Giving Thanks...

Hands of Light

Oil On Canvas 11"x14" (28cm x 36cm)

We come across many people in life. Some make us laugh, some make us cry. Some make us think, some make us go blank. Some make us learn, some make us teach. Some inspire us, some get inspired by us. Some give us, some take from us. Some hate us, some love us. Some darken our souls, some lighten our souls. Each one comes and goes with a purpose leaving some impact on us. Our thinking, attitude and actions get influenced by all. Good or bad, we do learn from all. Hence, we must be thankful to all.

Art has become part of my life now. It used to be a part of me once, and went away for many years. It came back and I can proudly say, I will have it with me till my last breath. With all due respects, on this day of Thanksgiving, I thank everyone in my life who inspire me, who make me laugh, who make me cry, who make me learn, who love me, who hate me, who appreciate me, and even who criticize me...

Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Painting!!

"We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

- John F. Kennedy

Details

Title:  Hands of Light

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph

Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 36 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

First-of-its-kind Art Exhibition for my Paintings...

Juried Art Show - RIWS, Rhode Island, USA
Nov 10, 2018 - Jan 3, 2019

First-of-it's-kind Art Exhibition for my Paintings, having gone through Juried selection process, I am very happy to know that 2 of my Paintings (a Watercolor and an Oil) made to the Juried exhibition for this year's Artists Choice Open Juried Show organized by Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Rhode Island, USA. There are about 60 Art works by 40 Artists from New England Region that made to this selection. My Paintings will be on display at this show from Nov 10, 2018 to Jan 3, 2019.

The Watercolor Painting goes for Sale. My heart is not ready to put a price on my very first Oil Painting yet!

Here is the link: Selected Artists and Art Work Titles

The following are my works selected by the Jury:

Natyanjali - My Tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Oil On Canvas, 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)
NOT FOR SALE

Kuchipudi - My Tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper 16" x 24" (40cm x 50cm)
FOR SALE

"It's not our art, but our heart that's on display." - Gary Holland

Details
Exhibition:  Artists Choice Open Juried Show for New England Artists
Place:
  Rhode Island Watercolor Society (Art Gallery),
  Slater Memorial Park,
  831 Armistice Blvd, Pawtucket, RI 02861
Dates: Nov 10, 2018 to Jan 3, 2019

Learn with Passion...

Woman in Saree (abstract)

Oil on Canvas 18" x 24" (45.72 cm x 60.96 cm)

This is based on my own line sketch that I did in 1994. I never thought I would do it again after 24 years in Oil. As I was going through my collection of my college-days-art-memories, this one ignited my inspiration.

My journey with Oil Painting recently took a scenic route and I have been enjoying the ride and the lovely experience. This time, getting little away from my style- realism, I wanted to attempt in abstract style. From start to finish it took about 3-to-4 hours. This is only my 6th finished Oil Painting, 4th this year, and the fastest so far. Also, I painted most of it with knife, did little brush work on the background.

My dream media, I love Oil Painting. Life is a learning. So, learn with passion. Learn from what you do. What you learn becomes your asset.

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow."

- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Happy Painting!!

Details
Title:  Woman in Saree (abstract)
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting
Reference: My own sketch I did in 1994

Size: 18" x 24" (45.72 cm x 60.96 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Don't just dream...

Woman with Pot
Oil on Canvas 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

You must dream and put sincere efforts in making your dreams (be)come true. In fact, dreams are the best way to dissolve yourself in the process of evolving. They help renew yourself and your creativity. Also, when you dream, dream high and gauge your creations constantly to improve your talent. Having talent and not putting it into action & constant practice is equivalent to not having it all. You can always think "I can do anything". But, only by doing it, you will come to know if you "can" really do it or not.

I always say, Oil Painting has been my dream media since my childhood. As I work more and more with it, my dreams not only become true but also get bigger and go higher, setting my-own new targets and expectations up for myself. At the end of every attempt, I go through a natural process of my own evaluation. This process helps me finding mistakes. Those mistakes are nothing but opportunities of improvements that I missed and can apply in my next attempts.

