Kobe Bryant...

My Tribute to Kobe Bryant    

Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

- Kobe Bryant (Aug 23, 1978 - Jan 26, 2020)

Creativity has no absence...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (12" x 16")   

There is no absence if you have presence of your creativity. Artists never get bored and creativity never gets tired, I keep saying that to everyone. When there is no presence of oneself in time, one gets bored and be absent from it. So, just have a presence in your time and you live in it, not others.

Happy Painting!
Happy Presence of Yourself!!

“There is never a lack of subject matter; just absence of creativity.” ~Lee Hammond

Details
Title: Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Mediums: Saunders Extra White Watercolor Paper
Size: 12" x 16" (31 cm x 41 cm)

Surface: Saunders Extra-white Watercolor paper 140 lb/300 gsm2

Be what you are...

Nátyánjali - My tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11") 

It's not easy to be what you are. Being what you are, you meet your best friend in the world- yourself. The same applies to Art. The most self-enjoyed art-work by an Artist is the Art that one makes for oneself, one's self enjoyment and experiment with paints and brushes. The result will be a soul-satisfying experience and memory!

This year, my Art-resolution is: "Not to compromise on the quality of output". If it is bit hard to get there, I should be doing bit more hard work. After all, I am a strong believer of hard-work, and if I don't challenge myself, there is no fun and enjoyment in doing Art for myself ;)

“Be the artist you are.” ~Cherie Haas

Happy Painting!

Happy being yourself!!

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

మగువ ముగ్గుల (సం)క్రాంతి...

మగువ ముగ్గుల (సం)క్రాంతి
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")

"ముంగిట ముగ్గుల క్రాంతి
ఊరంతా రంగుల సంక్రాంతి"

సంక్రాంతి పండుగ శుభాకాంక్షలు!

Line drawing is a specialized Art. Illustrators are good at it. Painters do line drawings to study the subject. The great Telugu artist Sri. Bapu garu was a master and true perfectionist of this style. This is my attempt of his style. It's not easy ;)

Happy Painting!
Happy Sankranthi Festival Season!!

Details
Title: మగువ ముగ్గుల (సం)క్రాంతి
Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors 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

Beauty of the Soul...

"Beauty of the Soul"
Watercolors on Paper (11" x 14")    

It is said that eyes are windows to soul. Soul can be seen and heard from eyes as soul reflects and speaks through eyes. Eyes know the language of soul, expression.

I ended last year with the painting of a sad eye reflecting an unhappy soul. There might be reasons for a soul to be un-happy. But there are no reasons for a soul to be not-happy. Keep your soul happy and let the happiness of your soul be reflected bright in your eyes. Everything in the world looks clearly beautiful for a happy soul through a happy eye.

Connecting last year's last painting with this year's first painting, I took the same subject, Eye. This painting depicts a clear, bright and beautiful eye. If you can look straight into it, you will see the beauty of soul it reflects in it. An eye looks beautiful only when the soul is kept happy. So, keep your soul happy and let the world see it's beauty through your eyes.

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."

- Sophia Loren

Happy Painting !
Happy Soul !!

Details
Title: Beauty of the Soul
Inspiration: My Soul
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 11" x 14" (28 cm x 35.5 cm)

Surface: Saunders Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

"నేనూ...నా సృష్టి..."

Looking Back... 2019    

"మీకు ఇంత టైమ్ ఎక్కడుంటుంది?" - ఇందులో కొంత ఆశ్చర్యం...
"మీకు చాలా టైమ్ ఉన్నట్టుందే?" - ఇందులో కొంచెం వెటకారం...
ప్రశ్న ఏదైనా నా జవాబు మాత్రం- "మీలాగే నాకూ దేనికీ టైమ్ ఉండదు, క్రియేట్ చేసుకున్నాను".
బొమ్మ చూసి బాగుందోలేదో, నచ్చిందోలేదో అని చెప్పేవాళ్ళకన్నా ఈ ప్రశ్నలడిగేవాళ్ళే ఎక్కువ.

దేనికైనా ముందు కావల్సింది టైమ్. అదిలేందే ఇంకేం లేవు, కావు, రావు. బొమ్మలకోసం నా టైమ్ కేవలం నా సృష్టి మాత్రమే. అవును, నాకంటూ సొంత "టైమ్" ని సృష్టించుకున్నాను. ఆ సృష్టి నా కోసమే, నా సంతృప్తి కోసమే.

