Day 4 of 10 - Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...(cont'd)

Kamal Hassan - 1987
Camel Poster Colors mixed with Acrylic on Paper (12" x 16").   

Continuing my exploration of Painting from yesterday's post...

Portrait of Kamal Hassan done in 1987. A small portion of a light pole leaning against can also be seen. I had this painting pasted on the wall in my Engineering hostel room, and thus it got damaged. So, I had to cut the paper around it losing the date below my signature.

Going back 2 more years, 1987...

As I was progressing, my signature was also undergoing some changes ;) This was one of my very early paintings of that time. The thickness of the paint on paper is clearly visible. One reason for that was, I was happily mixing white fabric color unknowingly with every color, and that was also causing patches. I was that ignorant. I did know that fabric color was for cloth painting, but didn't know that it was not good for mixing with poster color.

Resources - Art material

There were no resources available to get any details about art material and where to buy if available. I spent too much of my time going around almost to every single bookshop in Vijayawada including some on the unknown streets in one-town (the whole-sale business area) with very narrow roads. A bookshop guy in Patamata told me to check one-town area, and that's how I ended up searching for shops even in an area that was full of whole-sale warehouses where in they wouldn't sell anything in small numbers/quantities.

Vijayawada one-town was a big area and was known for it's whole-sale business.It was also very difficult to navigate in and out. Once you enter, you won't be able to come out, back to the place where you entered. One had to walk and would only get lost somewhere deep inside.

After making a couple of trips, all the way from one end of the city to another, by taking infamous Vijayawada city buses, I somehow managed to find a whole-sale business stationery warehouse with a small shutter room at the front which was open. The person I met there at least did not put a puzzling face when I asked for art material like watercolors, paper, palettes and brushes. He went inside and brought a box of Camel Poster Colors and said that's all he had. I already had a few colors that I bought in my hometown Kavali. I bought a few more just because I went all the way over there and that guy at least showed me something. I returned to my hostel very disappointed with my mind clearly set, I was done with my exploration of watercolor painting material. Whatever I got by then, I had to just explore my watercolor painting with.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Resources - Artists

I tried my best to find an artist or a watercolor painter. The only media available was newspapers. I still remember, one Sunday morning I took bus to the other end of the city after I saw some details about an Art exhibition in a newspaper. I did meet the Artist there who displayed her beautiful European paintings done on china (పింగాణి) plates. They were absolutely beautiful and stunning. She copied many European masters' paintings and painted those on china plates. But, she did not help me in giving any details that I wanted to know about painting in general.

Another instance I met an Artist was, few days before a new year eve, a poor Artist came to our hostel to sell greeting cards he painted. They were all original post-card size paintings done in a unique style. I was very impressed with his works and bought a bunch, about a dozen or so. I think each one costed Rs 5 /-. He felt so happy that at least one bought some of his cards. I showed him some of my paintings and asked him few questions about the material he used and how he did his paintings. He did not reveal any details at all, and said- he was from a poor family, learned some techniques from his father and hence would not tell anyone as he was making a living by selling his cards. He made a point not to share any details about his works. I didn't know at that time Artists' world was bit secret and they wouldn't reveal their techniques. I never came across any other Artist in my college life, other than the same one coming in for a couple of years in a row, and I became his customer.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Resources - Books

When finding Computer Science text books itself was hard, how could one expect to find Art books? Our college library had a couple of foreign art books and magazines. I did refer to those many times to learn on "how to paint watercolors". The funniest thing was, those all were on oil-painting. ;) But those books planted a seed of desire in me for Oil Painting.

Also, I used to go to buy old books and magazines on the footpaths near Alankar theatre on Sunday evenings. Found a bunch of foreign magazines, but all were on oil-painting. So, I had no luck in finding any books/magazines on watercolor painting.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

To be continued in tomorrow's post when I share how I found my watercolor painting "Guru"...

Day 3 of 10 - Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Based on a Painting by Uttam - a Telugu Artist and Illustrator - 1989
Poster colors on Paper (6" x 8")    

Back to 1989...

I did this Painting in my Engineering college-days when I was exploring watercolor painting without knowing any basics of it. This was a mere copy of a painting by a wonderful Telugu Artist Uttam who was an illustrator in "Andhra Bhoomi" Telugu weekly magazine back then. If I have to say the name of my Guru in Painting, I say it was Uttam. I was his Ekalavya student.

