Sree's Canvas

MOVED!

2012-01-10T14:17:00.002+05:30

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for vanishing (yet again!). Things got a bit muddled here and a little out of my hands. I also did not have access to my art materials and computer for a while. The blog has now moved to Sree's Canvas. I hope everything is a bit more organized, accessible and regular (atleast for me!) from now on. My new blog is still in the making and not yet complete. Hopefully I'll have many more things besides paintings to share. See you there! Thanks again for all the comments and visits.

Wildlife break

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000+05:30

We had been to Melbourne for a few days. The landscape+wildlife was unbelievable (quite contrary to my expectations) and we got to see most of the birds and animals in their natural habitats. We hope to start a travel blog with pics as we realise we have forgotten many of the sights and places we have seen:( Anyways, I monopolized the trip with sketching - mostly several gorgeous birds and ofcourse hundreds of kangaroos that kept hopping across on the roads during the day and (dangerously) at night. I got nipped (very painful:)) by nasty cockatoos whom I refused to give attention to in favour of the lovely rosellas and kookaburras.

Eucalyptus Patch @ the National Rhododendron Gardens @ Dandenongs and making the sketch below

Crimson Rosellas on the peeling bark of Eucalyptus trees

Rosellas and lorikeets

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Crimson rosellas

Sulphur crested cockatoos - up, close and personal (ouch!)

Rainbow lorikeets - Long Billed Corellas - Rainbow Lorikeets again

Noisy starlings

2011-05-09T14:42:00.009+05:30

Asian Glossy Starlings on the Americal Oil Palm
Acrylic on Canvas 24"x30"

On a couple of walks to the botanical gardens, I noticed a large flock of small, glossy and very noisy birds resting on some of the giant palms. The fact that the palm fronds are cut periodically have not deterred them from nesting here in large numbers. Occasional trespassing by Mynas are interesting to watch:) Apparently they are among the top of the common birds found here.

The final composition is a portion of the sketch above - laterally inverted on the PC. The palm fruits were incorporated into the composition.

Mangroves and Kingfishers

2011-04-28T11:13:00.004+05:30

Mangrove Kingfishers
Acrylic on canvas - 18"x24"

It is one of the most commonly seen kingfishers in Singapore- at the parks, gardens, mangroves and coastal areas.(Personally, I really cant make out the difference between the male and female) but I see a pair perched on the same branch, at the same place almost every day without fail. They take turns flying in and out of the hole on a tall sea almond tree and their calls echo throughout the evening. They come across as not very shy or scared of humans or other birds! On reading I found that they outnumber the others due to their aggressive behaviour:D I have also started using a lot of acrylic now. (For me, Pros - easier to clean, no smell of turpentine and fast drying. Cons- Lots of wastage and blending is a tad bit more difficult than oils)

Mac Ritchie sights

2011-04-25T10:25:00.007+05:30

Long tailed macauqe and greater racket tailed drongo at the Mac Ritchie forest
Primas and graphite on tinted Murano Art Paper (A1 size)

I have been without the camera for a long time until yesterday (finally got it repaired). However unavailability of the camera proved to be a good break from time spent photographing to much needed time spent sketching and painting. As I mentioned in my previous posts, I have been enjoying sketching birds in particular for its a challenge to capture the basic form and features in very limited time. Its good drawing practice and a step (hopefully) towards a serious interest in birding. Instead of a new camera, I got my old one repaired.. and got myself a pair of binoculars (better late than never!) which open a whole new world of perspectives and compositions. Its not just about magnification, its liberating..when you want to feel like a part of the habitat rather than a spectator. Anyways, I hope it will help me paint better and more!

Plus the highlights

2011-02-16T15:47:00.000+05:30

With some pencil highlights added..

Dragonflies and lotus pods

2011-02-15T14:32:00.005+05:30

Common red stem figs (I think) at the Mac Ritchie reservoir forest.

Graphite on paper

8"x10"

Oil on Canvas

24"x30"

Another sketch

2011-01-25T14:31:00.003+05:30

Graphite on paper

Another tree outside the window and the biggest distraction to my daily work. The most common visitors to the tree are black nape orioles, yellow vented bulbuls, cuckoos and since the last couple of days, I have had the pleasure of watching 2 woodpecker fledglings playing on this tree. I am no birder but its hard not to stop everything and come to watch and listen to the riot of sounds. By the way this picture has 4 orioles and the fledglings:)* Spot them..I know the sketch is bad.. but still.. can you?

(I am trying to do a lot of graphite sketching these days..out of laziness to paint and also to try and improve the speed of sketching on the spot. Trying to sketch birds (atleast their basic shape and character) in the limited time is proving to be pretty challenging but pleasurable nevertheless.

*Edit- I find that these are supposedly the smallest woodpeckers found in Singapore called the Sunda Woodpecker. They are almost pocket sized!

Just us...

2011-01-11T15:11:00.006+05:30

'Just us...'

Graphite on Paper

Its been raining all day and looks like our feathered friends are feeling a bit too cold:)

(View of the terrace of the building outside my window)

Some sketches from the East Coast Park

2011-01-09T17:39:00.006+05:30

Sea Almond tree with a Bird' Nest fern at the base
Graphite on Paper

Cycling break
Graphite on Paper

Its much cooler this month in Singapore and we decided to make the most of the weather by spending as much time outdoors. Went for a long beautiful walk at the MacRitchie Reservoir (HSBC Treetop walk) and spent the evening at the East Coast Park sketching (while R finally got time reading and listening to music without being bothered by me:D)Wish the weather would remain as cool all year round! (Wishful thinking...)

