An unfinished painting

I started this painting with great gusto but it remains in the easel yet to be completed. Though it is not exactly the replica of our bookshelves, it has semblance.. Eragon/Eldest series, Viggy's trophies..

Someday.. i will have to take the oils again and complete the painting.

Spot the avatars or not

This was one of my experiments with zentangle and somehow it fizzled out :( I challenge you to spot the 10 avatars and other details. If you spot atleast 2, I would be redeemed in some way! I warn you - it is abstract!

Originally intended as a gift for a friend, I scrapped the idea as it did not turn out the way I planned. I have to try another and this time, my thoughts are more organized! I think...

A stampede

Relay for life is around the corner. I had written in my testimonial that whoever donated to the cause would get a hand-drawn sketch. One wonders as to who actually read it  ;)  but true to my promise, I went on a spree of sketching elephants and giving them away.








How many wrinkles on a elephants face! An 8B pencil is ideal as you can go crazy zig-zagging across the face with it. As the sharpened point softens, the blurry shades adds to the effect!

Elephants at Trichur-puram! Viggy thought this sketch had some kind of fishes!! When I explained that they were elephants, he was like.. what are those things on its head!! I could only roll my eyes :)

It is sad that he (and many kids like him) never got an opportunity to see such a sight - decorated elephants, conches blowing and people parading on this occasion..This sketch is entirely in charcoal - the ones Appa gave.

Seeing Him in 2 mediums

Charcoal or Oil? I got mixed reviews. Wonder if it has anything to do with color and B&W or with my own skills :)

Personally both are my favorites. Though I wish I was first in line when He was distributing patience; knowing the time I spent on both of them, I am secretly happy. As He reclines with the background seemingly blurring and the baskets of flowers (or kumkum if you want!); life is good!

Vernacular memories - a Chembarathy and a Raandhal

Some childhood memories....
Call it shoe-flower or hibiscus, somehow it does not sound as beautiful as "Chembarathy". Where I grew up, our home had red hibiscus, yellow hibiscus and pink ones too and we would pluck them to decorate our temple and still leave most of it in the trees to offer it as "Krishnarpanamastu". Today in California, my face brightens up when I see it rarely, blooming in someone's home. But indeed I see it more often these days in other forms like hibiscus tea and then the other day one of our cousins had made tamales with dried hibiscus! I attempted the above oil painting as a tribute to the beautiful flower that will never dry in my memory and I watch it to relive my childhood :)

Raandhal - thats what we used to call this lantern. When we visited our grandparents, and whether there was a powercut or not, we would light these lanterns to take us through the dark nights in the patio. Memories of stories told in this light, of the bugs that would come buzzing to the light, of the smell of the kerosene, of thatha and paati watching us with knowing smiles...

I painted this as an experiment to get the effect of the light and shadow and even got the "EVERYDAY" brand at the base. After painting it, I switched off the lights in the study and could see the glow of the light :) and smell the kerosene and hear the stories  - ah how the mind plays tricks!

Gita Upadesh

When Uma and Srini asked me to complete this painting on a 4ft by 3ft wooden plank depicting the Gita Upadesh, it was a conflict inside of me - it was a seemingly daunting project but... The Painting was the brainchild of Srini's cousin who had painted the wheels of the chariot and penciled in the details of the chariot, Arjuna and the Lord. She had used some kind of 3d paints to border the heavy lines and the effect was stunning. It took me some hunting in Michaels to finally discover the fabric dimensional paints that worked perfect. I used acrylics for filling in colors and paint-pens for the minute details of the avatars on the chariot and ofcourse Hanumanji on the flag. I changed Krishna from what the original was penciled in to my Krishna and fell in love with His smile. The horses and the Sun was an after-thought and hope it fits it without overcrowding.

This painting was a humbling journey... the original artist had a beautiful vision that was hopefully carried forward, Uma and Srini trusted me to complete it, the painting will soon go where it belongs, I was just an instrument in Krishna's hands....
"You have a right to perform your prescribed action, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities and never be attached to not doing your duty" Ch. 2, 47 Bhagavad Gita

Roar or mew!

When I saw the original painting, I fell in love with it and my hands (or brushes) itched to try it. Armed with a photo from a friend's iphone (ofcourse with the original artist permission) my friend (yes...Roopa!) and I decided to paint the subject together. While mine started looking more like a kitten, hers looked older and mean. I tried hard to make it look older - narrowed the eyes, shortened the forehead, gave more 'beard' and what not but I guess thats how my heart is - young ;)

So roar or mew, this is one of my favorite oil.

Lesson on Painting or Patience

Oil Painting came as a suggestion or hint from a friend - she felt I needed to not only learn a new medium which will give me more satisfaction than the usual acrylics I dabble with but it would teach me patience. Well, I took her advice and after spending few dollars on the oil tubes, the turp, the palette, the easel (heheh!!) the canvass (wait I am not done yet!) the brushes, I started my first painting. Yes, I had to pick the tough one! Remember the lady with her wet back that Dad had painted (blogged in earlier posts), she was my first subject. Very soon, I learnt this was not an overnight job. I had to wait for the paint to dry!! What?? For someone like me who is like an instant gratification person finishing super-quick projects - sigh and double sigh! And after 2 months with a vacation in between, I am willing to call this painting "done"! I have a new-found respect to those who paint with oils!

I did try other smaller paintings like a fall scene. I had observed someone paint with oil paint and facial tissues are dabbed to give a bumpy popcorn ceiling effect (i am sure there is a technical name!)

Then the 2 storks silhoutted against the moon was more finger painting than with brush ;)



I am liking this medium more and more as I experiment more. This "Monk" is a gift to Ram because he is the Monk Wisdom Unlimited http://monkwisdomunlimited.blogspot.com/. I have an order from him to paint more Monks!! Well that is encouraging :) Is it because he too feels that oil painting teaches me patience???

zentangled Ganeshas

This zentangle with sharpies was a complete timepass and a superquick project. I had the foam board lying around in the garage and I outlined the Ganeshas by pencil roughly from memory (based on the other musical Ganeshas I had painted and gifted away) After that one just has to let oneself loose with the sharpies. It is a therapy as the repetitive designs can mesmerize one. I did outline the some parts with a red sharpie as an after-thought.

A gift of Flowers from a friend

It is a honor and joy to have artist friends to discuss mediums, techniques, critique artwork and better still when they gift you a painting! Roopa is one such friend who has treated me to many cups of coffee and listened to my chatter as we mulled and talked over artwork. She promised me this oil painting for my birthday, "flowers for my Krishna", she said!  I absolutely love this painting for the radiant color, for the concept and for the friendship! Thanks Roopa :)