When I started a sketch for this painting, I felt I had a good beginning. A good beginning can always be expected to have a good ending. My four-day journey spanning three-week-end-days with several hours of total involvement each day, along the path from the beginning to the ending of this painting, was a joyful meditation. The ending is even more joyful. This gave me fully satisfied result and makes an unique addition to my creations of Art. I would certainly say, this is one of my best so far. But the best of the best is yet to come out, one day...

There is a hidden secret in this painting. A full-blown Lord Ganesha in Acrylic is hidden underneath this Painting. I actually started my first Acrylic painting of Lord Ganesha on this canvas. But I was very unhappy with the media and the first-layer outcome. Despite buying the best Professional quality paints and complete brush-set spending big bucks, trying all kinds of techniques and making couple of extra trips to Art Stores to buy add-on liquids to extend it's drying time, it was drying as fast as watercolors. I was totally disappointed and upset with Acrylics. I decided not to waste my time anymore, Acrylics is not my type of media. Then I applied Gesso over it and started this painting in Oil. That's the beauty of Canvas, it can be reused ;)

This Painting is just born today. After 6 to 9 months, I will give it a special varnish coat to preserve and extend it's life and frame it. I am hoping, being born as an Oil Painting, this painting will have longer life wherever it finds it's permanent residence, could be my home or some one else's. The life of a painting is longer than the Artist's. A portion of my he(art) and soul continues to live forever in this painting!

Always give your best in anything you do. There is nothing more satisfying than that in the world!

Happy Painting!!

"Build your life on your dreams, because dreams never have bad endings."

-M.F. Moonzajer

Details
Title:  Woman with Pot
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting
Reference: A photograph I have come across

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

అత్యుత్తమం, అత్యద్భుతం!

ఒక్క పాటలో ఇన్ని హావభావాలా...పద పదం తో, ప్రతి సంగీత తరంగంలో కలసి... కేవలం కళ్ళతో, నవ్వుతో ఇంత అందంగానూ, ఇంత అద్భుతంగానూ పయనించొచ్చా?  అసలు కళ్ళు పాడగలవా...నవ్వు నాట్యం చెయ్యగలదా...ఇది సాధ్యమా?

నవ్వు ఒక్క మనిషికి మాత్రమే అందిన వరం. చిరునవ్వుకే కొత్త అందాల్ని తెచ్చిచ్చిన ఈ అమ్మాయి ప్రతిభ కి ఎల్లలు లేవు. ఒకప్పుడు ప్రదర్శించే వీలులేక ఎన్నో వెలికి రాని, వెలుగు చూడని నైపుణ్యాలు. ఈ స్మార్ట్ యుగంలో, సొషల్ మీడియా అందించిన హద్దులులేని విశాల వేదికలు.

ఒక్కసారి ఈ పాటకి ఈ అమ్మాయి అభినయం, కళ్ళతో చిరునవ్వు కలసి చేసిన నృత్యం చూస్తే, ఎవరైనా మళ్ళీ మళ్ళీ చూడక మానరు, ఈ పాట మిమ్మల్ని చాలా కాలం వెంటాడకా మానదు.

అసలీ పాట వినని, విన్నా గుర్తులేని తెలుగు వాళ్ళెందరో! ఈ పాటలో ఓ ప్రత్యేకతా ఉంది. రెండు చరణాల ట్యూన్ భిన్నంగా ఉంటుంది, దేనికదే సాటిగా. అసలీ పాటని ఎంచుకోవటమే గొప్ప. ఎంచుకున్న పాటకే అందం తెస్తూ, జీవం పోస్తూ సొగసు వన్నెలద్దిన ఈ అమ్మాయి అభినయం అత్యుత్తమం, అత్యద్భుతం!!

Hats off to this naturally Beautiful Telugu Talent !!!

"A really great talent finds its happiness in execution."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

( ఒరిజినల్ సాంగ్ "అల్లరి బుల్లోడు" అనే సినిమా కి బాలు, సుశీల పాడగా కృష్ణ, జయప్రద అభినయించారు. వేటూరి రచన, చక్రవర్తి సంగీతం. )

Disclosure: I usually don't post unknown poeple's videos/images on my blog. But this one is an exceptionally beautiful. The only purpose is to share such an extraordinary Telugu Talent.

