Bergenia plant is not very tall. What is exquisite about it is its flowers are in a bunch that has a very organic shape. What’s even more attractive about this plant is the 2 impossible colors combined together. Magenta and Orange red. The colors glow in the evening light; and so, the name of theContinue reading “Evening Glow Organic Shapes”
Tag Archives: Watercolor painting
Delicate Blossom
Cherry blossom is a difficult subject to paint. Just like the blossom, the lightest of the light layers are required. I tried my best and liked the result from Study 2 and Study 3 the most.
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.
Devotion
The idol was in front of him actually. But when it comes to the devotion, can the devotee and the object of devotion be separate? I had to break the rules of drawing a Perspective and change the angle of the idol to depict this fact. This man is a regular visitor at the templeContinue reading “Devotion”
2 Steps Back
As I have progressed in my watercolor journey, I have vowed to keep it all clean, and focus only on fewer shapes. With this painting, I felt like I went back two steps. I kept painting each leaf. I am hoping not to do that. I started out with keeping the emphasis on the yellowContinue reading “2 Steps Back”
Balancing the foreground
Every now and then I get a bit of a shock when during my painting process, I get a feeling that, what I thought would be an easy project is not turning out to be an easy one. The above painting had large shapes that are easy to paint; but that part didn’t help me.Continue reading “Balancing the foreground”
Beyond the horizon
After seeing the beauty of the Willapa Bay in Oregon, I just had to paint the magnificence of nature that my eyes couldn’t get enough of. In every direction I looked, I was reminded of the holy principle working on this earth.
September Topic: Foliage
I have been meaning to paint the FB page of NWWS members September 2021 topic to paint ‘Foliage’. I did want to focus on the leaves; but not just the leaves only. So I painted the leaves against a good backdrop too.
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”
Painting En Plein Air, and more
I have begun to paint en plein air, and I absolutely love it! Posting here my first and second session! During the short time of the session allowed me to be more spontaneous and I discovered I was good at it 🙂 The second session was at a lavender farm. It was a great colorfulContinue reading “Painting En Plein Air, and more”
Terrain with a background
Quite a laborious process it was. A big juggling act between painting loose, getting the larger landscape with figures accurately, and all the while adjusting the colors to a correct value I wanted. I painted 5 versions of the same scene. I surely learned a lot in the process though!
Take 3
I was not too happy with the results of the first one because the paper I randomly found and used for it turned out to be 20 year old. The take 2 had a great paper but I chose a wrong pigment. With take 3, I got the effect I wanted. Phew .. !
Spotlight
One early morning I woke up to this sight. While the rest of the house was still sleeping, my kitchen had only one spotlight! Lo and behold, it was on my favorite object of ritual! I couldn’t help but paint this scene 🙂
Reflections that shine
When the light falls on objects across from the dark glass window, the window shows reflections that are abstract. But they are something you keep staring at. I aimed to capture the reflection of a shiny building in the window. The red color of the building added interest. Also, the plastic partition meant for covidContinue reading “Reflections that shine”
Reality or Dream?
When some weighty matters are on our mind, we tend to forget to look at the reality using the lens of logic. Our emotions take over and we seem to ignore the true beauty of everything. We might as well be dreaming while being fully awake!
Alexandrina Magnolia
Alexandrina. Quite an exotic name! It’s a variety of Japanese Magnolia that stops me in my tracks every spring. It is a large flower that blooms upwards. Shaped a bit like a lotus, but this one blooms in so much abundance that the flowers blend with one another, and it is hard to focus onContinue reading “Alexandrina Magnolia”
I think, therefore I am. – (René Descartes)
I tend to think a lot before I paint. Also, this pose location in the photo had a source of back light as well as some natural light. It required an interesting color scheme that made me think more before I painted. I tried to paint self portrait seriously for the first time. (And IContinue reading “I think, therefore I am. – (René Descartes)”
Indoor light
Lately I am getting obsessed with painting the indoor light. This flower arrangement was a great subject because I could aim to paint what glows and what stays in the background.
Sense of place
Historic buildings of architectural importance usually have such a scale and character that the sense of place of being there becomes imprinted in our memory. I wanted to paint this Rijks museum moment of outdoor light brightening up the structure inside.
Sunbreak
There was an attractive blue color band in the otherwise winter grey sky. It came about because of a sunbreak in the clouds. A challenge to paint for sure. Plus, I was going to paint the sailboats one day anyway.
Sunlight, Mist, and Shadows
In winter, the mornings display a variety in the scene. Some days they wear a grey blanket and the other ones bring darkness of rain in the Pacific Northwest. When the sun does shine, the early morning is a beauty. The tree stubs and branches form a weaving pattern, the mist lingers, and the sunlightContinue reading “Sunlight, Mist, and Shadows”
Long Shadows of Winter
As the sun moves farther to the south, the shadows grow so long. I planned to capture this nuance. The above scene of a view from the hilltop added great drama to the sweeping shadows. Rather unintentional, but my washes for the sky too gave an extra touch to the drama I wanted to createContinue reading “Long Shadows of Winter”
Fall Splendor
The trees have stopped cooking food. But it is a visual candy-land to the viewers! I can’t help it but paint yet another of the fall scene. Although my preference is to paint yellow colors of fall, on my walk this week I saw these brilliant red trees lit up with sun and offered meContinue reading “Fall Splendor”
Painted Skies
By far, I find that painting skies using watercolors is a project full of highest nuances. How much water, how quickly and how efficiently controlled; and not to mention pigments, mixing, and layering variables. I try everything because I am learning. I wanted to get the dynamic sky at sunset I had seen. I mayContinue reading “Painted Skies”
Steep Gables
I absolutely love looking at the steep gable roofs constructed in the snowy regions of the northeast. Their size is bulkier than the structure itself. Funnily they become lighter at once when they have these little windows jutting out of them. Makes me want to sit by those windows and cuddle up with a book!
Problem with purples
Blue and purple flowers when located in shade or under cloudy skies have been difficult to paint for me. I remember once spending a lot of time on purple irises without a desired outcome. When I saw a shrub totally full of purple flowers last week, I decided to give it a try again. IContinue reading “Problem with purples”
Under the maple in fall
I saw something magical. There was rain and mist in the air, and I was standing under the maple that had mosses growing on it. Usually, it would be pretty gloomy. But the little light that was falling made the ferns shine and the fall colors of maple gave the scene a dreamy look.
Secluded Habitat
Angle of light is everything with watercolors. It is easy when the subject of the painting is well lit. But when the light falls from the gaps formed by tall trees it is not easy to determine which are the shaded areas and which are the lit ones; so the final result was a mysteryContinue reading “Secluded Habitat”
Riot of bold colors
Croton is an ornamental plant that produces leaf colors that range from yellows to pinks and magenta reds and browns. And Crotons have them all in one when planted mixed! It was a great opportunity in this subject to make use of many colors. In retrospect, painting maybe just a couple of leaves would haveContinue reading “Riot of bold colors”
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”
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”
Smitten By Watercolors 