It was a couple of years of my own exploration already by then, but I would still say that I did not know any basics even then. All I knew was, "I want to do Painting" kind of zeal in me. That made me figure out my own way of interestingly dealing with colors and paper that never co-operated.

Colors

Believe me, I did not know anything about color chart. With just a set of 4 colors (excluding black and white), and not 3 primary colors, I was able to get any color I wanted by mixing those 4 colors in different proportions. I had no clue how I was getting that done, something in my mind was automatically driving me, never failed to get an exact color or a shade of color I wanted to get to.

The colors I was using were not true watercolors that are supposed to be transparent . They were Camel (the popular Indian art brand at that time) poster colors. All I knew about those colors was they can be mixed with water and that made me think they were just watercolors. Due to the nature of highly opaque (non transparent), once the color goes on paper it covers the paper like a thick quote of paint applied. So I was struggling a lot to get the right natural blending of colors on the paper. Also, I was using white color a lot. Without mixing at least some amount of white color, my brush wouldn't touch the paper. I was doing all wrong things with colors but the results were quite amazing, not because of any magic, but just because of more efforts and extended labor put into each painting to get the best possible results that I could.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Paper

I did not even know that watercolor painting needed a special kind of paper. All that I tried was just a thick paper that was typically used for wedding cards. One of my favorites at that time was called "Ivory board" (not even sure of that was any official name for that paper, but I got this name from the owner of Chelva Pilla bookshop in Kavali who first told me the name). So, it was just a thick paper with regular smooth surface like the paper used for regular books that was unsuitable for painting.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Brushes

I just had very few small brushes (by the number printed on the brush like 0,1,2 and so on) that I bought in Kavali and I was using those for many years. I had few brushes of size 0, 1 and 2. They were that tiny, not a good quality, and wouldn't even hold enough color or water.

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

Techniques

I knew absolutely no techniques back then in Painting. The only technique I figured out after awhile was- watercolor painting needs to go from light to dark. Once a dark color is put on that kind of paper, it is just impossible to change it by any means. I learned this fact very hard-way by spoiling many paintings that I started. In fact, I tried many times to cover a dark color with white and then started painting over it, I failed during that process every single time, anyway :)

Still, I wanted to paint and I never gave up...

To be continued tomorrow when I post another painting of that time...

Day 2 of 10 - The beautiful portrait of Divya Bharati...

The beautiful "Divya Bharati" - 1993
Ballpoint Pen on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

How many still remember the very short-lived and very beautiful Bollywood actress, Divya Bharati who became so popular in no time? I guess, everyone who lived in 1990s or born after 1990 remembers her. It was a shock for many including me to know from the news that she was no more on the day she left the world.

Back to 1993...

I still remember, in Hyderabad, a day after that sad news, when I returned from office in the evening, my roommates were all talking about her, reading an article published in "Deccan Chronicle" daily news paper, evening edition. The article had a beautiful black and white picture of her published. This portrait was based on that specific picture published in Deccan Chronicle.

It was an instant, very casually done portrait, straight with a ball-point pen on a used computer printout I found on my books. In fact, it was a dot matrix printer paper with holes on both sides for the printer to hold the paper. The front side of the paper had my one-page resume printed and the back side was all blank. I was not prepared to do a drawing, actually, to even find a good paper for it. The instinct was that instant.

I can probably attribute this work to very few instances at which I did an Art work while both my skill and concentration levels were working at their best. I myself say "beautiful" whenever I look at this work of mine. Sometimes, an art work looks more beautiful than the actual photograph. This one is surely and truly an example of such.

At that time, we had no media for individuals, and social media was not even an imaginable technology to wish the soul with a personal rest and peace kid of messages. Now, while I recollect those moments when a write this post on "The beautiful portrait of Divya Bharati", I don't want to use the traditional three letter acronym. I would rather say- 

You will be "Remembered In Peace" forever, Long live in the hearts of your fans!!

"Be so good they can’t ignore you." ~ Steve Martin

Day 1 of 10...

"Dark and Light"
Indian Ink on Paper (8" x 10")    

Day 1 of 10

Accepting the 10-day challenge on Facebook, I am just sharing on my blog whatever I shared on Facebook. After all, my blog is my first place for my Art.

I will be posting my Art works that I never posted on Facebook. Also, to keep it interesting, I will be posting my early Art works during and immediately after my college days. My Art is only incomplete if I do not add my soul to it in my own words.

Back to 1992...