Whimsical strokes

2011-01-04T17:22:00.006+05:30

Oil on Canvas

12"x24"

Just a whimsical painting I did after my daily walks to the East Coast Park where I spend some time at the fishing jetty.

Quo Vadis

2010-12-09T11:01:00.003+05:30

'Quo Vadis'

Oil on Canvas 16"x20"

The Tulsi plant at home once had two visitors - a little grasshopper nymph and a spider who was trying to weave up a home there. I noticed them 'hanging' around for quite a bit and neither seemed to intimidate the other. After a while the nymph went away. I noticed that grasshoppers actually have an 'animated' face:) This painting is hanging in our living room now.

Lily Bud

2010-12-02T13:11:00.006+05:30

Oil on Canvas 10"x10"

In my last birth I was definitely a creature that lived inside the pond. Not claiming that I was a lotus or a waterlily. I am happy to be the slug or the spider or even the frog that gets to hop in and out of the buds and blooms:) Before anyone wonders whether I am crazy..let me tell you - I AM crazy (R will happily vouch for that)..about every pond, marsh and lake that has all of the above in it. I find it fascinating to see all of these creatures swimming amidst the lotuses or waterlilies and can stare at it for hours. When we are driving and I come across one, I scream "Stop the car" till R screeches to a halt. At a place we stayed at recently, I found the complete pond 'ecosystem'. In the coming days I will try and paint small canvases (miniatures if I may call them so)of some of my fave things.

More works

2010-11-29T09:48:00.007+05:30

This composition is based on some pics I took at the Karanji Lake in Mysore. They have a sort of butterfly park.. an open area by the lake where I got to see some Blue Tiger butterflies (and a few Monarchs. They had devoured an entire plant and its pods and flowers:)When I was painting for the BBC contest earlier this year, I felt like painting almost every wildlife scene I came across. This was done during that madness! The second is from the Chinese Garden here where you get to see many birds and animals...

'Harvest'

Oil on Canvas 12"x24"

Bittern

Oil on Canvas 18"x24"

We also had the opportunity recently to witness some fantastic plant and animal life on one of our recent trips. Peeping through a 'hide', waiting for a long time and being rewarded by the sight of a penguin washed in by the sea and hopping along the beach, groups of sea-lions and many birds.I also got to visit one of the best botanical parks and drool over some of my favourite flowers and plants which I have never seen except in books. We forgot to take our camera on that visit and I cant ever forgive myself for that.

Floating Populations

2010-09-07T20:05:00.003+05:30

'Floating Populations'
Oil on Canvas
24"x30"

The Baywatch

2010-07-03T20:38:00.004+05:30

Oil on Canvas

By the pond

2010-05-31T16:46:00.006+05:30

Oil on Canvas
18"x24"

Ok, a *LONG* time back I had dreams of doing a waterlily/lotus collection. That goal had almost vanished into the depths of the sea (owing to laziness and well.. all the 100 other excuses same as for not blogging for a long time) Well, I am considering completing that with a few paintings on the same topic plus maybe some macros of flowers that I have been wanting to paint for a while. (The botanical gardens here are a PARADISE for flower and plant enthusiasts) After the series of paintings gets completed, I will start my hunt/struggle for the right avenue to try and exhibit. What say?

Anyways, here is the latest - a group of young Nymphea leaves by a pond. Considering adding a few dragonflies at a later stage, maybe - maybe not.

BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010 finalist

2010-05-21T15:06:00.006+05:30

'Pitcher Perfect'
Oil on Canvas Panel
14"x18"

This painting of mine got selected into the finals of this year's contest that had a separate International Artists Category for entries outside of the UK which received over 500 paintings from across the globe. I am disappointed to not have won a prize in the final category BUT I must admit I totally enjoyed painting this one and it will be one of my favourites:) (I entered mine in the Category 'Wonder of Plants')

White Lotus

2010-05-10T17:38:00.003+05:30

This is the first of a diptych. Hopefully a pink lotus will follow soon and the two shall adorn the wall above our headboard.

Oil on Canvas
8"x8"

Prismas on Colored Paper

2010-04-22T13:53:00.004+05:30

8"x10"

Prismas on colored paper

I have been wanting to try sketching on colored paper for a long time. Had forgotten about it until I found Mi-Teintes colored paper on my last visit to Art Friend. Its such a wonderful store with almost every art material under the sun, I go mad whenever I go there. I finally tried this quick sketch of guinea fowl on a grey sheet. Its quite nice to work with colored pencils on it. (This bird is dedicated to M for taking to birding with so much passion, she turned vegetarian:)!)

Photo contest winners

2010-04-06T18:37:00.004+05:30

Ascent to Heaven

As I mentioned in my previous post, R and I entered some of our photos for a couple of contests and these won prizes. 'Ascent to Heaven' - a full moon night and the Swargarohini massif (Har Ki Dun Valley, Uttaranchal)taken from just outside the cabin we stayed in on our trek there last year. It will remain my most memorable travel photo ever. It won a consolation prize in the Canon Himalayan Photo Contest.

Miles to go before I sleep

'Miles to go before I sleep' won third place in the Global Standard Chartered Photo contestfor staff members. Its a pic taken in Rajasthan during the camel safari.

Kaliedoscope

Flights of Fancy

'Kaliedoscope' - Blue houses of Jodhpur and 'Flights of Fancy' again at Jodhpur were chosen too (in the category - Urban landscape), as wall decor for the new Standard Chartered office at Changi, Singapore.

