Just enough is more than enough...

A Sketch for an Oil Painting
Oil on Canvas, 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36")

I see some of my Artist friends spend too much time in getting more details into a sketch for an Oil/Acrylic Painting. From my learnings, failure & successful experiences, sketching is an important first-step in Painting, but it must be fast and fairly accurate. It is the beginning phase with which an Artist can quickly decide on the composition and do quick outlines of the main objects with just minimal details.

Oil Painting, particularly is relatively longer anyways, and offers opportunities for corrections at any and every given stage. So, there is no need to spend too much time upfront on the details. Even if you put in all the details, they go away covered by paints once you start painting. As long as the composition and proportions look fairly accurate and good to you, that is good enough. I wouldn't spend more than 15 to 30 minutes on sketching for an Oil Painting.

Many professional oil-painting Artists do sketches very quickly. If a more detailed study is needed they do it separately on a Paper with a pencil or a pen. Good Painters are also good at drawing and sketching. I have seen and heard people saying that Painting doesn't require any experience with drawing. That is a complete-lie and totally wrong. It's like saying, you don't need to know how to walk in order to run. Drawing skills are basics in Art. Aspiring Artists must practice and keep practicing basics. There might be shortcuts for earning money, but not in learning. Practice is the only way! The more you practice, the more you learn and the better you will be.

Learning is a life-long process. The moment we step into this world, our learning starts. We only graduate in life moments before we die, if we live a full-life, of course. Those who don't make it that far are only dropouts.

This sketch with left over oil-paints is fairly big in size, 2 feet x 3 feet (24" x 36") and I spent about 30 minutes to do both my sketch and underpainting. I am all set now for another colorful journey, can't wait to get my hands dirty with Paints all over ;)

"He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough." - Lao Tzu

Happy Painting!
Do not stop learning, do not stop growing!

The progress - Step by step

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Reference: A photograph from my collection

Size: 2 Feet x 3 Feet (24" x 36")

Surface: Artist's Loft Stretched Canvas board, Gesso'd to cover an abandoned sketch

Grow young...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance

Oil on Canvas 22" x 28" (55.8 cm x 71.1 cm)

You are born only once and you celebrate your birthday each year. But, you can be reborn and celebrate it everyday with your passion. There is a reason behind every life in nature. Everything that happens in and around your life is only supportive for that. It takes long time to find it out. Once found, live with a passion for it. Then only you will grow, and grow young...

This Oil Painting is my Gift to myself on my Birthday today. I worked hard to finish it by today. Happy to start my day by giving finishing touches to it, finished and signed.

This is my 10th finished Oil Painting, first this year. The color combination was bit challenging. I changed background colors few times and finally settled with the same prime colors of the main painting. First time on this brand of canvas, it challenged me to great extent.

"It takes a long time to become young." - Pablo Picasso

Happy Painting!
Grow young and stay young forever!!

Details

Title: Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph from my digital collection

Size: 22" x 28" (55.8 cm x 71.1 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft, Level-2, Stretched Canvas board

Enjoy the outcome..

Oil on Canvas - work in progress

Video Credits: Bhuvan Pottepalem

Several people have been saying to me lately that it's easy for me, and I do Paintings just like that. No, that's not true. In fact, nothing is easy for me in life. There is only sheer hard work behind every result and every success of mine.

"The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest." - Deepika Padukone

Happy Painting!
Work hard and enjoy the outcome of it!!

Smile with colors...

Smile with Colors
Watercolors on Paper - 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Smile with colors, the natural colors within you. Then a day of any kind will shine on you with the smiling colors within you.

"Colors are the smiles of nature." - Leigh Hunt

Happy painting! Keep exploring the natural colors within you!

Details
Title: Smile with Colors
Mediums: Watercolors and Ink on Paper
Reference: A random Photograph from my Digital Library

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Details do matter...

Details - Oil On Canvas 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)
A tiny portion of my new Painting

Details do matter. A big picture is a sum of many details, with each detail crafted carefully and blended into another. Each day in life is nothing but a detailed memory. A series of memories becomes an experience. Not giving importance to details is like neglecting memories.

Artists take viewers into details at various levels. Abstract or detailed, it doesn't matter in Art. A painting of any kind takes viewers into its own level of details. An abstract painting may take into higher level of details, while a detailed painting may take into the deeper levels. A viewer can feel the experience of an Artist only when gone inside, into the details of it.