Today's painting was done in 1992 in Indian Ink with brush. OMG, it was like yesterday for me. The busiest period in my life in Hyderabad, I was a bachelor working full-time and doing my part-time M.Tech at JNTU, Masabtank. Also, I was trying my best to get into Art, by not missing any Art exhibition in and around Ravindra Bharathi, trying to meet various Artists and Illustrators and keeping sometime aside to draw and paint.

Share your valuable feelings and thoughts in comment. As usual, I will not let a single comment go un-acknowledged. ;) Enjoy!

My friend goes with me wherever I go...

Piccadilly Circus - LONDON, Sep 25, 1994
Sketch pens on Paper (6" x 8")    

గుండె లోతుల్లోకి తొంగి చూసుకుంటే కొన్ని జ్ఞాపకాలెంతో మధురంగా అనిపిస్తాయి. మది వినీలాకాశంలో తేలిపోతూ, సన్నని జల్లులు కురిపించి, ఆ జల్లుల్లో మదిని తడిపి ముద్దచేసి, వెళ్తూ వెళ్తూ జ్ఞాపకాల తెమ్మెరలు  అలా వీచి మదిని సేదతీర్చి మరీ వెళ్ళిపోతుంటాయి.

Aug 15 1994, London, my first step outside India.

స్వతంత్ర రాజ్యాలుగా వెలుగొందుతూ విలసిల్లుతున్న భారత సామ్రాజ్యాన్ని దాదాపు 200 సంవత్సరాలు తమ గుప్పిట్లో పట్టిపెట్టి గిలగిలలాడించి, ఆ గుప్పిట ఒక్కటై ప్రజలంతా ఏకమై జరిపిన పోరాటాల్లో గడగడలాడి, చివరికి భరతభూమిని రెండు ముక్కలు చేసి విడిచి వెళ్ళిన బ్రిటీష్ గడ్డపై మనకి స్వాతంత్ర్యం వచ్చిన రోజే అడుగుపెడుతున్నానని భావోద్వేగాల్లో, I boarded my first plane in my life from Bombay to Londan, on a 3 month project trip for TCS, Bombay.

కానీ లండన్ లో అడుగుపెట్టాక  అణువణువూ సుందర అందాలకు క్షణక్షణమూ మది పులకరించిపోయింది. అక్కడ గడచిన, గడిపిన 3 నెలల్లో ప్రతి శని,ఆదివారం తిరిగి చూసిన ప్రదేశాలూ, ఆర్ట్ గ్యాలరీలూ నాలోని ఆర్టిస్ట్ ని మళ్ళీ తట్టిలేపాయి. బొమ్మలని నేనెప్పుడూ వీడలేదు, ఎంత బిజీగా ఉన్నా ఎప్పుడో ఒకప్పుడు కనీసం ఒక పెన్సిలో, పెన్నో పట్టుకుని గీసుకోవటం నాలో నా జీవితంలో ఆర్ట్ కి నేనిచ్చుకున్న ప్రాధాన్యం. ఏ కొత్త ప్రదేశం అయినా, అక్కడ మన మనసుకి నచ్చిన కొన్ని గురుతులతో, గడిపిన క్షణాలతో మనతో మనలో ఎప్పటికీ ఉండిపోతాయి. 

London has a special corner in my Art and in my Heart. Some of the world's finest Art galleries I visited, Art books, cards and Art material I bought in London are very special to me. Though I had no time left for my Art during those 10 to 12 weekends of my stay in London, I did few sketches including the one of Dianna, Princess of Whales which I gifted to my project-mate Deepti who joined me from TCS, Calcutta to work with me on the same project. Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of it.

This is a sketch done when I was in London based on my own photograph that I took at Piccadilly Circus, London. An Artist is connected with every small Art work of his/her own. I am no exception.

Art is my friend, goes with me wherever I go and wherever I stay...

"Connect, collect and re-collect good memories in anything and everything you do; 

anywhere and everywhere you go!"

~ Giridhar Pottepalem

Happy Painting!

Happy Memories!!

Be Stylish...

"Be Stylish" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn
Ballpoint Pen on Paper 8.5" x 11"

Be traditional, and stylish. Add your own style to everything you do. You are unique in the universe, and your style is also unique. Add a bit of it to everything you do and create your own signature.

"Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light."

~ Tori Amos

Happy Painting!

Add your style to anything you do!!

Details 
Title: Be Stylish...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer, Multi-talented Artist & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

Happy Father's Day!