We both are photo 'maniacs' who don't know a thing about cameras and all the tech stuff that comes with it, nevertheless going click click at every opportunity:)

A move, some prizes and almost a year since my last post!

2010-03-22T15:58:00.008+05:30

Dragonfruit

Prismacolors on Paper

Recently when I received a comment on my blog as to why I had abandoned it, I felt horrible. I wanted to scream out that I havent abandoned it.. its just that.. well..I guess its been ONE YEAR since I made any post.. I cant blame anyone for thinking that way. So many things have needed attention. After almost a year of confusion on where we may get transferred to and an almost confirmed move to Bombay, we finally landed up in Singapore a few months back. Suffice it to say that my painting materials were lying packed for way too long. But I have been painting the last few weeks.. quite a bit and will update the blog. In the meantime I participated in the Canopy art contest held in association with the International conference on the conservation of Forest Canopies and won the first place for the painting below. Also won some prizes in a couple of photo contests which I will post soon. The other is a quick sketch made today of the good looking but not so great tasting (atleast for me!) dragonfruit.

Endgame

Oil on Canvas

Lily Line

2009-04-22T20:54:00.005+05:30

Oil on Canvas
1ftx2ft

I dont think I will ever be able to photograph my paintings decently, I cant avoid the glare on atleast one corner of the canvas no matter how I place the camera, canvas or myself:(

Rain check

2009-04-01T10:17:00.007+05:30

Rain check

Oil on canvas
12"x16"

Its really hot even in Bangalore and I'm waiting for the rains.. to play my favourite songs and go for drives:) I dont want to be fooled by obese grey clouds that look like they are going to burst into showers any minute only to fly away like cottonballs at the slightest breeze with the promise of returning another day.

I have also been taking too many rainchecks on my painting. I owe this one to R, who took it upon himself to make sure I did an oil after so long, calling me every other hour to check on what I was doing ("Have you started...Yes yes, I have... Good good, I'll call after an hour to check") What has my art life come to:)

Months of colored pencil works have affected the way I do oils. It took me quite some time to get back to the more relaxed free strokes with the brush as against the carefully planned moves with the pencil. Looks like in order to do one, I may need to undo a little bit of the other!

My cute Cuticura family:)

2009-03-25T16:04:00.003+05:30

Dont some fragrances always take you back to those "good old days"? Being pampered by mother with an oil bath, baby cream and then 'powder':D The bottles have changed but the fragrance continues to remain as wonderful as ever and I continue to use it to this day. Its an attempt to bottle up the memories of childhood and preserve them forever:) I bought these three together simply because they looked like an inseparable family to me!( Now I have to think of how to get myself to throw them away when they are empty)

Colored pencils on Paper

Peppers

2009-03-09T14:01:00.001+05:30

Prismacolors on Paper

pots n pans

2009-03-06T18:44:00.003+05:30

One of my secret ambitions has been to run a kitchenware shop:D I'm always fascinated by the one zillion utensils on sale, esp the large baking pans used by bakers and restaurants - just imagine the huge cakes!

Back to my garden!

2009-03-03T23:11:00.005+05:30

Its been so long since I did anything, partly due to lethargy and also because my drawing tables were piled with other things that I just couldnt be bothered to clean.
Then when a friend asked me yesterday why I hadnt posted anything in my blog this year, I realised, I havent made a post in 2009! Ok, hoping this breaks the lazy spell and brings forth atleast a few sketches more often:)

This is prismacolors on paper, a Monarch butterfly from my own reference pics taken at Karanji Lake at Mysore where they have a butterfly park of sorts besides a beautiful walk through aviary.

Colored pencils on paper

Fruits of patience

2008-11-21T00:43:00.005+05:30

Graphite on paper

I think I've mentioned sometime back that my dad loves gardening, but nothing bears fruit in our place. Well, we are really going bananas over this bunch! Finally, an almost mutated version of the sweet long green variety which is called 'chingampazham' in mallu. (ours are only half the size of the ones sold in the market, but STILL..)How could I not immortalize it on paper?

I am sorry for not replying to a single comment made on my blog, for a while, it will be done in the next couple of days.

Cooling off..

2008-11-05T13:23:00.004+05:30

A plate of hot puris cooling off atop the 'customized table':D. I have decided I'm not eating fried stuff for sometime, so let me not drool at this for long.
I made this sketch for Indira(sorry!), but am posting it here since I dont know when I'm going to get around to sketching and posting everyday as I used to... in some prehistoric era:(

Sunflower

2008-10-17T00:55:00.008+05:30

11"x14"

Prismas on Stonehenge

There are so many paintings I want to do.. but somehow I end up doing something botanical. Landscapes I began are lying around incomplete. No time for casual pencil sketches. (I have to do them soon.. I say this to myself everyday)
In botanicals too, I end up choosing subjects that are minimalistic, just a flower or bud..cant imagine starting something with too many elements and details. I wonder whether my preferences are changing or I'm plain lazy.

Posted below are some of the stages of this bud I clicked.

Wild figs

2008-10-03T18:22:00.003+05:30

My frequency of posts is falling faster than the sensex. For one I'm never at home on weekends. On weekdays ..well, the usual routine. Anyways here's the latest one, a bunch of wild figs (loved their colors, shades of peach that I'm crazy about!) which most probably look prettier than they actually taste:D

11"x14"
Prismacolor pencils on Stonehenge paper

Lily again!

