Spring Fever

Spring is in the air. The daffodil plants are poking through in the yard. I see gardeners excitedly spending time clearing winter debris and getting the garden ready for spring planting. Ducks are frantically looking for a place to nest and lay eggs. During my walk in the local fitness trail last saturday I saw patches of beautiful tiny blue flowers whose name unfortunately I haven't learnt yet. And, I came across a fascinating article "Breezy Love or Sacking of the Bees" by Olivia Judson in New York Times.

The flower power was indeed strong. I pushed aside the two paintings I was working on and decided to do a quick small color pencil flower sketch. The simple flower took longer than I anticipated. I got carried away, covering the paper with design and color!

Red Beauty color pencils 6x6"

Masterful Storytelling

Kathakali is a beautiful form of dance-drama from the state of Kerala in India. In very expressive body language and precise hand movements called mudras, with extremely elaborate costumes and make up that enhances facial expressions, tales from the great Indian epics are told to melodious music and spirited percussion beats. For years these were usually all night performances, with the exciting climax coming at the wee hours of the morning.

I painted this face using some photographs and lots of memories as reference on a sheet of cold press watercolor paper on which I had done some calligraphy and rangoli painting. The colored words in this blog entry are links to various picture galleries and more information on Kathakali.

Face of a story watermedia 12x9"

Distortions and Reality

I deliberately set about sketching and painting this scene in a distorted way but I think I was still too rigid and careful. It is funny how distortions creep in when I don't want to in my regular sketching and how I had to struggle to make it happen this time! And it is deeply tragic when the disastrous earthquakes in Haiti and Chile are not anyone's imagination. I worked on this painting long before the earthquakes just as an exercise but now I feel quite rattled and shaken as I see the destruction and read about the struggles of the people there.

watercolor 24x18"

Reflections

Light, reflections and shadows always add drama and interest to any scene. This photograph was taken last December in New York city, from the Museum of Art and and Design looking at buildings around Columbus circle. The exhibits in the museum were also innovative and breath taking -- especially 'Slash- Paper under knife' which showcased artists from around the world using paper as a medium in very creative and unusual ways.

digital photography

New Possibilities

I am always trying out mixing different media and experimenting with shapes, values and color in my quest to improve my art. Painting this particular abstract piece was a compositional challenge especially since I did not have a blueprint to follow. So, in a way, it was liberating to just 'let-go' and play with watercolors, gouache, pastels, gesso and acrylics.

Another way to improve would be to draw everyday. It is pretty impressive that New York artist Jason Polan is on a mission to draw every person in the city. He has so far drawn over 8000 people from New York city. Check out this video by my daughter of Jason sketching.

untitled mixed media 22x23"

Sunrise Meditation

In the morning

Heaven descends

in all its glory

to become

the morning sun.

Sri Chinmoy

Digital Photography

Lunch Break

I finished this painting yesterday. In most cities, there is at least one place like this where office workers take a break, reflect and enjoy the outdoors. I painted this in my head a few times before plunging into sketching and painting it using different water media on cold press watercolor paper. I am still wrestling with detailed vs loose and less is more. I am hoping some day soon my technical skills will catch up with my mental image of the finished piece :)

Speaking of 'reflecting,' I just watched an amazing video on TED on the 'uniqueness' of being a 'human.' Primatologist Robert Sapolsky offers an informative and hilarious look at human and animal behavior, ending the inspiring talk given at Stanford University by urging the new graduates with what resonates as Gandhiji's quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world." It is also interesting that he looks like the 16th century artist Albrecht Durer and peppers his talk with illustrations from the art world.

Lunch Break watermedia 9x12"

Patience and Perseverance

I put aside paintings that I am unable to complete to my satisfaction out of my sight and usually work on them years later as a warm up exercise before I start a new painting. This is one such painting that I have tinkered with over the years --yes, thats right -years!! A few years ago, I had set up some shells on a table and painted them. I couldn't resolve the background and so, of course, I shelved it. Couple of years ago, I took it out and added the lace doily and did not know how to finish it. Much later, I added iridescent white acrylic paint on one of shells. Finally a few months ago I glazed it with blues and deepened the darks. I decided it looks better this way and turned the painting upside down and now I have to paint over my signature I foolishly put down many years ago even before it was anywhere near completion!!!!

Working on a painting that I have kind of given up helps me experiment and take risks that I wouldn't otherwise take. It also helps me to work on a second painting to keep my brush wielding hand busy when I am waiting for paints to dry so I won't create 'mud' and ruin the one I am trying to create. I am not sure this particular painting is worthy of framing and showing but I have thoroughly enjoyed taking it through its metamorphosis.

Recently, while reading about various artists, I was comforted to know that many of them -notably Leonardo and Michelangelo, worked on some pieces for years and even had many unfinished pieces. So, it is surely unreasonable for someone like me who has been painting as hobby, on and off for 10-15 years to feel I should complete every single painting to perfection quickly and without struggle. I am looking forward to a long slow journey ahead in my art.

Shells watercolor 18x24"

Snow Blanket

Sunrise over frozen waters and a blanket of snow greeted me this morning. I spent some time taking pictures through the windows - I did not want to disturb the snow and didn't want to leave the warmth of indoors. I was contemplating what snow scene I should paint, but soon I was feeling nostalgic as I reminisced about the snowmen, forts and games my kids played and the various adventures they had with their friends with, of course, regular hot cocoa breaks in my kitchen only a few years ago.

Soon I was chuckling remembering Calvin's explanation to Hobbes regarding snow as his medium of art in a comic strip that was on my refrigerator for a few years "This sculpture is about transience. As this figure melts, it invites the viewer to contemplate evanescence of life. This piece speaks to the horror of our own mortality." I am a fan of Calvin's creativity and here is a link for collection of the comic strips featuring his brilliant and bizarre snow art. " I tell you Hobbes, its tough being the sole guardian of high culture"

Fun With Colors

When I have been away from painting for a few days, I usually pull out a 'failed' painting and mess with it before I feel confident again to plunge into new work. The still life with the potted plant and a stuffed toy cat is one of those. It started out as a watercolor and and got reworked with color pencils. The painting had been out of sight for many years and since I couldn't remember much of the set up, decided to just play with colors. I see a lot of problems with piece but had fun anyway as I experimented. And I don't know why the background photographed as shades of blue and orange!

Here is a part of a poem by Antonio Machado that seems to fit my aspirations.

Last night as I was sleeping

I dreamt - marvelous error! -

that I had a beehive

here inside my heart.

And the golden bees

were making white combs

and sweet honey

from my old failures.

Still Life watercolor with color pencils 12x9"