my Paintings, you deserve this as a gift from me! I didn't want to lose that opportunity ;)

Aslo, after hiking few hours with friends, families and kids, while I was presenting this gift right after lunch, I came to know that his birthday was coming up in 3 days. That was even better, my Painting had a purpose then as an advanced b'day gift! A moment to cherish for long time! Hope my Paintings when started had reasons, find occasions and make into new homes.

Kumar and me with the original Painting framed and gifted.

Keep yourself occupied...all the time, be with your heart. None in the world can be a better match to you other than yourself!

Happy painting!

Details
Title:  Mehreen (Telugu Actress)......
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Mehreen's picture, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

My Dad my first Guru...

My Dad was my first Guru

నాన్నా,

ఊహొచ్చాక నీతో కలిసెళ్ళిన పార్క్ ఏ
ఇప్పటికీ నాకందమైన ఉద్యాన వనం

నీ చేత్తో కాగితంపై నువు చెక్కిన నా పేరే
ఈనాటికీ నాకిష్టమైన అక్షరాల అపురూపం

తొమ్మిదేళ్ళకే నేనందుకున్న నీ ఉత్తరాలే
ఈనాటికీ చెక్కు చెదరని జ్ఞాపకాలు

నువ్వు చూసిన నువు తిరిగిన ఆ చోట్లే
ఇప్పటికీ నేను నిన్నెతుక్కునే ప్రదేశాలు

ఆ దేవుడెదురైతే నేనడిగే మొదటి ప్రశ్న
నాన్న ప్రేమని లాక్కెళ్ళే హక్కు నీకెక్కడిదనే!

. . .

Happy Father's Day!

Keep Going...

Underpainting - Lakshmi - Oil On Canvas

Underpainting Saraswathi - Oil on Canvas

Underpainting is the first step in Oil Painting. Started two at the same time. These two Goddesses: Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi are going to be companion to my previous Lord Vighneswara Painting. Three together are going to be a nice Collection to have in any home they find...
Keep Painting...the only way to get going!!

"As long as you keep going, you'll keep getting better. And as you get better, you gain more confidence. That alone is success."
- Tamara Taylor

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 20" x 20" (50.8 cm x 50.8 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

Follow your dreams...

Glowing Ganesha - Oil on Canvas

Once it was only a dream, and now becoming a reality. Oil Painting was my dream media, and I was dreaming about it for many many years. Zeal was never a constraint, but time and resources were. I won my first battle with time, and it helped me follow my dream.

With each finished Painting, I feel more comfortable with it. And, it comes closer to my dreaming (he)art. This is my third finished Oil Painting. Finished in painting means- stopped & signed. There is nothing like finished in Painting. My previous two oil paintings took several weekends, I finished it in just two weekends. My dreams were so long and I still have a long way to follow...

This is Lord Vighneswara based on a Bronze sculpture I received as a Gift from my Sister Chinni.

Keep Painting, keep following your dreams, never stop! Happy Painting!!

"Follow your dreams, believe in yourself and don't give up." - Rachel Corrie

Details
Title: Glowing Ganesha
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 24" x 30" (60.9 cm x 76.2 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

Where do I find Time...

An Illustration of my thoughts: Where do I find Time
Ink and Watercolors on Paper

More often, I face this question from many: Where do you find time for your Art?
My answer always, of course with an added smile, is: Weekend mornings, before my kids wake up.
The followup question is easy to guess: What time do you wake up on a weekend?

Some people even think that I am a full-time Artist and sell my Art to make a living. No, I am not. And I don't make a living out of my Art either. I only wish I could. I hardly sold any of my Paintings ;) It's nothing but more of a passion than anything else.

I have been thinking of putting my thought together for a long time on this question that I face: Where do I find Time?

Time- is the only resource in the world given equally to everyone. It is given each day as it comes and taken once the day is gone. It's up to us managing and using it the way we want to. We can become rich each day by using it wisely, or can become poor by not using it as wise as we can. Rich and poor in time sense is not by a means of wealth of money. It is by a means of living in it fully, and carrying a wealth of memories to recollect as we move along.

I respect people, and I double respect those who wake up early in the morning ;). Those are the ones who thrive to do something extra in life. That something extra could be anything that otherwise they can't fit into their 24 hour clock-time. Within each day, there is extra hidden time to find and use it wisely. This is the little time that makes one happier at later years in life. This is the little time truly lived in and well spent that collects lots of great memories to recollect later and live not just once, but twice.

Time is the only free resource which can be invested by spending. Find an extra portion of it, spend it on your passions, and it turns into an investment right away, and pays off well in future. Spend it, but don't overspend it. Returns of this investment come back in several forms: wonderful experiences, sweet memories, and many more to feel.

Finding time is the most easiest thing in the world. Easy, only when you know where and how to find it. It's also bit magical, if you think you don't have it- yes, you don't have it. If you think you have it- of course, you have it. Don't search for it, you will never find it. Search is only for the things that are lost but can be found. Time is the only-and-only thing in life: once lost, it's lost forever!

So, where do I find time for this and time for that?
I don't need to find, I just keep spending, and I just keep investing in it.

"The poorest of the poor is the one who doesn't have time for anything.
The richest of the rich is the one who can find time for anything. "
- Giridhar Pottepalem

Details
Title:  Where do I find Time......
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Instinct for doing an Illustration, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Vighneswara...

Vighneswara - Oil on Canvas

It's been an year since I touched Canvas with Oils, I still have many pending to finish. Returning to my Dream Media this summer with this Vighneswara Oil Painting based on a bronze idol I got as Gift from my sister Chinni.

This is an under Painting...the very first step forward on this journey with Vighneswara...

March towards your destiny! Never turn back...once turned back, the destiny changes!
Happy Painting!

"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him." - Henry Miller

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Dream of Life...

Size: 24" x 30" (60.9 cm x 76.2 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Professional Level 3 - Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas

నటరత్న...

నటరత్న - Ink and Watercolors on Paper

"ఆత్మ కీ గౌరవం ఉంటుందనీ...ఉండాలనీ

అది మన తెలుగు వాడికొకింత ఎక్కువేననీ

తెలుగుజాతి ఉనికి దశదిశలా చాటి చెప్పిన

అన్నగారి జన్మదినం..తెలుగువారి సంబరం"

- గిరిధర్ పొట్టేపాళెం

A tribute to my childhood Telugu Hero, Sri N.T. Rama Rao Garu on his birthday that the whole Telugu people proudly remember.

Admire good people with no boundaries!
Happy Painting!

"All I required to be happy was friendship and people I could admire." - Christian Dior

Details
Title:  నటరత్న......
Mediums: Ink and Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Childhood Hero, Passion for Arts...

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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