2008-09-12T15:01:00.004+05:30

9"x12"
oil on canvas

After the nightmare of the last painting I wanted to take refuge in my comfort zone..the water lily! Ok, the primed canvas sheets on which I did the orchids.. I have decided that I dont like them as much as stretched canvas since they seem to suck up paint and make it dry within seconds which totally kills the flexibility of the medium. I struggled to blend the colors and had to lay down more than three coats to get a vibrant effect. At the moment I've signed and let it rest. Will look at it again tomorrow for obvious errors (or someone can please do the honors:)
I may attempt the same picture with my prismas just to compare the media.

Ridge tomatoes

2008-09-05T22:31:00.006+05:30

I had this whim to paint something with lots of red and something easy (or so I thought) until I actually started painting these strange un-tomato looking tomatoes. Its not easy to make each one look different from the other....this one is done until it dries a bit more for some more highlights maybe?

Oil on stretched canvas

Ornamental Cabbage

2008-08-19T18:19:00.003+05:30

Colored pencils (Prismas) on paper

10"x10"

Orchids in Oil

2008-08-07T17:51:00.004+05:30

Oil on canvas
9"x12"

Apologies for vanishing! I was away and left without any art materials for 2 weeks:(

Back now, just completed this and wanted to post right away.

This is done on canvas, I got this nice canvas book which has primed sheets (about 10 I think) that can be torn off just like sheets off a sketch pad. Planning to go bonkers painting flowers:)

Gaping Dutchman's Pipe!

2008-07-22T21:25:00.003+05:30

Colored Pencils on Paper

Also called Pipevine, this is an amazing plant that I found in my neighbourhood.

2008-07-17T16:58:00.005+05:30

Tagged again by Easycrafts

- What was I doing ten years ago?

Studying in Cochin

- Five things on Today's "To do" list.....

The day has almost come to an end, the "to do" for this evening would be-

Book tickets to go to Cochin

Try out something authentic with couscous in it (I have a packet I recently got from a trip)

Find the cat that was seen hanging around the neighbour's house last evening and lure it with some milk (and cream):D:D

Fold clothes (I hate it)

Eat some chocolates that I've been trying hard to pretend are not there. ( Ah diets! Do they ever work?)

- I am addicted to......

my pencils and paints, blog, laptop, cats..and how can i forget flowers:)

- Things I would do if I were a billionaire.....

Get the people I love anything they want, that I can afford,

Free supply of milk and fish, home delivered to all cats,

Art gallery for artists and craftsmen to display and sell their work,

Get a HUGE greenhouse with all my favourite plants and flowers inside it. ( and ofcourse, build house for myself next to it)

- Places I have lived ...

Kochi, Bangalore

I'm going to tag Manisha and Shilpa

Trying out a new background

2008-07-17T16:32:00.004+05:30

Colored pencils on paper

I normally blend my strokes and smoothen them out. I did this one to try out a different rendering of the background in a 'painterly' way. Where the strokes are hazy and no emphasis on details. I dont know if i like it on botanical sketches. I did something similar on the Ganesha background as well.

Pretty Pitcher Plant Painting

2008-07-10T18:54:00.007+05:30

PPPPllease excuse the alliteration:)

6"x8"

Prismas on ordinary paper

Meme

2008-07-10T12:25:00.004+05:30

I was tagged, so Veda, here goes:)

1) LAST MOVIE U SAW IN A THEATER?
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

2) WHAT BOOK ARE U READING?
1000 Places to see before you die.

3) FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Snakes and Ladders

(4) FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
Femina, Outlook Traveller

5) FAVORITE SMELLS?
Camphor in the temple

6) FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Waves

7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Helplessness

8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE?
Where am I? :D (Not a hangover please)

9) FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Cee Gees, Bangalore

10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?
Will be decided when the time comes

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—’IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY
‘Lot’ is relative, its all about trying to be content with what you have at any point.

12)DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
In games, yes... as fast as I possibly can without losing my life.

13) DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
We are all social animals and most of the time we over-eat..

14)STORMS–COOL OR SCARY?
Cool in reel life, Scary in real life

15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
Maruti Swift (It still is:D)

16) FAVORITE DRINK?
Right now, Iced lemon tea.

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD
Be proactive in keeping in touch with all my friends and relatives.

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yes.

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
Black, mine is going brown now.

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN?
Cochin, Bangalore

21)FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
WWF

22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
So passionate about the things she likes to do.

23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED?
Travel bags

24) WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??
Yes

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Both

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
????

27) FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX?
On my bed, watching TV

28) FAVORITE PIE?
None

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
I’m crazy about all the ‘yoghurty’ flavors.

30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE U HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND
I havent decided whom to tag!

Pomegranate - 2

2008-06-24T23:15:00.004+05:30

Colored Pencils on Paper

Another one from the same tree that I did this red one

My garden turns two:)

2008-06-18T10:56:00.001+05:30

To everyone.. who paused to look, took time to read, made the effort to comment, for all the compliments and the criticism, *Thank You*. I hope I will continue to draw, paint and make hearts happier and smiles brighter for many more years:)

On the Temple Steps

2008-06-12T00:18:00.006+05:30

Prismacolors on Stonehenge Paper
(Colored pencils)
11"x14"

Poppins

2008-06-08T18:15:00.001+05:30

Colored pencils on paper
4"x5"

Drawing Day 08

2008-06-07T23:08:00.005+05:30

Drawing Day Lily

8"x6"
Colored Pencils on paper

Yikes!