Work in Progress...

Video Credits: Bhuvan Pottepalem

Painting with favorite music is always relaxing, and is the way to get the best out of you.

Made much progress working on it for few hours today, the experience is fantastic and happy for my making dreams come true with Oil Painting. Getting better and faster, looking forward to finish it soon!

Progressing...

More progressed...

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

- Edward Everett Hale

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Woman with Pot
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Art is Divine...

Goddess Durga - Sri Sai Chavadi, Canton MA

I was extremely humbled by this opportunity given to me to re-paint Goddess Durga at Sri Sai Chavadi Temple in Canton, MA, USA. Few months ago, in a Pooja function at one of my friend's place, when the priest Narayan Ji asked me to Paint the Goddess marble statue, I was just surprised. I immediately said, "Sure, Swamiji, I will come, take a look, and will do it". Then, I was wondering "How did he know that I do Painting?".

I was in fact, planning to start Acrylic Painting lately and even bought all necessary supplies. When I explored about the right Paint to use for Marble, I was convinced with Acrylic Painting as more suitable than any other. The day for Acrylic Painting finally and suddenly had arrived two weeks ago. I dedicated a weekend and spent about 8 hours of my sincere time-and-talent near Goddess Durga.

I always feel Art is divine. Experiencing it with the nearness of Divine force of the Goddess is even more divine for me. When I was half way through this job, the priest came to take a look and said, "Giridhar garu, it's coming out so nice. Maata Ji (Goddess Durga) knows the right person to assign this job to. That's how she called you and you are brought in". I was more humbled by his words. His son Dhanush, a 9th grade kid was with me for sometime asking me interesting questions about Painting while I was on this job. It was a divinely wonderful experience for me and my Arts.

Here is the Goddess Durga before and after:

I was also asked to cover minor color marks that the Uthsav statue of Goddess Dugra had on the face which was brought from India for this Navarathri festival.

Uthsav Statue - Goddess Durga

I also noticed that the statue of Radha and Krishna needed a similar Art touch as well. As the Temple didn't plan for it, I just touched eyebrows, eyes and painted hair. Another weekend is due for this work and awaiting the call from Lord Krishna and Radha.

Radha Krishna

By this opportunity, my Art received special blessings during this auspicious days of Dasara Festival. I was happy with my sincere attempts to give my best.

"Be sincere when you commit. Don't commit if you have any doubts on your sincerity."

- Giridhar Pottepalem  

"Painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God." - Rembrandt

దసరా శుభాకాంక్షలు!

Happy Painting!!

Details
Mediums: Acrylic
Venue: Sri Sai Chavadi, Canton, MA, USA
Date: 5th, 6th and 7th October, 2018

Beginning matters....

Woman with Pot - Oil on Canvas
Sketch - First Step

This is just the beginning of another beautiful journey I am hoping to have with Oil Painting, my dream media. Looking forward for a wonderful experience.

It is not exaggerated when I say, "I can recollect the place, time of the day, and almost about everything around each of my Art works when I look at them including the oldest of my work that I could save which I did when I was 10 years old". I guess, every Artist could say that. Otherwise, that the Artist was not deeply involved in it.

Like ending matters, beginning also matters and is important in anything we do in life. A good beginning almost always leads onto a good path, resulting into a good ending. I am happy with the good beginning of this painting. It's only an under-painting, still a long way to go. Looking forward to finishing it in coming weeks. With that, I wish myself a "Good Luck" and am hoping to exceed my own expectations and limitations!

"The beginning is the most important part of the work." - Plato

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Woman with Pot
Mediums: Oil on Canvas
Inspiration: Passion for Arts...

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Plan your day, your way...

Woman with Pot - Ink & Watercolors on Paper

A day is not supposed to be made-up or made-down by others for you. Each day that you don't have to go through day-to-day routine cycle is all yours. At least, those days, you plan your way and do what makes you happy.

You can't just live for others. You also have a person of yourself in those others. Find and be with that person on days that are not routine, and on days that you have a choice to plan. Plan those days your own way. Make that inner-person of yourself happy and then you'll be the happiest.