"సీతారాములు - బంగరు జింక" - by నాన్న (P.Ramachandraiah)
1953, దామరమడుగు, నెల్లూరు

నాన్న - నాకు తెలిసిన మొట్టమొదటి ఆర్టిస్ట్

ఊహతెలిశాక నాన్న వేసిన కొద్ది బొమ్మలు దగ్గరగా చూసే అదృష్టం ఒకటిరెండుసార్లు మాత్రమే కలిగినా, అందంగా బ్లూ, రెడ్ ఇంక్ తో నాన్న రాసుకున్న టీచింగ్ నోట్స్, మా రెండు మూడు తరగతుల క్లాస్ పుస్తకాలపై అందంగా నాన్న రాసిన మా పేర్లు, నన్ను ఐదవ తరగతి లో రెసిడెన్షియల్  స్కూల్ కి పంపుతూ సర్దిన డార్క్ బ్రౌన్ లెదర్ సూట్కేస్ లోపల బ్రౌన్ లైనింగ్ క్లాత్ పై నల్లని ఇంక్ తో ఎంతో అందంగా రాసిన నా అడ్రస్ P.Giridhar, 4-12-14, Old Town, Kavali, Nellore Dist. PIN- 524 201, A.P., తర్వాత ఒక యేడాది పాటు వారం వారం క్రమం తప్పకుండా నాకు రాసిన ఉత్తరాలు ఇవే నాకు మిగిలిన అందమైన నాన్న జ్ఞాపకాలు.

"దామరమడుగు" - నెల్లూరు కి దగ్గర్లో, చుట్టూ పచ్చని వరి పొలాల్తో, అప్పట్లోనే ఆధునిక కమ్యూనిస్ట్ భావాల్తో కళకళలాడే మాడ్రన్ రిచ్ అందమైన పల్లెటూరు. అక్కడున్న రెండేళ్ళలో ఆడుతూ పాడుతూ గడిపిన బాల్యం. నాన్న పుట్టిపెరిగిన రెండంతస్తుల మిద్దింట్లో పైన పెద్ద గదిలో నున్నని సున్నపు గోడపై రెండు శ్రీరాముని పెయింటింగ్స్. ఒకటి బంగారు జింక ని చూపిస్తూ పట్టితెమ్మని అడుగుతున్న సీత పక్కన రాముడూ ఎదురుగా బంగరుజింక.  ఇంకొకటేమో పక్కనే కిరీటం పెట్టుకుని, బాణం పట్టుకుని నిలబడ్డ శ్రీరాముడు.

ఆ రెండేళ్ళలో మిద్దెపై ఆడుతూ పాడుతూ గడిపిన రోజుల్లో నాన్న చిన్నప్పుడు అంత అందని అందమైన పెయింటింగ్స్ వేశాడు అని తప్ప ఆ బొమ్మల గురించి నాన్నని అడిగి తెలుసుకోవాలి అన్న ఊహ కూడా ఇంకా రాని వయసు. తెలుసుకోవాలన్న ఊహా, వయసూ, కుతూహలం కలిగేసరికి పక్కన లేని నాన్న. బహుశా నాన్న హైస్కూల్ చదివేరోజుల్లో వేసినవి అని, కింద P.Ramachandraiah, 1953 అని ఉన్న సంతకం, అప్పుడు నాన్నకి పదీ పదకొండేళ్ళ వయసు. ఏ రంగుల్తో వేశాడు, ఎలా అంత ఎత్తున వేశాడూ తెలుసుకోవాలన్న కోరిక ఎప్పటికీ కోరికగానే మిగిలిపోయింది. ఏ బల్లపైనో, కుర్చీపైనో ఎక్కి వేస్తే తప్ప అంత ఎత్తున గోడపై అంత పెద్ద సైజ్ లో పెయింటింగ్స్ సాధ్యం కావు.

తర్వాత చాలాకాలం ఆ గోడకి సున్నం వేసినప్పుడల్లా ఆ పెయింటింగ్స్ మాత్రం టచ్ చెయ్యకుండా వదలిన నాన్న చిన్న తమ్ముడు మా "సుధబాబు" (సుధాకర్ పొట్టేపాళెం), నేను పెరిగి పద్దయ్యి ఒకసారి నా కెమెరాతో ఊరెళ్తే "గిరీ ఇంతకాలం కాపాడుకుంటూ వచ్చాను, ఇల్లు రీమోడలింగ్ చెయ్యిస్తే గోడ తీసేయాల్సి రావచ్చు, ఫొటో తీసి పెట్టుకో గుర్తుగా ఉంటుంది ఎప్పటికీ" అంటే ఫొటోలు తీసి పెట్టుకున్నాను. ఇప్పుడా ఇల్లు రూపురేఖలు మారిపోయాయి, ఆగోడా లేదు. మిగిలింది ఆ ఫొటోలే. 