2008-06-02T17:33:00.002+05:30

colored pencils on paper

Ok ok, am not entirely jobless. I just wanted to sketch this guy! I mean, my prismacolors have been standing in this holder for a while and today Mr Skeleton just wanted to be sketched! I think he looks friendly. (Uma, this post is dedicated to you:D)

Mango Manthram at Mahanandi

2008-05-31T22:57:00.003+05:30

Mangoes
Watercolor
8"x9"

Mango motif
Indian ink
8"x9"

These are my entries for the Food Art ~ Mango Manthram, Indira's beautiful idea for a food-art rendezvous.

I've no confidence when it comes to watercolors, but i couldnt think of a better medium to bring out the luscious shades of semi ripe mangoes:)..hence the attempt.
The second is a typical Indian motif often seen on fabric. Its done using Indian ink which is almost like transcluscent watercolors.

Water Lily- Complete

2008-05-28T00:10:00.004+05:30

I am calling this one done. Phew!

Oil on Canvas 16x20"

Close up of water drop

Still Life

2008-05-27T12:08:00.003+05:30

Colored Pencils on Paper

I get dizzy if i try to read on a bus or a train. And long journeys can get really boring! So i decided to sketch the day's lunch, placing it on the food tray in front of me. Apple, Orange, Strawberry milk - can be quite a potent combination for your stomach... dont say I didnt warn you:d

Class I

2008-05-08T17:35:00.003+05:30

Colored pencils and ink on paper

Waterboy

2008-05-07T09:14:00.001+05:30

Colored Pencils on paper
7"x8"

Grape Queen

2008-04-23T17:56:00.007+05:30

Grape Queen
Colored Pencils on Paper
8"x10"

Thats how I felt when i was allowed by the owner to eat and cut as many bunches of grapes I wanted to from a vineyard on the way to Nandi Hills. Its my first visit to a vineyard and that too at harvest time,every branch and leaf bursting with the profusion of bunches. I went mad and wanted to eat a grape from every bunch which, I suppose would have taken me a few zillion years:D. Finally Rajesh had to drag me out of the place (but not without a huge box full of bunches that i myself had cut:D)

Back to Oils - Work In Progress - Update

2008-04-21T16:48:00.010+05:30

Completed more leaves at the bottom right, more water...

Oil on Canvas
18"x14"

After almost one year I'm back to oils , feels like I've been unfair to them after my color pencils came in:(
I plan to paint without such a long break ever again (aah promises promises, havent we heard them before?) and never let the paint dry on my palette and wash my brushes every night:)

Lots more work on this one- the remaining water, leaves, reflections, waterdrops... Keep watching.

Tutorial

2008-04-15T18:24:00.006+05:30

Firstly apologies for the inooooooooordinate delay in the tutorial. Will not bother to give excuses, but i have to mention that i was planning to do one on a Rose and started it off too. However i got so engrossed in it, i forgot to take snaps as i went along! So here is another one. I am sorry if its too complicated, i began thinking its pretty simple, but it did take some time and wasnt that easy. If this is too hard to follow, i will do yet another tutorial with just a single flower or so..

Pencil outline of a plate of green grapes, size would be about 7"x9"
The light source is from the right side, so the grapes will be lighter on that side with a shadow on the opposite.

The most important thing about colored pencils (as in watercolors) is to plan what the lightest color is and leave that space out, for example for that small dot of white shine, leave the area blank right from the first layer.

The next light shade in the grape here is a faded green (called 'pale sage' in Prismacolors) and i have shaded the grapes very lightly WITHOUT using any pressure. The texture will be grainy.
Note that the area where the light falls has been left whitish.

First color shading completed.

Colored pencil effects are achieved through applying various layers of colors.

For the next layer, i have used a color brighter than the last one, and its called 'chartreuse'
Just shaded the same areas as in the previous step with only as much pressure on the pencil.

Second layer completed.

Now i used 'apple green' to shade the darker areas of the grapes.

The next step is to shade the shadow or darker areas of the grapes with yet another green color, I have used 'olive green' (only on the darker areas, for example between two grapes)

Now that almost 4 layers are done, i used the white pencil to press down with a little pressure in even circular strokes to smoothen out the grains or burnish the layers. ( this means the color settles into the tooth of the paper to give an even finish, not all subjects are burnished, some look fantastic with the rough grainy look, sometimes the entire painting is left that way)

Grapes often have a yellowish glow, to achieve that, i have lightly run the 'canary yellow' pencil all over the grapes, except for the whitish areas.

I have also started the stalk with 'dark umber'

The plate is done with three colors, 'ultramarine', 'electric blue' and black for the edges.

The first layer for the plate begins with a light shade of electric blue. ( i have left the shadows below the grapes for later)

The shadows on the plate are with 'ultramrine'

I have used white again to burnish the layers on the plate, its smoother now.

The first layer for the shadow of the grapes is 'warm grey', topped off with a light layer of black.

Finally the shadow of the plate and the two grapes outside with imperial violet and the same electric blue as for the plate,
both very light and then burnished.

I have erased two glass buttons that had been drawn in the initial drawing and some light folds of cloth below the plate as the camera is out of battery:( and i wanted to post this right now:P

Feedback welcome.

Ganesha Completed

2008-03-23T14:09:00.003+05:30

colored pencils on paper 8"x10"

Its finally done. I wanted the background to have a rough texture to contrast the smooth metal. I think I'm happy with the outcome:) Comments and criticism welcome!

update

2008-03-20T00:27:00.001+05:30

and.....completed some more..