A day or two spent your way, each week, each month, each year for a long time keeps you happy overall. On instances when you look back, you will not have (m)any regrets. It is hard to have a regret-free past, but at least regrets can be minimized and make them look tiny relatively. As life goes by, fill it with more happiness, that leads to peace.

"For the happiest life, days should be rigorously planned, nights left open to chance." - Mignon McLaughlin

This is a sketch done with Ink & Watercolors on Paper before starting a full-blown Oil Painting.

Happy Painting!

Details
Title: Woman with Pot
Mediums: Ink & Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: Random Picture 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

When the Sun visits to view my Painting...

When the Sun visits to view my Painting...

After I finished this Pinting, I tried my best to take a good picture but was not happy with what I took in the past. This morning, I was about to step out to go to work and a strip of sunlight coming through the window falling and running from top-left to bottom-right corner glorifying just about the central characters: Peacock feather, Flute, Radha and Krishna caught my eye.

There you go...the best of all captured in this Picture with the Sun being the distinguished visitor and viewer today 😉

Now I wonder when does the Moon arrive as a visitor to view this Painting 🤔

"Sunlight is painting." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

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

Sculpture - another dream of Art...

Natural Clay - Hand made

Sculpture is another form of Art I have been in love with since my childhood. The roots of my love and  desire for it can be traced back to my School days in 8th grade when My School Art Teacher sculpted TajMahal on a transparent Pears bath soap. Inspired by that, later in my teen age, I tried a couple of sculptures on Ponds and Mysore Sandal bath soaps. Also, did Lord Ganesha on a bath soap.

When I visited Hampi - a sculpture city in Karnataka State, South India with my college friends in 1987, I wanted to live in there and felt like not leaving that place. I said many times to many on many instances that I should have born in the era of King Krishnadevaraya. I fell in love that much with that City of Sculpture. I did a Watercolor Painting of that Hampi as my way to pay tributes to the king Krishnadevaraya, those visionaries and sculptures who built that great sculpture city of all-times. Whenever I visit Hindu Temples anywhere in the world, the majestic architecture and sculpture work is always inspiring to me.

I even wanted to try Marble Stone sculpture. In this not-stone-age but smart-phone-age, it should be easy finding what it requires just by tapping fingers on the phone. And, above all, all it needs is a skillful-adventurous-confidence to attempt it.

I have been doing Lord Ganesha with Natural Clay for the last 9 years. This is first time I tried a true-three-dimensional sculpture with Natural Clay. I did not have any model or picture as a reference for it, just kept going.

Sculpture is truly a three dimensional form of Art. I believe, for an Artist who is a Painter, the skill for sculpture comes in naturally. In a way, it is little easier than Painting due to it's true three dimensional form. In fact, Painting is a multi-dimensional form of Art. One needs to show several dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.

I am happy with this attempt. I should try more of it in the future, of-course, with different materials.

"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."
- Michelangelo

Details

Title: Head of an Indian Woman
Material: Natural Clay

Tools: Hands
Dimensions: 9" x 5" x 5" (23 cm x 13cm x 13cm)

Inspiration: HeArt

Painting Krishna in a Painting...

Painting Krishna - Watercolors on Paper
TAKEN FB

I actually started this as a quick watercolor sketch for my debut in Acrylic Painting. I just kept on going with it, and it turned out to be a painting by itself. It is based on a very old Picture of Singer Sri. Lata Mangeshkar that I came across randomly in social media. I still have to consider it as a sketch. Otherwise, my debut in Acrylic Painting may not take off sooner.

My own creation of Lord Krishna I did in Oils can be seen as a painting in this painting. It's a double, rather a tripe Painting, me painting Radha painting Krishna of my painting.

After experiencing Oil Painting, I wanted to try and explore Acrylic Painting. I even bought a complete set of Paints and brushes. Watercolor is undoubtedly the most expressive media of all. But, certain kind of Paintings must only be attempted in Oils/Acrylic. I think this is one such and will be a great debut for me in Acrylic Painting. I will have to get into it and feel that media...

Looking forward to my beautiful first creation in Acrylic Painting! It's going to be BIG in size as well.

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is Art" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Painting!

Details
Title:  Painting Krishna in a Painting...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Inspiration: An old picture of Lata Mangeshkar that I 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