Two Roses...

I continued to paint flowers, the theme chosen in January, 2014 for exploring the beauty of flowers and colors with watercolor painting. Along the way, I learned many things and applied few techniques that I learned from books.

I applied the fooling techniques in this painting and enjoyed free flow of colors on the paper:

• Masking fluid
• Table salt
• Loose painting

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Strathmore Watercolor Paper 400 Series, 140lb 300 g/m2 (unstretched)
Size: 12" x 16" (30 cm x 40 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Winsor & Newton Olive Green, Hooker's Green, Grumbacher Academy - Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue, Rowney Georgian Ultramarine Blue

Brushes: Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 8, 5, 2

Stages

Stage-1

Stage-2

Stage-3

Stage-4

Stage-5

My New Art Friends ;)

My new Art Friends

Artist's Loft Watercolor Pad, 140 lb / 300 g/m2, 9 in x 12 in Cold press, 24 sheets

Bought at Michaels, not that expensive. I bought this for my daily watercolor painting. I am carrying this with me in my backpack to do pencil sketches on the train and do painting at home afterwards.

Canson Watercolor Aquarelle Cold press 140 lb / 300 G, 11 in x 14 in, 20 sheets

Bought from Blick Art online, little expensive. I wanted to try different watercolor papers and see which one I like most.

1 1/2 inch Flat wash brush

Realized that a brush like this needed for wetting the paper for doing any backgrounds. Very expensive one. Bought from Blick Art, online.

Also bought  a sheet of 300 lb Arches watercolor paper from Blick Art- This is supposed to be the kind of paper that all Artists say, there's nothing like this....yet to try and experience painting on this heavy weight paper surface...of course it is expensive too.

Happy Painting ;)

Shirley Temple...

Shirley Temple

Portrait of Shirley Temple, who lifted America's spirits as a bright eyed, dimpled child movie start during the Great Depression and forged a second career as a U.S. diplomat.

She died at the age of 85 and this painting is a tribute to her and is based on a black and white picture from a news paper.

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Artist's Loft Watercolor Paper 140lb 300 g/m2 Cold press
Size: 9" x 12" (22.8 cm x 30.4 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Winsor & Newton - Opera Rose, Raw Sienna, Rowney Georgian Ultramarine Blue

Brushes: Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 8, 5, 2, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

My New Watercolor Brushes....

My New Watercolor Brushes

This is my birthday gift to myself this year. I bough these Red Sable Watercolor Brushes from BLICK online Art Store.

The details from left to right:

• Da Vinci Series 36 Kolinsky Round Size 10/0
• Da Vinci Series 36 Kolinsky Round Size 5/0
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 4/0
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 0
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 1
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 2
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 3
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 4
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 5
• Winsor And Newton Artist Sable Round Size 6 
• Da Vinci 36 Kolinsky Round Size 8

Good Art material makes a difference with the outcome of any Painting. I wish many colorful days and long lasting association with my new brushes ;)

Happy Painting!

Continue to explore...

I continue to explore watercolor painting of flowers on the current theme- Floral.

Painting is always a joyful experience. Sometimes it is frustrating with watercolors, colors won't blend the way we want them to. If we let colors flow and blend naturally, they surprisingly produce amazing things on the paper.

Happy Painting ;)

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Strathmore Watercolor Paper 400 Series, 140lb 300 g/m2 (stretched)
Size: 12" x 16" (30 cm x 40 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Winsor & Newton - Opera Rose, Olive Green, Hooker's Green, Grumbacher Academy - Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

A common theme...

Doing a series of paintings on a common theme is quite common in Painting. I have been doing paintings on random themes lately. Now, I am planning to take a theme and do a series of paintings on the same theme. To start with I selected my first theme: Floral ;)

This is my second painting in this series, yet many more to come.

I tried to loosen up my brush strokes little bit in this painting, by making it little closer to abstract, leaving little details for viewers' imagination.

Every stroke is a learning in painting. It makes us discover more and more techniques if we loosen up our style little bit.

Happy Painting ;)

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Aqvarelle Arches Watercolor Paper (block), 140 lb. Cold Pressed (stretched)
Size: 12" x 16" (30 cm x 40 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Winsor & Newton - Opera Rose, Cadmium Red, Olive Green, Hooker's Green, Grumbacher Academy - Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

Gave a colorful life, finally...

Working with other Artists at the Workshop

It's been almost six months since I started a sketch for this painting at a workshop conducted by a Professional Artist Prity Lathia to our Kalakruti members. It was a very informative session and I learned few basics on what professional Artists look for in an Art, some details on materials etc. We could only do all the needed setup for starting a watercolor painting like taping the watercolor paper to the board, and finishing a quick pencil outline sketch, but had to take the taped and sketched board for painting later at home.

The paper remained just taped to the board for six months, waiting to be removed, very patiently ;) Finally, I have decided to release it by bringing it to a colorful life. I am glad that I did it, at last!

I never used to leave my art works unfinished for a long time. Recently, I've left many behind, unfinished like this. :( I am hoping to finish those all, this year.

Thanks to Mridula for organizing this workshop and Prity Lathia for conducting it, sharing some details on Professionals view of Art, also sharing some of her experience & knowledge with us, and having us started this very familiar flowers commonly seen across India.

