Go bananas

'Go bananas'

Watercolor on Arches CP 300 gsm,

21 x 29 inches

The city of joy, Kolkata, has some of the biggest markets in Asia, selling fruits and flowers and I love painting such market scenes.  I was amazed by the sheer quantity of bananas sold in one such market. This was literally a 'go bananas' moment for me.

Harsh Sun

'Harsh Sun'

Watercolor on Arches CP 300 gsm Paper

14 x 21 inches

Apart from the lovely play of light and shadows, what moved me to paint this subject was the muse -the old woman sitting on the street protecting herself from the harsh sun while selling her items. The sun here is a metaphor for the harsh difficulties she faced in her life. She was forced to earn bread for her family at an age when she should be enjoying her last few years with her children and grand children or it may also be that she had no one now who would care for her.

Anyway, life is difficult for her and I have tried to depict this harsh reality in my painting.

My selection in MINI CASTRA 2016

2 of my small watercolors have been accepted into the Mini Castra 2016 exhibition in Slovenia, Europe. Very thankful to the jury and the organizers of the exhibition.

'Catching the sun'

Watercolor on Fabriano paper,

7 x 10 inches

'Flower Market'

Watercolor on Fabriano paper,

7 x 10 inches

Glowing Awnings

'Glowing Awnings'

Watercolor on Saunders Waterford Paper,

21 x 14 inches

Happy new year 2015

As the New Year dawns, I hope it is filled with the promises of a brighter tomorrow. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'A New Morning'

Watercolor on Saunders paper, 

14 x 21inches

New paintings from Kolkata series

 'Early morning at BBD Bagh'

Watercolor on Fabriano paper,

14 x 10 inches

 'Flower Market, Kolkata'

Watercolor on Saunders paper,

14 x 10 inches

Market under the Howrah Bridge

'Market under the Howrah Bridge'

Watercolor on Saunders paper,

14 x 10 inches

Small format paintings

Before beginning a new painting, I try to make a small study of the same scene...helps in simplifying and to know first hand, how would the result be. But sometimes, I just leave them at that. I've been always fond of working in small format. Easy to control and so enjoyable! For the art collectors, they are an affordable option and wonderful collectibles.

 

'Bougainvilleas', Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

 

'Cruising on lake pichola',  Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

 

'Orange Wall',  Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

 

'Duck herder,  Watercolor, 7 x 10 inches

 

'Evening light',  Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

 

'Goa beach #1,  Watercolor, 7 x 10 inches

 

'Goa beach #2,  Watercolor, 7 x 10 inches

 

'Princep ghat at dusk',  Watercolor, 7 x 10 inches

 

'Sparkling lake',  Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

 

'Winter morning',  Watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

The full collection can be viewed here.

Goa Series # 5

'Goa Series # 5'

Watercolor on Fabriano Paper

9 x 21 inches

A small thumbnail sketch

Detail

Goa series # 4

Watercolor on Saunders paper

10 x 14 inches

After studying my initial small watercolour sketch (below), I decided to move the 2 main figures right in the path of the light making the composition more striking.

 Initial sketch

 Thumbnail sketch

Goa Series # 3: Enjoying the surf

 

Goa Series # 3: Enjoying the surf

Watercolor on Saunders paper

10 x 14 inches

This was painted from one of my reference photographs. Though it was a grey day and there was no play of light and shadow, I liked this subject of these two kids enjoying getting wet in the surf at the beach. And though there were other figures, I eliminated them from the composition. Before beginning to paint, I made two small thumbnail sketches with different placement of the figures and felt that the right one was a better composition.

Goa series

 

Goa Series # 1

Watercolor on Arches Paper

14 x 10 inches

 

Goa Series #2

Watercolor on Arches Paper

10 x 14 inches

Commissions

Last month, I was commissioned to paint my own paintings in watercolor. One of them was an earlier work done in oil. I agreed almost immediately! With the experience I've gained painting in watercolors all these years, I was eager myself to see how it would look in watercolors :) The sparkle on the water is the actual white of the paper which was protected using masking fluid.

The second one was of a watercolor done last year. The size ordered however, was half of the original. And painting the third one was interesting. The buyer had seen a little sketch of the painting ( 5 x 7") which I had posted on facebook and wanted a larger version of the same (14 x 21"). I happily obliged since it was a favorite subject - the bicycle! :)

Here are their images

 

'Shimmering water' - remake of an earlier oil painting in watercolor

 

 

'Working early', watercolor, 10 x 14 inches

 'Holi in Varanasi', Watercolor, 21 x 14 inches

Besides these, I also sold 2 more watercolors to an art lover in the US this month

'Esplanade Traffic, Kolkata' Watercolor, 9 x 21 inches

'Crossing the Hooghly', Watercolor, 9 x 21 inches

I had received inquiries for these 2 paintings several times, but they never converted to sales. I'm very happy that it finally did and that they have found a good home in the US. :)

More Sales

 

'Sunny Day in the City of Joy'

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper,

14 x 21 inches

 

Sold this recent watercolor and 3 others today to a wonderful couple in the US. Soon the paintings will be on their way to their new home! Needless to say, I'm very happy and much thankful to my buyers for their interest and support.

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!

Ending 2013 on a good note

Hi friends! Wanted to share some good news -
Firstly, my painting titled 'Blue Bicycle' has been awarded the best entry in the professional category in Camel Art Foundation's All India Art Exhibition 2013.

 'Blue Bicycle'

Secondly, my painting titled 'In the Spotlight' has made its way to the finals of The Art Society of India's Annual Art Exhibition 2013. Keeping my fingers crossed! Best part is that it will be displayed in one of the most prestigious galleries of India - the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai!
Also, my entries for the 'World Watercolor Competition' has passed the first stage of judging. Now for the stage two!

'In the Spotlight'

And last, but not the least, is that 2 of my paintings were acquired overseas this month - 'Varanasi Vista' in the UK and 'The Chaiwallah' in the UAE. I would like to thank all my buyers for showing interest in my works and supporting my art!

'Varanasi Vista' and 'The Chaiwallah'

I wish all my Christian friends a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year 2014 :-)

Moody Morning, Varanasi

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

14 x 10 inches

Lanes of Varanasi #3

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

14 x 10 inches

Where to ma'am?

Watercolor on Saunders paper

14 x 21 inches

I always love to include the letterings and the sign boards in my paintings…makes them more interesting! Varanasi is a place where you get to see( the signboards) and hear a lot of languages as its a very religious and a very important pilgrimage for all Indians and people from all over the world, not just India, visit the place.

I’ve tried to keep the focus on the main figure, the rickshawallah by blurring other portions in the painting.

Below is a small sketch in pen and watercolor of the same scene

Catching up

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

14 x 10 inches

Again a scene from Varanasi. Though the scene didn’t have strong contrast of light and darks, it were the colors of the robe and the textured wall that made me choose this subject to paint.