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life."

- William Morris

Don't be abstract in life, give details, and pay attention to details!
Happy Painting!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Size: 22" x 28" (56 cm x 71 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Looking back 2018 - The Year of Oil Painting with a Soulful experience...

Looking Back 2018
The Year of Oil Painting with a Soulful experience

As another year goes into history books, it is that time of the year to look back before saying "Goodbye". The year 2018 is a great year for my Art with remarkable memories and milestones along the path. Following are just some of those to cherish forever:

• Accepted the challenge and did a live painting in 30 minutes organized by Calcutta Club, USA. The painting was auctioned at the end to raise funds for a charity. It was the first live painting experience for me and I enjoyed it fully.
• Also, performed another live painting at Sanskriti 2018, an Indian Book Fair and Literature Festival at which Shobha De was the keynote speaker.
• Approached by TANA to do a cover page for Ugadi issue, TANA magazine. Very first time for my painting to appear on a cover page for a magazine, was certainly an honor.
• My Engineering classmate and one of my good friends, Kiran dedicated a song sung by him to my Art, what an honor by another talent!
• Exhibited my Paintings along with fellow Kalakruti Artists at a couple of events including the annual conference,  Learnquest Music Academy in which one of my watercolor paintings got Sold. Thanks to Mrs. Sukanya Lahiri Soderland from Winchester, MA who owned my painting.
• Designed a CD cover for a spiritual music album done by Mrs. Shuchita Rao which was officially released at this year's Learnquest Music Academy annual conference. Thanks Shuchita Rao garu for approaching me giving me this opportunity.
• Did a series of watercolor paintings inspired by the movie, Rangasthalam. with the first sketch done at Chennai Air Port on the way to my hometown Nellore while I had to wait for an hour for my sister Indira. 
• Took Dancing Krishna painting with me to Nellore, India, got it framed and gifted to my brother Sridhar. Dedicated it to my beloved Baamma without whom I wouldn't have been what I am today.
• Visited my favorite book-stall ChelvaPilla Book Stores, Kavali after nearly 25 years. Buying a pen and a pencil selected by the owner Lakshmi Narayana garu was the most memorable experience of this year.
• Painted Lord Ganesha, based a gift that I got from my sister Chinni, both in Watercolors and in Oil.
• Created special morning time during my summer Canada trip with the family, and did sketches from the hotels we stayed in Quebec City and Montreal, Canada.
• Made two sculptures Lord Ganesha and a Woman bust with Natural Clay.
• Visited two Art Museums: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
• Gifted a few paintings to friends and family.
• Painted statues of Goddess Durga, Radha and Krishna at Sri Sai Chavadi Temple, Canton, MA.
• Displayed two of my paintings selected in a juried Art Show organized by Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Pawtucket, RI.
• Concluded this year with an Oil Painting as my tribute to Indian Classical Dance.

I am absolutely pleased with my dedication, efforts, participations and museum visits this year. My summer visit to two Art museums, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA hooked me to Oil Painting. I did more Oil Paintings this year that I could ever imagine to do in the shortest possible time. The sizes vary from small (11" x 14") to very big (3 feet x 2 feet). Also, styles vary from realism to abstract.

That's a fantastic soulful of satisfaction. With several professional-quality Oil Paintings done, this year, I took my Art to new levels. I can certainly declare 2018 year as "The year of Oil Painting" in my life. Once a dream media, Oil Painting, is not a dream media any more. I am glad that I could live up to the title of my blog My Soul on Canvas. When I started this blog, my heart-felt title is fulfilled now. I am looking forward to put more of my soul on the canvas in 2019 with new goals set at new heights.

Thanks to all friends on Facebook for their likes and encouraging comments. Thanks to people who took time to visit my paintings & read my writings (my another passion) on my blog and shared their feelings by comments. Also, thanks to Art lovers on Instagram who loved my Arts.

“Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard.” - Dave Mustaine

Thank you very much 2018, a Soulful Goodbye!

Welcome to 2019! Happy New (Painting) Year!!
నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు!!!

