When I study a subject, I make value sketches and I pour my heart out into the study sketch. When I paint the same subject however, I can’t seem to get the same level of perfection in it as I created with a pencil sketch. Is it just me?
Category Archives: Uncategorized
African Landscape
My general consideration did not include a buffalo as a subject to paint. Well, never say never! The African landscape I had seen on the television was quite attractive; and the buffalo herd was part of it. Using some lovely pigments and a vibrant color scheme, I painted this scene without much layering actually.
My Gesso trouble
It was on a whim that I decided to paint this subject on a watercolor paper treated with Gesso. But I wish I had not. The color shine on gesso, so this method looks so inviting. But on gesso, I wrongly estimate the amount of pigment on the brush. Gesso does not absorb the pigmentContinue reading “My Gesso trouble”
Work Ride
Dignity of labor. Is it possible to show dignity to people who work for less than a dollar a day? Thousands of years of history, and we still have this social ill.
4 Days in the Clouds
This week I have been living in the clouds. That’s because I became obsessed with painting the clouds clean and seamless. The part about seamless has continued to be a challenge because in watercolors, I have to paint fast and make last minute decisions. But I have improved for sure with this exercise. I didContinue reading “4 Days in the Clouds”
The Absolute
The depiction of Lord Ganesha with an adorable sitting posture, and a kind smile, and laddoos has a well won over place in devotees hearts. It will always be there. However; during this year’s Ganesha festival, I have been thinking. What symbolizes as an Absolute and what we look up to for removing obstacles, hasContinue reading “The Absolute”
Clean look
I was aiming to paint a clean looking landscape. Not many lines and objects and complications in the composition; but just a simple clean and effective look.
Old paper, old technique
It was a moment of epiphany. I had slacked and painted on a stashed away paper I found. It so turned out that it was a 20 year old paper. I painted in my usual style. But the result showed the paper’s dated look. Then again, my painting style too showed the sameness (Done that.Continue reading “Old paper, old technique”
Anxious every time
You will not believe me if I say this, but every time I start a new painting, I get so nervous. Just like when we try to ride the bicycle the second time after we learn it. Even after so many years of painting, this anxiety still bothers me. Maybe it happens because of myContinue reading “Anxious every time”
Softer and Subdued
Many of my paintings use intense colors. It is my natural tendency. This time though I intentionally went for a softer look with a fast turnover. Another aim was to make use of rather earthy pigments. Overall, it was a smaller painting but I did get the result I wanted.
Chilled Inside and Out
In front of the majestic grandeur of the snow capped mountains we become thirsty eyed for more. Refreshing peace lingers in our mind. On top of that, if our hunger and thirst of the stomach kind is quenched, what more do we need?
Ancient Indian Art and Dyes
I recently learned about the dyes and painting styles of ancient India. There have been so many formal and many more informal traditional styles and I was truly enamored by them. In the modern age, I feel the techniques could be kept with the new subjects added. I tried something along those lines. Right onContinue reading “Ancient Indian Art and Dyes”
King of flowers
Layered petals that form an intertwined center. No wonder Roses draw us in. Most watercolor artists paint them at least once! Here is what I came up with. The rose that was peach in color.
Backyard that’s far away!
You are aware that the giant is there. Most of the times when you look for it, it is behind the clouds. And suddenly when you look in your backyard one day, it is totally visible. You feel the scale. It looks much closer; and yet it is at least 100 miles away!
Bygone Eras
She caught my attention right away. Among the numerous sculptures carved during the Ganga dynasty of 13th CE India. Every sculpture was part of the royalty scene. This one though must have meant to serve the decoration around the royalty. Almost an advertisement of some sort.
Vantage Point
I stopped myself before I over-painted. It was my 3rd try. I had felt a compulsion to try this vantage point in watercolors. It worked a lot better when I stopped glazing over.
Borrowed charm
It is always the mix of geometric patterns and colors of artificial lights that’s captivating to the eye. It always casts a spell on me. This Urban Glitz. These days its there still; but now all empty. Wondering if it is going to be repurposed for something else in the future….
Achieving the sweet balance
I am not there yet. For the most part, I do get the mood of the painting right. I have got it in this one all right. I need all elements though. Finesse with washes and getting the EXACT intensity of color at first go. I will be keeping at it surely.
Unconventional Landscape
One smooth pink mountain; another one quite rugged and brown right next to it. Grass of unrecognizable colors, and fan palms growing in the canyon. The landscape is far from conventional at Palm Springs, CA. Its unsettling to grasp and to paint as well.
Afternoon Glow
My painting process changed for this one. This time around I started with the ‘effect’ I wanted to paint : Glow of the light all around! Then I searched for the subject. Then I looked for the perfect moment to click a photo. I then went to my easel to paint.