Hadn't this workshop happened, I would never have done a painting of these beautiful flowers.

Happy Painting ;)

At various stages of taking life

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Beinfang Watercolor Paper, 140 lb. 207 GSM (unstretched)
Size: 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Light Red, Winsor & Newton - Opera Rose, Cadmium Red, Olive Green, Hooker's Green, Raw Sienna, Cobalt blue, Rowney Georgian - Burnt Sienna

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

A self-portrait...

A self-portrait

Every Artist, at some point or another would attempt one's own portrait- a self-portrait.

Long back, I tried a very rough imagination sketch of myself with a ball-point pen. Other than that, I have never tried myself as the main-subject of any of my paintings.

As I always enjoy doing portraits, I certainly enjoyed doing my own too. I don't know if it looks like "Giri" to others, but to me, it definitely looks like me. ;)

Happy Painting ;)

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Beinfang Watercolor Paper, 140 lb. 207 GSM
Size: 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Light Red, Winsor & Newton - Raw Sienna, Cobalt blue, Hooker's Green, Rowney Georgian - Burnt Sienna

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

Into New Year with New Hopes...

The original plant

Though I started this painting of a Money Plant, seen in our Family Room, during Christmas holidays, 2013...I could only call it finished today.  There is a belief that Money Plants bring in fortune. I hope this painting which connected 2013 and 2014 through my Art, brings in new hopes in 2014.

Happy Painting ;)

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Strathmore Watercolor Paper 400 Series, 140lb 300 g/m2
Size: 10" x 20" (25 cm x 50 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Light Red, Winsor & Newton - Raw Sienna, Cobalt blue, Hooker's Green, Olive Green, Cadmium Lemon, Green Gold, Rowney Georgian - Burnt Sienna

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

Heartful Goodbye to an Artful year - 2013…

Yet, another year has gone by and as the year 2013 soon becoming "the past", I look back into it recollecting all my (he)artful memories of this year.

The year for me started with Art, working with a small group of Indian Artists (Kalakruti MA) in and around our town, Sharon and preparing for the BigHelp Pongal-Republic Day celebrations. I can’t forget how much of a fun it was for us choosing our own Art works for display at this event. Also, the moments of- all the brain-storming, planning, discussions and preparations that we had gone through for getting our Art works turned into bookmarks, coasters and greeting-cards for sale at the event in raising funds for BigHelp- are still fresh in my heart. In addition, it was a delightful and challenging experience at the event to be part of the Judges Panel, judging Kids’ Art works.

Also, this is the year I started blogging on my Arts again, by posting the very special Art work that I did specially for the BigHelp event.

Much of my commuting-time to work was very well spent, sitting on the train with my heads down and sketching in my sketchbook. I had even finished a whole sketchbook and started a new one. Gone were the very few days with me not opening my sketchbook. Back home after work, I even spent many pleasant evenings, sitting on our deck and coloring some of the sketches I had done on the train. Many times, I felt like- "I found my way of finding time for Art, no more regrets!"

I continued the tradition that I adopted few years ago, the tradition of making Lord Ganesha out of a clay block for the festival "Vinayaka Chavithi". Of course, it only got better, year after year.

Besides those Art works that I did for myself, I designed a Logo for my kids Robotics team, second year in a row. I also did few art works for a friend of mine for his science research paper on DNA, soon to be published.

Friends, Artist-friends of Kalakruti MA, Sharon Public Library, Books, Art magazines, Nature and Face book have all been the sources of inspirations for me.

The year 2013, is another year that I remember as a year that took me into Arts and filled my (he)art with many unforgettable memories.

By remembering all the fine moments, truly spent with my "soul", I say my heartfelt "Goodbye to an Artful Year, 2013".

Fun with Portraits...

I love doing portraits. I have been trying different paintings lately and felt like doing a portrait. It's just that feel for it that made me do this one. I feel like I am home when I do portraits; don't know why.

It's an enjoyable experience watching the natural flow of colors into the water onto the paper...and portraits is always fun ;)

Happy Painting!

Materials 

Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Strathmore Watercolor Paper 400 Series, 140lb 300 g/m2
Size: 8" x 10" (21 cm x 26 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Violet, Winsor & Newton - Cotman Turquoise Aquarelle, Cobalt blue, Cadmium orange, Light red

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend

Learn from failures...

Peacock

Gifted

Not every attempt to paint will be a success. Sometimes, we have to paint for the bin too. The ones that end up in the bin are the ones that we learn the most from.

After a couple of my recent attempts ended up in the bin, this one has managed to stay out. Of course, every attempt is a learning; success or failure.

Peacock has been in my wish-list for a long time. More attempts of this beautiful bird are yet to come in coming years...

Happy painting ;)

 Materials 

Title: Peacock
Mediums: Watercolors
Surface: Arches Watercolor Paper 12" x 16" (30 cm x 40 cm)

Paints: Grumbacher - Cadmium Yellow, Violet, Winsor & Newton - Cotman Turquoise Aquarelle, Cobalt blue

Brushes: 10 round sable, 00 synthetic Winsor & Newton, and 000 Sable synthetic blend