బాల్యం మిగిల్చిన జ్ఞాపకాలు  ఎంతో మధురం.

ఆ జ్ఞాపకాల్లో నాన్న బొమ్మలు ఇంకెంతో అపురూపం.

నాన్న ద్వారా బొమ్మల హాబీ నాకు కలిగిన అదృష్టం.

ఆ హాబీ కొనసాగిస్తున్నానన్న భావన సంతృప్తికరం.

నేనేసిన ఒక్కచిన్నబొమ్మైనా నాన్న చూడలేదన్న బాధ ఎంతున్నా, నా బొమ్మల్లో నాన్నని చూసుకుంటూ ఆ స్మృతుల్లో ముందుకి కదిలే కాలం... ఈ ఫాదర్స్ డే నాడు నాన్ననీ, నాన్న వేసిన బొమ్మల్నీ గుర్తుచేసుకుంటూ...

Happy Father's Day!

Carry the heritage you inherited from your Father!!

Beautiful...

"Beautiful" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Ballpoint Pen on paper 8.5" x 11"

You are the Artist of your life. Paint it beautiful.

I have been trying to be more accurate lately with portraits I do. Portraits are challenging to do. In order to get it right, every minute detail needs to be done so accurately. A small inaccurate detail changes it to look very different than the actual person. Doing a portrait of a beautiful girl challenges even further. To get it as beautiful as the girl, every detail needs to be not just accurate but also beautiful.

This is again the portrait of multi-talented Telugu upcoming actress, the beautiful Karronya Katrynn. I picked Ballpoint Pen this time for doing this. I truly believe that to be a well-rounded artist one should not stick to one media.

"Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art."

~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Happy Painting!

You are the Artist of your life!

Details 
Title: Beautiful...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer, Multi-talented Artist & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Ballpoint Pen on Paper
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Artist's Loft Sketchbook 75 LB

Peacock...

Watercolors on Paper 10" x 12"   

Sometimes, Painting is very frustrating and painful. I am trying to convince and compromise myself with this Paper Arches that I bought in bulk. It's not my friendly paper. I put this back in my todo list for an Oil Painting. :(

"Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success."

~ Bo Bennett

Details 

Inspiration: My Todo list

Mediums: Watercolors

Size: 10" x 12" (25 cm x 30 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

బుట్టబొమ్మ...

"బుట్టబొమ్మ" - Portrait of Karronya Katrynn

Watercolors on Paper 16" x 20"

Excellence is nothing but qualities of a person. It's not one quality that can be attained by practice. It's a quality of many qualities. Possessing attitude, gratitude, giving, learning, hard-work, smile, values, forgiveness, appreciation and many such good qualities put together is "Excellence".

"Next to excellence is the appreciation of it." ~ William Makepeace Thackeray

Happy Painting!

Appreciate Excellence!

Details 
Title: బుట్టబొమ్మ...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

Super Star...

Super Star Krishna

Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14").  

ఎప్పుడూ కృష్ణ, బాలు పాటలు వింటూ బొమ్మలేసే నేనీరోజు అవే పాటలు వింటూ అలనాటి "సూపర్ స్టార్" ని ఇంతాకాలానికి వెయ్యగలిగాను.

Happy Birthday to my Childhood Hero: Super Star Krishna.

Happy Painting!

Details 
Title: Super Star Krishna...
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

Extend yourself...

"Extend Yourself"

Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")   

It is necessary that you need to extend yourself to reach your dreams. This is an attempt trying to limit myself to just two or three colors but extending my style to new that never attempted before.

Extend yourself within limitations!

“The paint is simply an extension of my hand, my mind.”

~Antonio Masi, Watercolor Artist (August 2013)

Happy Painting!

Details 
Title: Extend Yourself...
Reference: Shobhana - Classical Dancer and Indian Film Actress
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders Rough Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

Every detail matters...