బొమ్మలిప్పుడు నా జీవితంలో ఓ భాగం అయిపోయాయి అని సంతోషంగానూ, సగర్వంగానూ చెప్పుకుంటాను. గతైదారు సంవత్సరాలుగా క్రమం తప్పకుండా బొమ్మలేస్తూనే ఉన్నా. దానికి ముందు ఓ రెండుమూడేళ్ళపాటు "క్విక్ డెయిలీ స్కెచెస్" వేస్తూ, చాలా ఏళ్ళుగా ఆగి ముందుకి కదలని నా బొమ్మల లోకంవైపు మళ్ళీ నెమ్మదిగా అడుగులు మొదలెట్టాను. ఈసారీప్రయాణం ఎట్టి పరిస్థితిలోనూ ఆగకూడదు, ఆపకూడదు అన్న ఆశయంతోనే. ఇన్నేళ్ళుగా ఎందుకు పక్కనబెట్టానో తెలీదు. "చాలా బిజీ లైఫ్" అని చెప్పుకోవటానికి ప్రతి ఒక్కరి జీవితంలో ఒక "ఫేస్" ఉంటుంది. చెయ్యాలనుండీ చెయ్యలేందేదైనా, కారణాలు వెతుక్కుని మరీ ఆలోచించి, దొరక్కపోతే, ఆ "చాలా బిజీ లైఫ్" మీదికి నిస్సంకోచంగా నెట్టెయ్యొచ్చు. గతమెలాగూ తిరిగిరాదు, వచ్చి మనల్ని నిలదీయదు కనుక.

పోయింది కలలా కరిగిపోయిన కాలమైనా, వీడి వెళ్ళిపోయిన మనుషులైనా తిరిగి తెచ్చుకోలేమన్న "జీవిత సత్యం" తెలుసుకుని ఇప్పుడున్న కాలాన్ని వృధా చేసుకోకపోవటమే జీవితాన నేర్చుకోవలసిన గొప్ప పాఠం. ఏదో మిస్ అవుతున్నానే అన్న ఆలోచనా, చింతా చాలా ఏళ్ళుగా నన్ను వెంబడిస్తూనే ఉండేవి. ఇప్పుడా ఆలోచన లేదు, చింతా లేదు. అన్నీ నాదే అయిన నా "బొమ్మల లోకం" నన్ను పలకరిస్తూ ప్రతి వారం రెండు రోజులు వస్తుంది. వచ్చి నాతోనే ఉంటుంది, సంతోషాన్నీ, సంతృప్తినీ ఇస్తూ. నాకింతకన్నా అందమైన లోకం, సృష్టీ...ఈ సృష్టిలో మరేదీ లేదు.

బొమ్మలతో నా సమయం కేవలం నాకోసం
నాకు నేనుగా సృష్టించుకున్న నా లోకం
నాదై నాతోనేఉండే అందమైన నా "బొమ్మల లోకం"...

2019 has been a special year in my heArt. I call it "My Year of Portraits". With 45 different finished-art-works posted with write-ups, few abandoned/unfinished ones, several hundreds of hours of planning and working with colors is not a joke in the given 52 weekends of time in busy life. That feeling itself makes me feel so good. When I look back into my time on the last day of this year, I see time-well-spent and time-fully-and-very-well-lived-in,

Many thanks to all friends, well-wishers and people who took time to take a look at my Artworks. Special thanks to those who even took few extra minutes to share their invaluable, encouraging words and suggestions with me. I have great respects for all your valuable time.

"Time is the most valuable resource given in life, always respect others time more than yours."

- Giridhar Pottepalem

Looking forward to another COLORFUL year ahead.

Good Bye 2019 !
Welcome 2020 !!

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...
Watercolors on Paper (9"x 12")    

"  జ్ఞాపకాల వెల్లువలోనే

కరిగి చెరిగిపోతున్నాను...

మెరుపులా మెరిశావు

వలపులా కలిశావు...

కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా

నిన్నలలో నిలిచావూ

నిన్నలలో నిలిచావు... "

...

- వేటూరి సుందరరామ మూర్తి

ఇంత గొప్ప సాహిత్యం "వేటూరి" గారు కాక ఇంకెవరు రాయగలరు?

Sometimes, I go blank on what to write when I finish a painting. Of course, this one is one of those. It's been long pending in my to-do list to do a human eye in watercolors. Tried this today as my last painting in this year, 2019.

