London Days Part 2

The House at Muswell Hill  watercolor and ink by Meera Rao 

The House on the Hill watercolor and ink by Meera Rao 

The Ornate Fireplace  watercolor and ink by Meera Rao 

I am always wondering how loose or tight I ought to sketch or color. Mostly I get carried away and want to put down all colors I see!  Here, the solid feel of the towering  brick house  with the overgrown bushes was as much fun to sketch as the delicate ornate years old fireplace. 

I used  Koi  travel set and Pelikan transparent watercolor paints.  I also quickly learned that the texture of paper was too rough and not made for much detailed work.

London Days Part 1

London sketchbook 2018 page 1watercolor and ink by Meera Rao 

As the dates on page 1 show, we were in London last September.  The very first page of the sketchbook is the last page I usually complete. I like to know the feel of the paper so I don't mess up the very first page of the sketchbook :) Besides, by the end of the trip, I know what I want to draw on the special page ! This page shows the highlights of my trip along with the classic Union Jack and the seal of the city. I loved the ride on the London Eye, the Underground, and the red double decker buses. The iconic Telephone booths of course had to be included!  

Double Rainbow Dulles International Airport  Runway watercolor by Meera Rao

I saw the double rainbow as we were taking off and decided to sketch it. The sketchbook is Arches Aquarelle Carnet de Voyage Travel book 100gms/140lbs, 15 , 6x10" /15x25cms, and cold pressed.  The paper is a bit more textured than I am used to. 

Bird's Eye View of English Fields  watercolor by Meera Rao

The fields below peeking through morning fog as we approached London caught my fancy.  I was still getting used to the paper here! 

London is too full of fogs and serious people. 

Whether the fogs produce the serious people, 

or

 whether the serious people produce the fogs, 

I don't know.

~Oscar Wilde~

So long and Hello

Sunrise Photography by Meera Rao

Sunset Moonrise Photography by Meera Rao 

I wish you all a Color filled Happy Healthy Prosperous Creative 2019 

Shaping that Artwork

Strewn watercolor and ink on Yupo 8x8 by Meera Rao 

See with one eye 

Feel with the other 

~Paul Klee~

I am always amazed how often during the painting process I feel my work is on the brink of collapse. And that often gives me the freedom to try out new possibilities. I feel I have nothing to loose.  I take on the challenge of seeing if there is a way out of the hole I have painted myself into ! In Art and Fear the authors David Bayles and Ted Orland write: "Look at your art and it tells you how it is when you hold back or when you embrace. When you are lazy, your art is lazy; when you hold back, it holds back; when you hesitate, it stands there staring, hands in its pockets. But when you commit, it comes on like blazes"  

Of course, I have a long way to go! Meanwhile, with brush in hand I explore - balancing my feelings of competency and inadequacy, fear and courage, passion and desire. It is a special moment indeed when I discover a different ending.

Off Season

Off Season  watercolor on Yupo 8x8" by Meera Rao 

During crabbing season, I see watermen in small boats cruising the waterways in our little town during the early part of the day pulling up crab pots and placing empty ones in their place. When a pickup truck stacked with crab pots passes me while driving, I often hope for  traffic light to turn red so that I may stop right behind that truck to snap a photo :).  I have known about their hard lives, seen photographs and read wonderful articles in our local paper.  This time when I passed this stack of crab pots in a yard, I had to paint it. My other painting of a crab pot can be found here

I had not thought much about crabbing as such until I came across this stack. Turns out, this year the season was from March 17 to November 30.  There is a "Chapter: Pertaining to Crabbing " in the website for Virginia Marine Resources Commission.  It covers in detail  license requirements and "daily individual, vessel and harvest and possession limits, time limits, season limits, peeler pot limits and peeler and softshell crab minimum size limits for commercial and recreational crabbing in Virginia."  My research showed that Chesapeake crabbers already supply up to a third of the blue crabs eaten in the U.S, but issues of overcrabing and climate change looms large in their future.  I read that last year the season was shortened by 16 days and bushel limits for the entire month of November was also reduced. This is a huge reminder how interconnected our whole world is !!

Whispered Words

Whispered Words watercolor and ink 4.5x4.5 by Meera Rao 

Every year when November /Thanksgiving day rolls around, the air infused with the idea of importance of giving thanks.  All the scriptures and the wise though advice us to lead a life filled with gratitude for things small and big every day all year long. The Bhagavad Geeta emphasizes that our life and being is eternally indebted to the whole Universe and that we should express our gratitude through every single act, word and thought.  When we see and acknowledge how we are connected to the whole Universe, we learn to value all life and and the world around us. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying:  “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”  The choice is clear.  

In this little painting I tried to express that thought by weaving the words into the composition- a reminder to embed that thought into my life. 

10th Blog Anniversary!!!

