Bathing Ghat

Bathing Ghat - Oil Painting on Canvas

I picked up this scene from Edwin Lord Weeks' collections. I liked the mood set of an ordinary daily life near this ghat. The half-clad ladies, the boat man, the building behind - everything is set at its own pace, none appears to be hurrying in their daily chores. 


I had a new romantic song (a good combo of melody + taal) playing in the background while doing this one. Fortunately it was set to the repeat mode and that's when I discovered listening to the same music in the background sustains the attention and mood while painting. Also, this was the first time I understood how fantastic it feels to paint light and shades. 

This painting was selected for a display at Musuem theatre, Chennai by the Evam group. Though I wasn't able to go with my painting personally, they were kind enough to display a print of the painting. 

Bathing Ghat 2



Bathing ghat - Oil Painting on Canvas

This picture was another admirable one from the Edwin Lord Weeks' collections. Yet another chance to paint water! Painting water is a great relaxation. It takes me to the elements of real water. 


Painting reflections - one of my favourite subjects! There is no definitive outline that a reflection needs to carry and the waviness and transparency that a reflection portrays makes it unique from all other subjects.

The pot! I liked it better than the ladies :) Its copper colour, the sunlight glare and the shadow were new and interesting to me.

The old wall in the background - though it's just a plain surface without depth, it has an artistic design  created by the marks left by the rain water leaks and the faded wall paint here and there.  

Silence!

Silence - Oil Painting on Paper

Silence - this is one of my close-to-the-heart paintings. Felt and painted! This girl, beautifully dressed in blue and surrounded by red rose petals - with a first look, it could probably feel that this silence is of a romantic love and its blush.Take a close look at the empty face. Remain quiet and attune yourself with the girl's feeling. You CAN feel what she feels!

From this work, I realized how the absence of the facial features can sometimes bring out the emotions better. Doing the background was as interesting as the figure. A new combination of media - oil paint on paper :)

Are we mere puppets of the past?

Are we mere Puppets of the Past? - Oil Painting on Canvas

Sometimes, no matter what and how I try, there’s always a ‘No entry’ pop-up in front of all my plans. Sometimes, no matter how much I pray, the answers don't seem to come my way. Sometimes, I feel I've lost focus and I've forgotten what I want. And I have no clue of where I am going. 

That's when I doubt if I am only a puppet of my past. If it's only my past karma that is dictating my present. If I am only driven by the strings from the planets in my horoscope. 

There were only three colours used in this painting to give an earthy feeling. There were moments when I hold my paint brush, I don't have to think and plan what to paint. It just flows - this was one such moment. 

Wedding

Wedding - Oil Painting on Canvas

The reference was a celebrity wedding from google. 

One of the many important occasions in India and the most grand celebration in one's life. Especially for the brides, it's the dream day. A saree in meroon is the most common bridal wear with a complete jewellery set ornamenting head to toe. And it impresses me a lot to see a happy bride!

Freedom - Pencil Sketch

Radha and Krishna - Pencil Sketch

This was done during those days while I started doing sketches as a time pass. A time when I didn't know what a HP means to sketching and when oil colours were strangers to me. I remember it was done with a Nataraj pencil, the one which used to come with red and black stripes. I am not sure if they are still available. Yet the white camlin pencil with pink and green flowers used to my favourite :) The reference was a print I had seen in a xerox shop. 

Radha and Krishna, in any form allure my liking for the love and devotion of Radha towards Krishna touches me deep. I requested the shop guy to give me a copy of the picture. 

Sketching takes me to a new world. It feels time and space are kept on hold when I hold the pencil. Specifically, to sketch ornaments, the foldings in clothes is an indescribable part. 

The Palaquin Bearers

Palanquin Bearers - Water Colour on Paper Lightly, O lightly we bear her along, She sways like a flower in the wind of our song; She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream, She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream. Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing, We bear her along like a pearl on a string. Softly, O softly we bear her along, She hangs like a star in the dew of our song; She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide, She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride. Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing, We bear her along like a pearl on a string.                                             - Sarojini Naidu (A master piece by the Nightingale of India)

The reference is a black and white ink sketch by Solomon Vedamuthu, a well 
known architect of Chennai. This was done for a Tamil novel 
THILLAIYIL ORU KOLLAIKKAARAN.

Palanquin reminds me of a deep fond memory, I don't know of when though. That's the loveliest way for queens and brides to travel. I wish one day, somebody would be ready to carry me that way ;) This was a quick painting. I liked the long road, four men and the hour of the sunset. And painting different shades of greens of the trees is always refreshing.

Time

Time - Water Colour on Paper

The reference was a picture from google images. It feels more beautiful when some arts are not explained. Hence, I leave this one unexplained. Definitely, one of my favourites and I miss it! 

Krishna - Pencil Sketch

In Memorian - Water Colour on Paper

The Old Brick House

The Old Brick House - Water Colour on Paper

The reference was a photo I had taken near Varathur, Bangalore. We were a group of friends returning back from a friend's house. I spotted this old house on the way. In fact, it wasn't a complete house. The building behind this wall had already been demolished and alone stood this front wall and the door. It gave me a deja vu feeling for a moment, an instant affection to this still. More is written about this experience in one of my posts, my deja vu moments - captured and painted! 

Confinement

Confinement - Oil Painting on Canvas

The reference was a black and white picture from google images. A girl confined within the prison walls. I could at once connect with this girl's emotions then. One more, where I could appreciate the absence of the facial features. 

Set on Sail - Water Colour

Portrait - Oil Painting on Canvas

Joy - Oil Painting on Canvas