From planning to execution

Today I’m posting 2 recent paintings from my varanasi series, showing how I plan and execute my paintings

Both have been painted from my reference photographs. In the case of 'Morning Ferry' there was a certain portion in the reference photograph in which I was interested. So in order to check the composition, I did a thumbnail sketch. I normally follow this procedure, if I'm interested in just a portion of the photograph.

 And once I like it, I do another sketch, this time, little bigger and in color. These studies give me an idea how the final paintings would look. Some changes can still be made if need be, at this stage.

Doing these small color sketches is much more fun than the final painting :-)

Here are the final paintings -

'Morning Ferry, Varanasi'

Watercolor on Saunders Waterford paper,

10 x 14 inches

'Varanasi Hues'

Watercolor on Saunders Waterford Paper,

10 x 14 inches

The Morning Ferry To Bandha Ghat, Kolkata

Watercolor on Saunders Paper

14 x 21 inches