Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Golden Rooster

10x7
Last evening I painted some roosters.This fella made it here, others will have to await their turns.
Somehow going loose seems to be the best way to represent roosters! I tried tighter but it did not look as good...or may be not to me!I love this unbridled style though I am yet not good enough to be able to apply it to every subject-- so until I practice a LOT more, it works just for roosters and rabbits. 
It does resembles a lot to the roosters of  UK artist Jean Haines. I love her paintings.But I wouldn't want to be accused of copying -- this kind of thing just flows out of my brush!Can a style be a copyright?
I am still contemplating the qualities of 'looseness' verses 'accuracy'...
Have a good day!

Monday, April 28, 2014

From my sketchbook

4x6
For some unknown reason, I woke up early today- almost an hour earlier than I usually do. I drew this as I watched morning news on Telly and sipping my tea.Just paused this frame for about 20 minutes.Refreshing.
Made me realize that I have not done much with my sketchbook lately.Hope you all have a very good morning.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

A Good Read

A4 
I have neglected figurative work since long and now its time to catch up.I am going to paint a few more of these, try out something different each time.This one was a combination of tight and loose.I also made up the background with random shapes -(though lack of planning is showing! Next time I am going to do a value sketch before I start painting) 
This is from my reference pictures around the town.I have lots of them and I do not miss a chance to gather more....
SOLD
My Spring Exhibition was over today and as I went to collect my paintings,  I had a pleasant surprise-- a red dot on the zebra!I don't know who bought it but it is some local art lover.I am quite happy as not many people visit the exhibitions these days and I was certainly not expecting a sale.Looking around, I did not see many red dots ...so I was the lucky one!


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Shipping Troubles

I thought I would share this with you all, it might be useful for some of us who send their artworks overseas.

Now, so far I have used sturdy cardboard mailers to ship my paintings to US and other international destinations and I thought it was good enough. I would put my paintings in a polypropylene bag and seal them to prevent moisture.I would also add a backing board or foam board to make the package sturdier.
And that was all.
Two days ago I received a mail from a client who had been waiting patiently for her two paintings to arrive at her US residence.The package was delayed by more than two weeks and we both were worried.
Finally it did arrive but it was damaged-the mailer was soaked at some point and then crushed in the process.The paintings were not wet but creased badly and thus,unusable.
Since these were originals,we both were devastated.I had to apologize as my packaging was not good enough; and offered her a  return on her money--but that is not the point here.
The point is how to prevent such thing to happen again.

After spending an entire day searching for answers, I came upon some.

From now I will be using 2 mm MDF panels (they are quite sturdy) to tape my painting on.That goes into a clear polypropylene bag and then all of this gets wrapped in a bubble sheet and taped shut to create a secure package.Lastly I will put this package in a cardboard mailer.
I feel this would be good enough for UK. However I will be putting this all in an additional polythene envelop for my international clients; so that even if the postal service guys dip it in water it will be safe!
Sound like an overkill...but once bitten twice shy!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

A Perfect Day


A4
Another figurative work, but a bit tighter this time as I did not want this to fail (like a previous one which was due to working too fast and too loose!)
I have worked a little slowly and methodically on this one, it took me about 3 hours from start to finish; and used a limited palette of Burnt sienna, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber and French Ultramarine.(And a dash of red- don't remember which one!) These are my favorite hues - I can paint with these even if I don't have any other color in my kit!
Personally I like the result, and I would love to paint some more scenes from around the town.
Please do let me know what do you think of this effort.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Look into my Eyes

9x12
My next donkey portrait.Previous two have already been sold so I think he is very popular...!He is the same guy I had met at a local farm a few month ago.I had taken this picture as he looked up to me and it seemed like he was smiling :) Loved this expression.
I hope you all are having a great long weekend and some quality time with your families.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Dream Big


 A few pictures of the exhibition opening last evening....

                                                                   ''The Blue Bag''
         

''Umber Stripes''

And today's painting; another Elephant :)
12x16
I wanted to try a larger size this time.It was fun, though a bit intimidating to control the color on a larger support.I might paint more of them soon- I have not used any reference image this time, I know them so well!




Monday, April 14, 2014

Bluebell

9x12
Elephants calling again ...this is today's work.I see myself going loose with every painting and its fun!
This painting was just a lot of wet-in-wet, I did not wait anything to dry..just painted on.I like the results and I hope you do ,too.
Tomorrow is the exhibition opening, lets hope my paintings receive a warm reception. 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Blue Rain

7x10
I have been painting more and more and I know its good as it makes me happy!This hare is small but I loved painting him in loose washes,using the same turquoise and pink with some Q.Gold. The effect is quite soft -just as I wanted.
Today I have been out in the sun all day but do hope to paint in the evening.Wish you all a great Sunday!

Turquoise Stripes

10x14
Looks like I am still a bit hung up on Zebras! However I have tried to do something different and used turquoise and pink- the colors I have been keeping for a long time but not used very much.I liked the way turquoise brightened up the surroundings and pink went well  with it.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Umber Stripes

9x12
Yesterday's work.Couldn't keep the muzzle as soft as I would have liked, but finished the painting anyway.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Yellow,White,Gray and Texture

7x10
Some more play with texture...another one in small animal series.
8x8
Cute little furry yellow chick in contrast with the rugged rooster!


Saturday, April 5, 2014

The Lambs and Ramblings about the Paper...

10x7
8x8
Two cute little lambs I painted recently to try out different papers.
Upper one is on Langton cold pressed 140 lb block ( so far my favorite- the granulation and texture look great on it)
The first wash is very smooth and fresh but going over and darken things more than once  is not such a good idea!
The one on the bottom is on Arches cold pressed block-which was very elegant to look at but it might take some more practice to handle pigment over this surface.The color just sat on the paper and was difficult to push around.I am not ruling it out completely but a little disappointed as it was the most expensive of them all!
So far Hahnemuhle is the winner for me.This paper has texture and the paint can be pushes around quite a bit before it settles.I work on blocks to avoid stretching.Now I am in process of trying out different series blocks,So far Britannia Matt and Anniversary Series have worked great.
Hahnemuhle is cheaper than the other brands like Arches and Fabrianno.Only flaw would be the color..its not brilliant white but sort of grayish white.

Anyway, besides these small works, I have been working on a larger figurative painting,too.Our Spring exhibition is coming up and I have to submit at least two paintings by next Friday.I hope to work some more this evening!
Have a great weekend, friends.


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Rough Hare!

7x10
3rd Painting

7x10 
2nd painting

Bought the rough paper for the first time.Usually I prefer NOT or Cold Pressed.
First painting was a failure as I tried to paint in the same way as I did on a NOT. Disheartened at first, I tried to loosen up a bit more and painted another one.The bottom one. All wet-in -wet and fresh; no going back and correcting.The result was not bad and today I tried one more- the  painting on the top is the one- and I like the freshness of it.
Don't use rough paper if you like small details.It works best with wet in wet technique where you do not care about details and the all that matters is the final impact.