Post-my solo show

Jan 2014 started on a good note as first, I got the Best entry award for my watercolor - Blue Bicycle in the Camel Art Foundation's All India Art Exhibition and second, I had my solo show which was a good opportunity to showcase my works and expose myself to people and art lovers. During the show, I got to meet many online friends for the first time and it was such a joy! I also managed to give a demo of my watercolor painting at the art gallery, painting my favorite subject, a bicycle! :)
February, was a little busy with commissioned paintings and making karaoke tracks (Yes..you read it right! I create karaoke tracks, mostly classic hindi songs, on my Yamaha musical keyboard and regularly get commissioned to make these tracks).
And now the best part...Besides a few sales during the show, I sold some of my best paintings overseas in Feb. It always feels so good when people show an interest in your art. A big thank you to all my art collectors for supporting me and my art!
Hope the good time continues...
Have a wonderful weekend :)

Some photographs from my solo show

 

Ganesha - The patron of arts

 

My mother with my paintings

 

Eric and Camille from Switzerland, who bought my first painting

 

My watercolor demo during the show

A gentleman named Arun, filmed a video of my show. So here is a virtual tour of my show

http://weedioh.com/Video.aspx?VideoId=48385

Images of my sold paintings

 

Twilight Hour

 

Turquoise Wall

 

Early morning, Udaipur sold in Australia

 

Udaipur Vista

 

Working Early

 

Blue Bicycle - the one which won an award, sold in Singapore

My Solo Show

You are cordially invited...

Awarded!

My painting 'In the spotlight' has been awarded the MAM award for best still life picture of the year 2013! Thank you Katherine Tyrrell for including me in the nominees and for the award. Thank you Roger Brown for nominating my work. I really appreciate it!

http://makingamark.blogspot.in/2014/01/the-best-picture-of-2013-on-art-blog.html

Advance New Year Wishes

Hi friends! I'm leaving for my parents' place today! So wishing you all a very happy and fulfilling new year 2014 in advance. See you on the other side :-)

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 :-)

A few landscapes

'The Big Tree'

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

10 x 14 inches

'Morning Sunshine'

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

10 x 14 inches

'Riverview'

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

10 x 14 inches

'After a shower'

Watercolor on Fabriano Paper

10 x 14 inches

Hi all...Did these landscapes very recently...hope you all like and enjoy them! I'll be gone for 10 days...So see you all until then!

 Have a great weekend! :-)

Moody Morning, Varanasi

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

14 x 10 inches

Plein air painting and studies on divided sheets

Plein air studies on quarter imperial sheet 

Little flower studies on half imperial sheet

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.

A smoke at the paan shop

Watercolor on Fabriano paper

14 x 10 inches

I had captured this scene in Varanasi. And there were quite a few things about this image which attracted me a lot. One, it was a night scene (I was eager to paint one) second - the reds, totally different from my usual palette...third, the relaxed expression of the old gentle man, casually watching the people, pilgrims and tourists on the ghats, about to light his cigarette, and fourth, his cast shadow on the left. Since I found this to be a little challenging, I chose a quarter sheet size for better control. I was happy with the outcome!
'Paan' is a hindi word which means a betel leaf filled with chopped areca nut and other mouth fresheners. Many people have the habit of chewing a paan after a meal (I don't...he he) and you'll find such shops all over India.
This particular kiosk was a temporary one, as I found out the next morning. The place was empty..not a sign of the shop. The paanwallah would come in the evenings and start his job!

Same place...next morning

I hope you like and enjoy this painting. Have been getting fewer and fewer comments...sometimes none! So would be happy to hear from you all!

Have a great day :)

Narrow Lanes

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

14 x 10 inches

I had been wanting to do this painting for quite some time. I was attracted by the brightly lit buildings in the upper half and the dark cool shadows in the lower half. Its very difficult to paint large dark areas in watercolor in one go. I had to glaze the dark areas thrice to get the desired result ( It still looks a shade lighter in this image when compared to the original painting! )

Plein air studies

OK...I'm exactly late by a week in posting this...
These were done last Sunday! :)
Inspired by Robert Wade’s studies on divided sheets, I used the same method and it was fun! In fact, I got a comment  on facebook for this from the master himself :) 
Would love to know what you think of these...and how you do plein air studies yourselves.
Have a great Sunday!

Lanes of Varanasi #2

Watercolor on Bockingford Paper

21 x 14 inches

In the spotlight

Opaque Watercolor on Tinted Paper

12 x 16 inches

Lanes of Varanasi #1

Watercolor on Fabriano Rough Paper

21 x 14 inches

Gathering for the Ganga Aarti

Watercolor on Paper

10 x 14 inches

detail

This scene was quite complicated even while working from a photograph! I wanted this painting to be loose, unlike my other works, almost in a plein air fashion, so I squinted a little to simplify the shapes and the whole scene. The fast brush strokes give a feel of movement and spontaneity. I painted this in transparent watercolors except a little opaque color used for the florescent lights on the poles.

Have a wonderful weekend! :-)

Ghats of Varanasi and its WIP

'Ghats of Varanasi'

Opaque Watercolor on Tinted Paper

13 x 20 inches

Capturing the WIP was relatively easier here as this was done in opaque watercolors! :)