Work in Progress - Ganesha

2008-03-18T09:53:00.005+05:30

Ok, maaaaaybe i am a liiittle superstitious. Anyways, i had promised myself and Rajesh out of an impulsive moment ( which also explains the delay in my tutorial and all things related)that my first sketch with my new Prisma's will be of Lord Ganesha. Once again Jay, THANKS! because when my brother saw the pencilcase he said there was NO way on earth he would have carried that along for me:(The beautiful idol was gifted to us byRajesh's very good friend (who is himself an art and in specific, a Ganesha 'collector'. We are hoping to gift this sketch to him (if all goes well!)

I am using Stonehenge offwhite paper (the picture itself is 8"x10") and since the actual idol is pretty small, i also took ref pictures of it myself and am working from both. Here is the work...in progress.

Its a free hand sketch, i dont trace pictures ever. The pencil lines are very faint, hope they are visible. I have used about 3 layers of colors so far (the pencils are next to the picture in the last snap) and have to add the final highlights with the darkest tone in the end. I also tried using a colorles blender pencil to burnish the layers for a smooth finish.

Another from Goa

2008-02-27T16:28:00.003+05:30

Came across pretty houses like the ones in Italy and Greece in Goa at a place called Fontainhas.

Still alive n kicking

2008-02-26T18:15:00.005+05:30

To all who were worried (or relieved) about my absence, the past month has been too hectic with travel happening almost every weekend, falling in and out of illness, one temple visit to another, brother came down, etc etc etc. A splendid Goa trip happened too, and since i have not had a chance to sketch anything recently, i squeezed in a couple of two minute sketches at two beaches, the calangute beach and the Colva beach. There are more sketches, which i shall transfer and post in due course. The first is at Calangute, second at Colva.
(FYI: The prismacolor set is still unopened with a protracted wait for sharpener blah blah., i shall not break the promise of a tutorial, just might take a little more time)

'Flavors of Life' - Series at Mahanandi

2008-01-19T10:39:00.000+05:30

I am starting a new series of sketches 'Flavors of Life' at Mahanandi today:) To begin with it will be every fortnight (alternate Saturday) i hope to increase the frequency if i can make more time!

Here are my materials

2008-01-17T20:38:00.000+05:30

132 set of prismacolors. I have heard equally good things about faber Castell Polychromos pencils. (Aside:Tom is a new acquisition:D too)

The color chart that comes with the set, arranging them in this order makes it easier to choose the warmer/cooler tones and complimentary colors etc for shadows.

I use a refill eraser (extreme left) though even that does not help in minute areas. ordinary HB pencils for outlines and a ruler. The two identical pencils at the extreme right are colorless blender pencils for pressing down on the color pencil layers to get a smooth finish. This is called 'burnishing'

There are various kinds of paper, supposedly the best is Strathmore smooth and Stonehenge(see below). If the paper is grainy it may be difficult to fill it up. The one on the left is Frabriano paper which i find is a little grainy for CPs.

Stonehenge Paper pad and black paper

Besides these, a battery operated sharpner is needed for the prismas, i still havent got it so the inauguration will have to wait:(

Prismacolors for Christmas!

2007-12-26T22:41:00.000+05:30

My Prismacolors and Stonehenge sketchbooks (long time wish fulfilled!) have finally arrived! Thanks a million Jay for lugging it along, the box turned out to be MUCH bigger and heavier than i expected, noone else would have done this for me!
Composing the post on materials and methods to colored pencils....

Macaw

2007-12-18T21:13:00.000+05:30

Here is a painfully long sketch about 8"x6"(took much longer than i expected). Its a blue-yellow (as is obvious!) Macaw, one of the many *beautiful* birds at the Jurong Bird park in Singapore (my brother stays a hop away from it). This birdie was so smart during one of the entertainment shows, and after enjoying a round of eulogies and photographs, sat down to rest his feet:D

I am posting a few of the Work-In-Progress snaps, hope to keep my promise of the long post with materials and explanation one of these days. I'm getting my new pencils and paper any minute! Yaaaaaaaaaay, Jaaaaaaay is here!

Burst of Pink!

2007-11-30T20:45:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencils on paper
8.5"x7.5"

Cannas

2007-11-06T23:20:00.000+05:30

Colored pencils on paper 8"x10"

Hollyhock

2007-11-01T23:59:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencils on paper
6"x10"

Grassius:D

2007-10-28T12:06:00.001+05:30

Colored Pencil on Paper
7"x9"

Loved working on this one, decided to give him a name:D
(No, I am not turning into an insect lover, part of a monthly project in an art forum:)

Pomegranate

2007-10-26T23:26:00.000+05:30

Pomegranate
Colored Pencils on paper 6"x6"

Hydrangeas I am out of patience!

2007-10-22T21:07:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencils on paper
6x9"

Vijayadashami Sketch, wanted to complete it yesterday, but rushed through it today. Just wanted to get it done with, the paper i am using is HORRIBLE. Cant wait until December to get my new sketch books..

Step By Step - Lotus in colored pencils

2007-10-10T23:00:00.003+05:30

I was requested to post tips, here is an entire post with commentry!

Line drawing with HB pencil. Basic outlines will suffice

I understand that the right way is to do the background first. I dont normally follow this rule strictly, but have done so in this! The blue was a tad too dark, so i erased some of the pigment off since i have only 16 pencils with me and did not have the lightest shade of blue.

Fill in the leaves in varying shades of green. Since shading works in layers for colored pencils, I gave it a shade of lemon yellow before adding a layer of light green and then some leaf green.