Portrait of Kamal Haasan from the movie Sagara Sangamam

Watercolors on Paper  (11" x 14")    

Some how, I missed the mark last time. I did it again to correct myself. Sometimes you need a second chance, and there is always a second chance in life.

I am sure, this time I am closer to my target by a considerable margin. I learned the fact that every detail matters, especially when painting portraits.

Now, I can check it off from my to-do list ;)

"When life gives you a second chance, give your best shot." ~ ???

Happy Painting!
Learn from mistakes!!

Details 
Title: Kamal Haasan...
Inspiration: My favorite movie Sagara Sangamam and Balu, the character Kamal played
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

No time to waste...

Portrait of Kamal Haasan from the movie Sagara Sangamam
Watercolors on Paper  (11" x 14")    

When I don't know what to do, I go back to my childhood and live in there again through my paintings. That's the best way I can spend my time in both present, past and live twice.

Now I clearly know what I want to master in Painting. Portraits is something I have been enjoying and will enjoy most than any other subject. My celebrities list is long, will get one by one out from my brush...

"I have no time to waste." ~ Giridhar Pottepalem

Happy Painting!
Do what you want to do and live the life you want to live!!

Details 
Title: Kamal Haasan...
Inspiration: My favorite movie Sagara Sangamam and Balu, the character Kamal played
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

"అందానికె అందని అందం"...

"అందానికె అందని అందం" 
Portrait of multi-talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Watercolors on Paper (12" x 16")

"మంచి మనసుకి రూపం...

కళ్లల్లో చల్లని వెలుగైతే

పెదవులపై తెల్లని నవ్వైతే

అందానికె అందని అందం..."

Details 
Title: అందానికె అందని అందం...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 12" x 16" (30.5 cm x 40.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders extra-white rough Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

ఆ నటరాజు నర్తించనీ...

"ఆ నటరాజు నర్తించనీ"

Multi-talented Dancer and Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn 

Watercolors on Paper (9.5" x 12")

Give your best efforts when you want to see the best result.
లీనమై సాధన చేస్తే ఏ కళ అయినా ఖచ్చితంగా పరిణతితో రాణిస్తుంది.

Happy Painting!

Details 
Title: ఆ నటరాజు నర్తించనీ...
Inspiration: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 9.5" x 12" (24 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

అటు తిరిగిన అందమా...

"అటు తిరిగిన అందమా"    
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")

బొమ్మతో పెనవేసుకునే ఆలోచనలల్నీ, భావాల్నీ అక్షరాలుగ మార్చి జతచేసి తోడు చేయందే నా బొమ్మేదీ పూర్తి కాదు. ఈసారెందుకో తోడుగ వచ్చిన అక్షరాలన్నిటినీ పట్టి అందంగా పేర్చాలని ప్రయత్నించాను. భావాల్ని అక్షరాల్లో పొదగడమే "కవిత" అయితే, నా ఈ ప్రయత్నమూ కవితే. కుంచె అంచు చిలికిన రంగుల అందాలూ, కలం నుంచి ఒలికిన పదాల భావాలూ రెండూ నావే, నాలో స్ఫూర్తిని నింపుతూ నాకు తోడయ్యేవే...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ :: ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
రంగులొలికిన  హరివిల్లా
సొంపులొదిగిన విరిజల్లా

జాబిలి అద్దిన వెన్నెల వెలుగా
సొగసు దిద్దిన వన్నెల జిలుగా

మెరుపై విరిసిన మేఘమాలికా
చినుకై కురిసిన నాట్యకదలికా

వంపుల వయ్యారి వాలు కురులా
కులుకుల మయూరి అందెల సడులా

కిలకిల కోయిల చైత్రపు పాటలా
గలగల పరుగుల సెలయేరులా

విరబూసిన లేత గులాబి ఎరుపా
ముత్యమైన స్వాతి చినుకు మెరుపా

చుట్టిన ఎర్రటి అంచున పచ్చని చిలుకా
దట్టని తెల్లటి మంచున వెచ్చని పలుకా

చిత్రమై అటు తిరిగి నిలిచిన అందమా
నిజమై ఇటు పిలుపుని విని కనుమా...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ :: ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Happy Painting! Happy Writing!!

"I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering."

~ Robert Frost

Details 
Title: అటు తిరిగిన అందమా...
Inspiration: A random picture I came across
Mediums: Watercolors
Size: 11" x 14" (21.5 cm x 27.9 cm)

Surface: Fabriano Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 140 LB

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

"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.)

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

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

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

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