Stillness at Dawn
Delta is a place where a river meets the sea. I happened to be awake to see the Sunrise at Puri delta and I was mesmerized by the stillness of the moment. There was no wind but just a slow flow of the river into the serene sea that was starting to glow with theContinue reading “Stillness at Dawn”
Longing for Summer
While enjoying the summer season it is hard to imagine winter. But in the northern regions, when the winter seems endless, we feel such a longing for summer. I experienced that longing on one such late winter morning. The sun was shining, but it was still so cold!
Artist and model
I had it all figured out. I was going to paint the artist I saw at Montmartre market in Paris. Many years passed. Now I was ready to paint and realized that the character I thought was an artist was really a customer who wanted get his portrait painted! Unfortunately this only proved a pointContinue reading “Artist and model”
Ruins at the mountaintop
In wilderness. On a mountaintop with a view. Ruins nearby. Not a super sunny day. I tried to capture EVERYTHING! I love the movement I achieved. Now wondering if simplifying should be tried for this subject. What do you think?
Two color study
Just two color study I had been meaning to paint. Haze in the afternoon is made striking with watercolors. I love this medium!
Largest Expanse in the front
At Strait of Juan De Fuca, the horizon just keeps expanding. Largest of the vessels look tiny. If you want to paint this type of vista, subtle color variations are needed for sure!
Fumes and colors
Geiser floor has amazing colors if an artist wants to paint that subject. However; how to manage painting of fumes? That was a puzzle I had to solve. I came up with a solution of underpainting with Lemon yellow. But I am sure there is a better way that I can learn.
Never used pigments
The orchids were just a reference photo. They were mostly peach in color with bright green stems. What was challenging was to use three colors that were never been tried before by me. I used M. Graham Naphthol Red, Daniel Smith Payne’s Blue Gray, and Sennelier Caput Mortum. Totally random and never tried at all.Continue reading “Never used pigments”
Dusk in Delft
I painted this scene from the Netherlands only for the green sky that my camera captured. The pink of stained glass made a great color scheme against the sky. The scene itself was already a complete one.
Non-dominant hand floral
When a challenge involves what we think won’t work for us we may be surprised by our own performance! This challenge was to paint a floral with non dominant hand. What I didn’t realize was that the brain is giving the same instructions to both hands! My knowledge of watercolors still shows in this oneContinue reading “Non-dominant hand floral”
Tranquil Grazing
A place that’s calming either outdoors or indoors. What else could it be but an expansive or remote pasture? After all, herding was a profession of many spiritually advanced beings who have walked on this earth including Krishna and Jesus. This tranquility is very attractive. The least I can do is try to paint suchContinue reading “Tranquil Grazing”
Abstract + Self Portrait
Facebook challenge topic by NWWS for the Day 4 of 14 was ‘Abstract Self Portrait. I was so excited to take this on! But I soon realized it was the most difficult challenge so far. I had never dabbled into a creating a large abstract piece. On top of that, a self portrait! It tookContinue reading “Abstract + Self Portrait”
Grace outside my window.
I tend to focus on details, and I am trying to get away from that. Just aiming to show more of an impression. However; when the painting must show buildings, I have to focus on where the windows and shadows are. This can be a hinderance to a fast and free style though. Here isContinue reading “Grace outside my window.”
Focusing away from crisis
I have chosen to focus away from the current crisis during productive hours. So here is my new work. When I think of painting flowers in watercolors, I can never look at them as single subject. It is more in a landscape form that I think of them. Tulips in the midst of their surrounding.Continue reading “Focusing away from crisis”
Destination in sight
Another quick study. When you are on the road, and the destination is finally in sight, the feeling you get. That was what I wanted to capture in this scene. A glimpse from the window en-route.
Night Lights Appeal
Urban lights at night are always attractive to me. They bring out a certain mood. I love painting these type of scenes. This was done with less precision than I would like, with more last minute decisions. But the effect still came out as expected.
Historic Figure
Imagining how a Rajah would look sitting on a throne was a challenge when I painted this figurative of Shivaji Rajah who was a 17th century Maratha ruler in India. I had only a few web references to go by. Having an adoration towards this Rajah helped.
Natural and Artificial Light
I have been wanting to paint a scene of a dawn I had captured on my camera 6 years ago. I finally had a courage to paint a scene that depicts both; the natural and an artificial light. I had to think of everything in detail for this one. I planned what values will goContinue reading “Natural and Artificial Light”
Large Foreground
Yesterday I decided to paint this vista which shows a large foreground area. I decided to keep a focus on the horizon and that worked. Our eyes move to the water ultimately even though there are reds and even though the sky and water are both blue.
Complement Study
I just realized today while painting that the shadows can be painted warm and cooler too. I had always thought they were painted with cooler colors. But noticing this nuance when I changed the top layer with warm brown around the focus area in this study and I was pleased!
Smitten By Watercolors 