Petals first take a layer of yellow, leaving white spaces as it is for the 'light' areas.

Next light pink and highlights with deep pink and red. (same for the buds, except i added some olive green as well)

Filled in the remaining background voids with black/darkbrown for contrast.

Note that the drawing i have posted is not made on the paper ideal for colored pencils,
nor have i used the right set of pencils. I have used an ordinary Faber castell
set on an ordinary sketch pad. With a good set and paper strokes are smooth
and not as obvious as in the one
i have made.
From what i have understood ideal are
Faber castell Polychromos Artist's color pencils Or Prismacolors Or Derwents.
Stonehenge paper or Strathmore smooth.

Hope that helps! Please excuse the shaky snaps:(

Missing Kerala

2007-10-09T20:23:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencil on Paper
10"x15"

Ought to be flogged for the casual treatment of details. But this is a quick sketch, on browsing through some of the old Kerala photos on my drive. Now that i am in Bangalore, I miss the coconut trees, backwaters and boats:(

Yet another floral

2007-10-05T10:17:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencil on paper
10"x15"

Banner for Dining Hall

2007-09-15T19:02:00.000+05:30

The first sketch

The next one- too small to be integrated into the webpage, plus the central bee looks like its going to be cooked as well!

Finally....

Manisha asked me if i could do a banner image for Dining Hall. I told her i would try, at the end of a few weeks, its finally happened. I am glad everyone liked the image. Manisha egged me on to create a large sized image using Photoshop, not having time to read through instructions, i struggled but its finally yielded results. (Jay, i wish i had learnt it from you when you offered to teach me).
Thanks to Indira, who lent her wonderful inputs to the drawing, the 'diners' by the banana leaves are from the town of Mahanandi:)
Personally the first sketch is closest to my heart, since its pure drawing! Am yet to take to digital art!

Roses from Venice

2007-09-15T18:12:00.000+05:30

Color Pencils on paper

I have been a rose maniac since childhood ( i have made a police inspector, our neighbour STEAL roses for me from another neighbour's house by wailing so loud, he had no choice but to try) The obsession for roses was replaced by the lotus and water lily over time:D When in college, i had participated in an exhibition with only 'flower paintings', 90% of them were roses. Since its been a while, i decided to do one with pencils. These are roses i saw on the roadside in Venice. I was tempted to pluck them, until i saw a surveillance camera across the street! Rajesh said he would not bail me out..

Croton Assembly

2007-08-26T13:50:00.000+05:30

Color pencils on paper

I chose this humble assembly of crotons from the Flower show for the sketch since they looked lost underneath a huge tree, in an obscure corner, away from the limelight enjoyed by their petalled counterparts. I think crotons are so lively and beautiful, they are sometimes more beautiful than flowers, Plus, they never wilt!

I think its a variety of Money Plant

2007-08-21T20:15:00.000+05:30

Colored Pencils on paper 13x15cm

Am not at all happy with the photo, it hasnt captured the colors or texture of the original:(

An award for me?

2007-08-17T13:12:00.000+05:30

Manisha of Indian Food Rocks and Inner Lens has bestowed me with the honour of the Thinking Blogger Award. You've been a constant support to me from the day i started my blog and been extremely generous with advice, comments and suggestions all along. Thanks Manisha:)
And congrats on the bounty of awards you have won yourself, congrats to all the other winners as well:)

Yet another sketch

2007-08-14T17:18:00.001+05:30

colored pencils on paper

When food bloggers post pictures of herbs, veggies and fruits in their garden i really envy them. Unfortunately there isnt much that i can proudly display from my garden. So when a lone custard apple decided to survive and grow this big, i grabbed the opportunity to immortalize it on paper. I think this is called Sitaphal in Hindi, and has a counterpart called the Ram phal which is bigger and has a smoother surface. I think i'll stop the Botany class for now:)Try its milkshake,its awesome:D

Flowershow at Lalbagh

2007-08-13T22:11:00.000+05:30

Pencil Sketch

Went for the Independence Day special Flower Show, though the variety wasnt much, the sheer color of the foliage and blooms under the glass house was SO vibrant that i wished i could camp there for a week:) But unfortunately, i got only a few seconds to sneak a glimpse at each beauty because people were PUSHING!

Hats off to you Sardarji:)

2007-07-31T20:18:00.000+05:30

This one is for all our sardarji friends, who are being such a good sport for all the jokes at their expense. Here's one i just got -
A Sardar & his wife filed an application 4 Divorce. Judge
asked:
How’ll U divide, U”VE 3 children?
Sardar replied: Ok! We’ll apply NEXT YEAR

:))

Mills

2007-07-27T18:15:00.000+05:30

The landscape was truly exotic, brilliant blue against the humble white houses. Hope to do an oil on Greek landscape one of these days!