Bonded with Love...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance

Oil on Canvas 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

I wanted to end this year with a Painting that I would be bonded with love. I never struggled this much to start a new Painting. I started a couple of underpainting sketches on canvas, but was not happy and scrapped those at the early stages.

I already had a rough underpainting sketch done for this Painting about a month ago, but I was not happy with my start. As I messed up body proportions, I kept it aside. I picked it up again and said to myself, 'this is the subject close my my heart, and I cannot leave it like that, I will have to complete it'. I corrected proportions as I was progressing. The size is bit small for getting this kind of output, and I had to put more efforts to get the outcome I wanted.

I am glad that I picked up this and I am quite happy with the result. This is my 9th finished Oil Painting, and 7th one this year alone. With that, I conclude this year, 2018. This is not the first time I leaned the fact that 'when we add love to what you do, we achieve excellence'.

"Love is the bond of perfection." - John Winthrop

Happy Painting!

Keep up the good work!!

Details

Title: Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph of Dream Girl - Hema Malini from my collection

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

Happy Holidays...

Self Portrait

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

I have done portraits of many people, but haven't done one of my own yet, seriously. This one is just a very quick watercolor self portrait, not sort of a serious painting yet ;)

My better self is still waiting for my better self-portrait.

"Be yourself, but always your better self." - Karl G. Maeser

Happy Holidays!
Happy painting!!

Details
Title: Selfie
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A photograph by my Son

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Colorful Study...

A colorful study for an Oil Painting
Watercolors on Paper 8.5" x 11" (21.5cm x 27.9 cm) 

Artists study their subjects by sketching first in a different media. Pencil, Charcoal, Ink, Watercolors are common media as they give quickest way to study various aspects of it like, values, depth, composition etc.

This is a Colorful Study - a study done in watercolors for my next Oil Painting. Colors speak one language, the language of colors, the language of the universe!

Hopefully, I will conclude this year by this.

“Colors speak all languages.” – Joseph Addison

Happy painting!
Merry Christmas!!

Details
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A random photograph I came across

Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

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

Strengthen yourself...

Oil on Canvas

16" x 20" (40cm x 50cm)

You can only strengthen yourself and your skills by doing, doing and doing more. Believe in yourself, in your abilities and in your hard work.

This is a different attempt in Oil on Canvas. This is my 8th finished Oil Painting of which 6th finished this year alone. I am happy, once taken months to finish an Oil Painting now came down to days. It's only the practice that makes you get better at doing anything.

"The undertaking of a new action brings new strength." - Richard L. Evans

Happy Painting!
Keep the journey going!
Never stop for anybody, and for anything!!!

Details

Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Inspiration: Passion for Arts, Dream for Oil Painting

Reference: A photograph

Size: 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board

బంగారు బాబు...

"బంగారు బాబు"
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

"బంగారు బాబు" - ఇలానే పిలుచుకుంటా నా "భువన్" ని ప్రతి రోజూ.

నన్ను చూసిన మొదటి క్షణమే చిరునవ్వులు చిందిస్తూ నా జీవితంలోకొచ్చి...

"ఐ లవ్ యూ భువన్" అన్న ప్రతి సారీ తిరిగి "ఐ లవ్ యూ నాన్నా" అంటూ..

నా జీవితంలో ఆనందాన్ని నింపే నా "బంగారు బాబు" భువన్ కి 

"పుట్టినరోజు శుభాకాంక్షలు!"

- ప్రేమతో

నాన్న

Details
Title:  బంగారు బాబు
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Reference: A photograph I took

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 the heart, onto the easel, into the frame...

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

Paintings have long life, Oil Paintings live even longer. They are born from the heart of an Artist, go onto the easel to take a shape, and finally go into a Frame. Not every Art piece makes it's way into a frame and live longer. Of course, Art Galleries is their ultimate destination to live forever. Art is already an opinionated and crowded world.

I am happy that these two Oil Paintings made their way into Frames. They still need to be seen by public in upcoming Art shows and displays. For now, my home is their home...only until they find a new home!

Dancing Radha Krishna
Oil on Canvas - 24" x 36" (60 cm x 91.5 cm)

"We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours."

- Dag Hammarskjold

Happy Painting!
Happy Achievements!!

Details
Mediums: Oil on Canvas

Size: 36" x 24" (91.5 cm x 60 cm)

Surface: Stretched Canvas board