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

Gearing up fo the day

Watercolor on Saunders paper

14 x 21 inches

An early morning scene from Varanasi. There was still a misty haze in the atmosphere while the boatmen got  ready for a busy day ahead and I just wanted to capture that morning atmosphere and the activities going on there. The bright colors of the boats and the painted advertisements on them made the painting interesting!

Varanasi Vista - WIP

'Varanasi Vista'

Watercolor on Saunders Paper

Full imperial size - 21 x 29 inches

I’ve often tried to capture images to show my work in progress but almost every time I become so engrossed while painting that I forget to click them. It becomes difficult more so, when you are painting in watercolors, as the colors dry very fast. So one needs to be fast to click the images in between, or the painting gets unwanted hard edges! This time, I succeeded…though not fully, he he…I missed a couple of shots towards the end. But I still feel that you’ll enjoy the various stages of this painting.

After completing the painting, I reviewed it next day and felt that the temperature of the painting looked a little cool…I wanted to give the mood and feeling of a late sunset, when the sun has just gone down, so I applied a glaze of raw sienna on the distant buildings and adding burnt sienna to the wash while coming on to the closer buildings and the ghats. Also applied a thin glaze of orange on the water for balance. You’ll notice the difference in the last 2 images.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Continuing the Varanasi series

2 more paintings from the ongoing series...

'Heading out'

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

10 x 14 inches

'Boats and reflections'

Watercolor on Fabriano Paper

10 x 14 inches

Varanasi Series

Ghats of Varanasi # 1

Watercolor on Saunders paper

9 x 21 inches

I've started a new series on Varanasi - a very ancient and holy city which I had visited a couple of months ago. This is the first in this series...more to follow. Hope you enjoy! :-)