Silence Isn't Empty watercolor and Ink 4.5x4.5" by Meera Rao 

Today is the 10th anniversary of my blog!!!  498 posts to date :) What a wonderful adventure it has been.  My art and blog have nurtured each other. I have basked in the warm support of all who have taken the time to read my blogs, to leave comments or to follow/subscribe - for that I am ever grateful.  As I have indicated on my comment form,  it is the viewers who complete the circle of creating art :) As the Thanksgiving Day approaches, I am reminded of my privilege to share my art and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.  Thank you all :) 

"Silence isn't empty" - It is full of answers is a small painting 4.4x4.4" (framed 9x9)  I am excited that it, along with Haiku in Red  and Thinly Veiled has been selected by Juror Carolyn Thompson Dudley for the Charles Taylor Art Center, Hampton,  Miniatures and Small works by Tidewater Artists Exhibition.  The exhibition dates are Dec 8th 2018 - January 20th 2019 

Thinly Veiled watercolor on Yupo 4.5x4.5" By Meera Rao 

Haiku in Red  watercolor 6x9.5" by Meera Rao 

Enchanting Alchemy of Art

Enchanted City  mixed media on wood 6x6" by Meera Rao 

Trapped mixed media on wood 6x6" by Meera Rao 

Color is the keyboard,

the eyes are the harmonies,

the soul is the piano with many strings.

Artist is the hand that purposefully plays

touching one key or another

and sets the soul vibrating.

~Wassily Kandinsky~

It is always a lot of fun painting with the  mixed media Pebeo oil based liquid alkyd colors.  I continue to be amazed  at how 'Prisme' gives honeycomb effects that reveals itself only while drying -so to be patient and give it time to divulge its' secret.  I am still astonished when the hammered effects of 'Moon' with textured pearl finish is unveiled instantly.  I love the glossy transparent and luminous 'vitrail' colors; and the smooth enamel effect with lacquer finish of the 'ceramic' paints. And mostly, I am totally enamored by the exciting mix of art and science: using the chemistry of these liquids to paint, to bring about different effects and looks.  I wish the photographs showed even more clearly the wonderful textures and dimension of the art works. 

Enchanted City and Trapped were done on wood panels by pouring paint and deliberating on when and how much to manipulate the paints by keeping in mind their reaction styles and times.   On the whole,  it has been exhilarating to attempt to conquer the fear of the uncertainty and abstraction :) 

Explorations

My Art at the Poquoson Public Library October 2018 

My Art at the Poquoson Public Library October 2018 

I am excited to once again show my art at the Poquoson Public Library for the month of October. It is always a great feeling to be afforded this opportunity to display my paintings. This year my paintings have been mostly 'Explorations' of various scenes, ideas and media. I brought out some of my favorite paintings from years past as well as many new pieces for this show.  If you are in this neck of the woods please do stop by the Library :)  Just realized that unknowingly I seem to have taken a two month hiatus from blogging  but I am happy to be back ! 

Showing My Art

Gentle Sway  14x10" watercolor by Meera Rao 

It's catch up time with regards to a few different places my paintings have traveled to :)  Gentle Sway in watercolors  a painting of a boatman in Zhujiajiao, a Watertown near Shanghai, China, has been juried into the Virginia Artists 2018 Juried Exhibition at the Charles Taylor Arts Center in Hampton, VA. The show will run from Aug 18- October 7.  My 'Thank you' to Juror Seth Feman, Curator of Exhibitions and Photography at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA.  

'Sunrise in the city'  Honorable mention, Peninsula Watermedia Society Juried Member Show Stryker Art Gallery, Williamsburg, VA. 

'Hurricane'  Also at Pennisula Watermedia Society Juried Member Show, Stryker Art Gallery, Williamsburg, VA 

"Sunrise in the city" received an Honorable mention at the Penninsula Watermedia Society of Virginia juried member exhibition.  The show will run May 21 -Aug 24 2018, at the Stryker Art gallery, Williamsburg, Va.  

I was featured on 'The Mind of an Artist' June blog spotlight at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop website:  http://www.chaw.org/blog/mind-artist-part-xxviii-meera-rao.  My painting above 'Haiku in Red'  was in the annual  Capitol Hill Art League exhibition "Winners' Circle" at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Washington D.C. July 20-Aug 18 2018. 

Sound Reflections 2 and Sound Reflections 3 at Dr Halim's office- CHAL Juried show "Celebrate"

Two of my paintings Sound Reflections 2 and Sound Reflections 3 have been juried into Capitol Hill Art League exhibition 'Celebrate' and the show is at Washington D.C. July 13-September 7 2018. 

Magnolia in #directwatercolor  by Meera Rao

I received this photo of my painting "Magnolia" done in direct watercolor freshly matted and framed in its new home in New York state :)  I am so happy it is bringing joy everyday !

'Gift of Friendship' watercolor by Meera Rao 

'tulips'  watercolor by Meera Rao 

"Our Town"  was an Art Exhibit and Sale at Frame of Mine Gallery at Washington D.C. curated by Photo Artist Karen Cohen. It showcased affordable DC Themed art by 10 Women Artists.  My two painting "Gift of Friendship"  - painting of a Pagoda and Cherry Tree (Blossoms) - the famous gifts from Japanese citizens at the Tidal Basin, DC  and "Tulips" hung there July 2- Aug 2  2018.  

 Resplendent  watercolor on Yupo  at Artist's Choice, Capitol Hill Art League, Washington D.C. 

I had pulled the painting "Resplendent" out of it's frame and redid a part that was bugging me.  I was  then happy to have it grace the walls for the Capitol Hill Art league annual Members only Artist's Choice show June 14 - July 14 2018.

"Exuberance"  Cover photo and featured inside 

A pleasant surprise was in the mail in early June : My painting "Exuberance" is on the cover (and also  inside highlighting Miniatures and Small works by Tidewater Artists) of the Hampton Arts Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center 2018-2019 season booklet with calendar of events.  I am very  grateful for all the opportunities to showcase my art!