Friday, December 18, 2009

Goa Series IX - Karaoke Night at St Antony's

Karaoke Night at St Antony's - watercolorThis is the last painting in my Goa series. I have tried to paint the Karaoke night which was happening at St Antony's restaurant on the night of my last day in Goa. We happened to be passing by this place when we heard some good music and decided to get in. It was very crowded and we could just about manage to find a corner to stand. But the experience was great as people were in general singing very well and there were professional singers also who were singling live. We heard everything from sweet child o mine to Bachna ae Haseeno that night. The energy was great.

This painting was the most difficult till now for me. Thats because
1. I had never painted a night scene before.
2. I had no reference photo for this.
3. Capturing the crowd and the energy was a challenge.

Anyways I have tried and made 2 versions of the same scene. The second was was done first on a small sheet and did it very quickly to get a feel of the painting and then I went forward and did the first one. I hope you enjoy it.

Karaoke Night at St Antony's II - watercolorp.s. I'll be on vacation for 15 days, which means a break from painting and being on blogsphere. I wish all of you a merry Christmas and a very very happy new year in advance.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Goa Series VIII - Kr at St Francis church

Kumar at St Francis church - watercolorThis is the church of St Francis of Assisi in 'Velha' Goa or old Goa. It was very hot and sunny when we had gone here. By the time I returned from here I had mild sun burns. Anyways I enjoyed doing this painting a lot.

p.s. Registration is on for chitrasanthe. People in and around Bangalore can register for it at Chitrakala Parishat, Bangalore. Their phone number is 2226 1816.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Goa Series VII - On Mandovi

on Mandovi - watercolor The road to Old Goa from Panjim is quiet a drive. The road runs parallel to river Mandovi and you'll find some small restaurants like this on the road side. The service is generally very slow and you are sure to have a really 'leisurely' meal here. The experience however is great.

The sketch for the painting posted too. The sketch was done sitting on a chair and the painting was done sitting on top of a table. :)

on Mandovi - sketch

Friday, December 11, 2009

Goa Series VI - Sunset at Baga creek

sunset at Baga creek - watercolor
The painting is called "sunset at Baga creek" (Pun intended too). This is an extension of the scene in the last painting I posted.

I have started feeling that my paintings are becoming too 'plastic'. They are not capturing any sort of feel. To deal with it lately I have not been looking at the reference while painting. I just use the reference to draw and then paint from impression that I had got from the reference.

But still they are becoming too conformal, too bounded, less free and less expressive. Its becoming more of engineering drawing instead of painting. There is logic going into it, rather than intuition. Its becoming bounded by rules rather than breaking away from it.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Goa Series V - Chilling at Baga Creek

chilling at Baga creek - watercolorThis is a section of a shack/restaurant at Baga Creek. Baga beach is one of the most famous beaches in Goa (Northern part of Goa). Just besides it there is a less crowded and more peaceful place, the Baga creek. This view is from Baga beach.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Goa Series IV - Miramar

Quiet Corner at Miramar behind Kala Academy - watercolor
This place is just behind Kala Academy on Miramar beach at Panjim, the capital of Goa. The beach was boring, but this view was good.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Goa Series III - Fort Aguada

fort Aguada - watercolorThis is the lighthouse of fort Aguada. Its a very old structure. I tried to capture that old and aged feel of the lighthouse.