Model figure

2007-07-25T19:07:00.001+05:30

How do they manage to remain so slim!? I have given up on trying to lose weight! And seeing girls as thin as a reed doesnt do much to boost my morale:( Nose ring, low waist jeans- bell bottoms, straightened hair....( and here i am trying to put in atleast one curl into mine).. almost everyone around looks the same now!!
Update: I now have a "Lose 20 pounds in 3 weeks" Google ad staring at me from my own blog:((

Its raining

2007-07-25T15:38:00.000+05:30

Raingirl

Pencils again

2007-07-23T22:59:00.000+05:30

Eggz

Lily

Trying out my new color pencil set

2007-07-22T17:03:00.000+05:30

I've been pretty busy and preoccupied for a while now. Just yesterday i bought a new set of color pencils. I,ve never really been comfortable with this medium because 1) i never found a really good set and 2) limitations as far as blending of colors goes.
But this FaberCastell set ( supposedly improved with softer lead and brighter pigment)seems to be good! So doodled these last night! I think this color pencil fever is going to last a while:)

Today's Catch

Random sketches

Z for Zinnia

2007-06-15T20:18:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Zinnia
Oil on canvasboard

Named after the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, these come in a multitude of flowers. Long stemmed and solitary blooms attract butterflies.They favour strong sunlight and are a very popular garden plant.
Family:Asteraceae

Y for Yucca

2007-06-15T20:12:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Yucca
Oil on canvas

The spineless yucca belongs to the lily family and originates in Guatemala and southeast Mexico. Its a popular indoor plant. Roots of related species are used for making soaps, shampoos etc. Some parts are also used in food.

X for Xanthosoma

2007-06-15T19:45:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Xanthosoma
Oil on Canvasboard

After an eXhaustive search:) for a flower starting with X, i stumbled across Xanthosoma, blossoms of the species of plants closely related to Colocasias! Used mainly for ornamental purposes, these flowers resemble the Arum lilies and are sometimes called as Elephant Ear. The corms are edible and sold commercially.

W for wishbone

2007-06-15T19:41:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Wishbone
Oil on Canvasboard

A common annual that loves shade along with hot and humid weather (no better place than Cochin!)it resembles an open snap dragon.Purple, rose, light blue and white and most common colors.
Scientific Name:Torenia fournieri

V for Viola

2007-06-15T19:37:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Viola
Oil on Canvasboard

Violets or Violas ( Yes, they are from the Violaceae family ) also come in shades of cream, yellow or mix of blue and yellow.Some are sweet scented and others have a substance that can desensitize the nasal receptors. They grow well in wet and shaded regions and are common in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of these are called Pansies.

U for Ulex Europa

2007-06-15T19:03:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Ulex Europa
Oil on canvasboard

This evergreen shrub that has yellow blossoms resembling pea flowers, is mostly found in parts of Europe, Scotland and Portugal. Leaves are modified to spines. Its considered a weed in many parts of America, NewZealand and Australia. Also called the Common Gorse (from the family Fabaceae), its grows up to a maximum of 3 metres in height.Though i dont see any mention of it being found in India, i am almost certain its the ubiquitous plant found in Ooty and some other hill stations!

T for Tulip

2007-06-05T14:21:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Tulip
Oil on Canvasboard

The national flower of Holland, is one of my personal favourites, for the sheer variety in color and uniformity of shape! They are bulbous plants, belong to the species Liliaceae.Some have petals which are striped and feathered.

S for Sunflower

2007-06-05T14:10:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Sunflower
Indian ink

One of the most popular flowers, this belongs to the Helianthus family. The 'heads' turn towards the sun at sunrise and move towards to West towards eve. Seeds are used commercially and are edible besides being used for oil extraction. The giant variety native to Eastern United States grow anything from 3- 12 feet!The Incas used the sunflower as an image of their sun god.

This is a very old painting that i chose to post for this round of the flower fest as i am already late with my entry! And yes, I've taken the artistic license to paint honeybees in the centre!

R for Rose

2007-06-05T14:04:00.001+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Rose
Oil on Canvas

Genus: Rosa

Its one of my oldest paintings, i was learning to paint vases from a Walter Foster book. The roses are from a lesson in a book by Lola Ades.

Q for Quisqualis

2007-06-05T13:48:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Quisqualis

Oil on canvasboard

Quisqualis Indica is a common tropical flowering plant. It bears bunches of flowers which start off on a white color and then turn shades of pink as they age! This is also called the Rangoon Creeper.

P for Poppy

2007-02-21T10:08:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Poppy
Oil on Canvas Board

From very little options for the letters M, N etc,when it came to P, There are infinite flowers to choose from- i contemplated the cute Pansy, the elegant Phlox, petunia, peony........ and finally settled for the notorious Poppy!:D Though these come in many colors like orange, yellow, white, the one color i associate with them is Red. The centre has a whorl of stamens and the the seeds ( khus khus )are used in cooking.

O for Oleander

2007-02-21T09:40:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Oleander
Oil on Canvas Board

We call this flower 'Arali'in Malayalam. I have heard that its Lord Ganesha's favourite! An evergreen shrub, it grows into a small tree and blossoms ( clusters or bunches at the end of each branch or shoot) can be various shades of pink, white, cream etc. They have a mild fragrance.
Genus: Nerium

N for Nymphaea

2007-02-21T08:57:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Nymphaea
Oil on Canvas Board

I was lost searching for a flower that starts with the letter N and was surprised to find that my favourite group, water lilies bear a common name that start with N.
A very common garden water lily, it blooms during the day and shades from light lilac to rich blue. Extremely beautiful almost luminiscent blossoms which have a sweet strong scent. They are about 8-11 inches in height. I think this is whats aptly called 'Neelkamal' in Hindi!

M for Melampodium

2007-02-21T08:34:00.000+05:30

Flower Fest - The A - Z of Flowers

Melampodium
Oil on Canvas board

I've always felt this is a miniature version of the sunflower, it does belong to the same family! It does not require any special care except for abundant sunlight. Small button like flowers come in yellow and sometimes white and the plants are bushy rarely growing higher than a meter.Its also called blackfoot. The flowers dry up to release small seeds which fall off and grow into new plants prolifically.
species:Melampodium paludosum