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

Plein air at Nandi hills

Plein air studies in watercolor, 5 x 7 inches

Last Sunday, I had gone to Nandi hills for plein air painting with a group called Pencil jammers of which I’ve become a member now. We were 21 artists in total which also included one of my close friends, Prabal Mallick. Initially I was very excited and quite sure about painting some nice sketch studies of the place. After a while, I begin to feel totally the opposite! Painting on spot is very different from painting in your studio. First, it was very windy and chilly. Second, the light just kept changing, transforming the entire scene from cool to warm and vice versa. I finished 3 sketches and needless to say, was not very happy with them. Felt others did better!

After coming back, I just evaluated the sketches and felt the values needed to be adjusted a bit which I did and voila!...the paintings begin to look a lot better!

I also painted 2 different versions of a scene back in my studio from a reference photo that I took while we were coming down from the hills. As soon as I finished the vertical one, I was tempted to try out a landscape version of the same scene.

'On the way to Nandi hills - version 1'

Watercolor, 14 x 10 inches

'On the way to Nandi hills - version 2'

Watercolor, 14 x 10 inches

Hope you like both and the sketches as well.

Have a great week ahead! :)

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! :-)

The Flower Sellers

Watercolor on Saunders paper

21 x 29 inches

My second full sheet watercolor! Painting on a full sheet still looks daunting...must get used to it!

I've moved!

Hi all…it has been so long!! I’ve moved to Bangalore and slowly coming to terms with my new surroundings. Whoa…everything had been so hectic! I’ve never had such experience…my life had been so easy all these 35 years…he he!

Ah well, everything is in order now in the new house. My son has started his schooling and finally I have time to start my work! I’ve finished a painting today, the one that you see on the easel. I’ll be posting it next.

My studio...

My little library for inspiration and motivation...

One huge difference I clearly felt in both the places is the weather. Its kind of chilly here because of the heavy downpours in the last week as the monsoon is fast approaching but its very good for painting in watercolors as the paper stays damp for a longer time. It was totally the opposite in my earlier place…it was so hot that I never dared painting…the colors would just dry the moment they were applied!

 Dark terrifying clouds...

View from my 4th floor house...

And finally wanted to share the news about the sale of 3 of my paintings recently…Ciao :-)

Update

'Bicycle for hire'

Watercolor on Saunders Paper

21 x 29 inches

Hi all...it has been long since I last posted here! I have decided to relocate to Bangalore and so quite busy since last month. It's hard to believe that I haven't painted since a month which is really frustrating...looks like it will take some more time!
This one was done sometime ago. This is a  full sheet watercolor and my first one...and though the full blank sheet seemed daunting at first, I'm quite happy with the result since I chose a simple subject :)
Also wanted to share the good news that 2 of my paintings were sold recently. The first one was picked up by a collector during the Bombay Art Society's annual show and the second one by one of my buyers from Delhi. Here are their images

 'End of the day, Varanasi'

'Working Early'

Photos from my group show in Delhi

Hi all! Posting a few photographs from my group show at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi

Opening of our show...

Eminent artist, art critic and poet Shri Keshav Mallick inaugurating the show...

Visitors viewing my works...

Yours truly...

Discussion with an art lover

Noted film director, artist and poet Mr.Muzaffar Ali taking a look at my works...

The participating artists...

My Group Show in New Delhi

My group show at Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi from March 10th till 16th. Please drop by if you can! Thanks

Selling bananas

Watercolor on Fabriano Paper

21 x 14 inches

Tried a different composition in this one. Do you like it? Critique and comments most welcome!

Boats moored at Princep ghat

Watercolor on Saunders paper

14 x 21 inches

Esplanade Traffic, Kolkata

Watercolor on Saunders paper

9 x 21 inches

The day was overcast following a cyclone on the eastern coast, when I clicked this reference photo, but what attracted me was the hustle and bustle at this place known as Esplanade, in Kolkata. The yellow taxis added some color to the scene!

Enjoy your weekend :)

My not-so-good moment

'Green Tram, Kolkata'

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

21 x 14 inches

This was one of those moments where you go on working on the painting hoping that at the end everything would be all right but it doesn't happen! First, I messed up with the shadows! It looked very flat and dull so I just poured and poured water on it till it became light...worked on it again and lost interest after sometime but kept going on (At this stage, faith is very important... :))to complete it! At the end of the day, I had this result! Don't think much of it! What do you think?

Painting with oils

'The Rickshawallah'

Oil on canvas board, 12 x 10 inches

Yes, you read it right…an oil painting this time! And that too after a long break of 3 years! I’m sure many of you won’t be aware that I first started painting with oils and later on switched to watercolors.

          This one was made quite unexpectedly ( Of course, I have been trying to find an excuse myself to paint in oils…lol) One of my facebook friends contacted me and asked if I’d be interested to conduct a workshop in painting but it had to be either in oil or acrylics. When I said that I have had some experience in painting with oil, he told me to practice a little…to get out my old box of oil paints and brushes which were stashed inside these 3 years. Unfortunately, the workshop didn’t happen for me but I made myself a little oil painting!

            However I doubt I’ll paint another one…I don’t quite like the smell of the turp…always gives me a headache and another reason is the mess of the oil colors , and not to forget the slow drying time! All the more reason for me to be happy with watercolors :)

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Yellow Taxis, Kolkata

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

21 x 14 inches

The yellow ‘ambassador’ taxis of Kolkata…one can never imagine its streets without them! 

Have a great week ahead :) 

Crossing the Hooghly

Watercolor on Saunders Paper

9 x 21 inches

The Morning Ferry To Bandha Ghat, Kolkata

Watercolor on Saunders Paper

14 x 21 inches

Waiting for passengers, Howrah

Watercolor on Saunders paper

14 x 21 inches

Just before Diwali, I had made a short trip to Kolkata. This is the first one I painted from my reference photographs...more to follow :)

Happy new year

'Pink flower'

Watercolor, 7 x 10 inches

Thought I’d begin this new year with a cheerful little floral painting! I wish you all a very happy new year and pray that this year be as cheerful and wonderful for everyone! :)

Last post of 2012

 'A boat ride on the ganges'

Watercolor, 8 x 21 inches

'Sunset at Gorai creek'

Watercolor, 7 x 21 inches

This is my last post for 2012. I'll see you all next year :)
Wish you all a very happy, creative and a fulfilling new year ahead!

A view from Dhimbam

Watercolor on Bockingford paper

10 x 14 inches

A quick watercolor work done sometime ago which I had forgotten to post.
Have a wonderful weekend :)

Some more studies

Some more studies in watercolor...all 5 x 7"