In few more days, we all say "Good Bye" to this year and say welcome to "New Year" with lot of hopes. Life is just like that. We say "Good Buy" to our old experiences and welcome new hopes...

Nothing is more appropriate for this painting than the above lyrics by legendary Telugu writer Veturi Sundararama Murthy garu. This painting is my tribute to him and his great lyrics and contributions to Telugu cinema. One of my all-time favorite songs...

Happy Painting!
Happy Memories!!

Details
Title: కన్ను తెరిచి చూసేలోగా...
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

Face (of) the Future...

"తెలుగమ్మాయి"
Watercolors on Paper (9" x 12")    

Today is tomorrow's yesterday. But, that yesterday can meet tomorrow again today by our actions. What we do today impacts and influences tomorrow. So, live today fully. When today becomes yesterday, don't leave yourself in there. Meet yourself again in your future with your past!

As I always learn from my own works and mistakes, this painting taught me many things. The initial pencil sketch came out so good with no eraser used. But it looked odd and bit small on the size of the paper I chose. With no other thought, I had to erase and redo a bigger sketch. I wasn't happy with this sketch as I was with the one I erased, but decided to start painting and fix it along the way.

The reference picture I chose looked just cute. But, an Artist eyes see something that ordinary eyes don't. My eyes saw the charming smile and innocent looks. I just wanted to capture those two beautiful features as my eyes saw. I was quite happy with my efforts. With my never-give-up efforts, this goes into the list of my favorite paintings.

Now, when I look at this painting on any day, I meet myself in the past. When a very satisfied past meets the future, it makes it happy. My past not only meets my future, but makes it happy!

"One faces the future with one's past." - Pearl S. Buck

Happy Painting!
Influence your tomorrow, today!!

Details
Title: తెలుగమ్మాయి
Reference: Niharika - Telugu Actress
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

తేట తేట తెలుగులా....

తేట తేట తెలుగులా...
Portrait of Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Watercolors on Paper 9" x 12" (22.9cm x 30.5cm)

"ఈ తెలుగు టాలెంట్

వెండితెరపై ఎదగాలి

తెలుగంత ఉన్నతంగా"

శుభాకాంక్షలతో...

Details
Title: తేట తేట తెలుగులా....
Reference: Talented Dancer & Telugu Actress Karronya Katrynn
Mediums: Watercolors on Paper
Size: 9" x 12" (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm)

Surface: Canson Cold Press Watercolor Paper, 140 lb/300 gm2

Happy Birthday Bhuvan...

Happy Birthday Dear Bhuvan!
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

Happy Birthday to my Dear Bhuvan!

A gift coming through the heart is a gift that touches the heart. My Art is my heart, and when it comes out from it, it touches two hearts...

"The most important mark I will leave on this world is my son." - Sarah Shahi

Happy Painting!
Happy Memories!!

Details
Occasion: Bhuvan's Birthday
Mediums: Watercolors 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

Stay Talented...

Bharathanatyam - Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")   

Talent put into constant practice keeps you stay talented. Once talented doesn't mean talented forever. Like anything in life including relationships, once started losing touch, talent fades away slowly with time. All top talented people are constant practitioners.

Be a constant practitioner of your talent in privacy and stay talented in public!

"A career is born in public - talent in privacy." - Marilyn Monroe

Happy Painting! Happy Practicing!!

Details
Inspiration: Rukmini Vijayakumar - classical dancer
Mediums: Watercolors 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

Expressive efforts...

Nátyánjali - my tribute to Indian Classical Dance
Watercolors on Paper (8.5" x 11")    

You get nowhere without putting in efforts. The more efforts you put in, the more successful you will be. There is no exception to this fact.

This painting is done after adding in more efforts to get it to what it looks like now. Few months ago, I actually did a fast pencil sketch but did not promote it to be a painting with more efforts. The main reason was, I never wanted to paint a female with no smile on her face. I was so sure that a smile on the face in this gesture looks odd. However, Indian classical dance is more than a dance, and is very expressive. Not only the face, but also the body expresses the meaning of lyrics and music.

Art is very expressive. The expressiveness of a Painting goes into it through the efforts of the Artist and comes out through the eyes of the viewer.

Make your efforts expressive! Happy Painting!!

“Much effort, much prosperity.” - Euripides

Details
Mediums: Watercolors 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