Grass Eaters of Chahala

Title - Grass eaters of Chahala

Size - 15 x 22 inch

Medium - Watercolor on paper
Reference Photo by - Satyesh Naik

Similipal is a wild life sanctuary in western part of Odisha consisting of tiger reserve and national park. It has also been declared as a biosphere reserve by govt of India and UNESCO added Similipal to its list of biosphere reserves in 2009. Of the seven ranges one of the ranges in Similipal is called as Chahala. A friend of mine who is a keen wildlife enthusiast and a photographer while on a birding trip got to stay inside Similpal at Chahala. He has written quiet an essay on his trip and it can be read here. This painting is based on one of the many excellent photographs he has taken during the trip. The photograph can be seen in this post.

The photograph itself was really good and had captured the atmosphere very well. I just added some deers here and there in the painting to make it a little different from the photo. But I guess the photograph is perfect and it is impossible to improve upon perfection. :). So I thought I'll give a catchy title. Something like a movie. Guns of Navarone, Gangs of New York, Prisoner of Azkaban types you know.. :) And the composition itself was so non-text book. Gray for top 2/3rd of the painting and yellow for the bottom one third. Surely does not sound like a great color composition. But then sometimes I think we need to go with our intuition.

p.s. For the next few days I'll be having very scarce or no internet access. I hope you guys do not miss me much during this time. LOL.

Faith

Title - Faith

Size - 11 x 15 inch

Medium - Watercolor on paper

A typical Hindu household most definitely has a Puja room or a Puja place in a room. Puja translated to English roughly means worship. Idols or photographs of Gods and Godesses are placed in this little space and everyday in the morning they are bathed, decorated with sandal pastae and flowers and offered fruits and sweets. Lamps are lit up, incense sticks are lighted and little prayers are sung in the glory of the Gods. And after this ritual only everybody goes about doing their work. This ritual everyday in the morning inculcates one very important qualities that we seem to be losing in modern life. Faith. From faith comes patience and empathy which surely makes the world a little better.

The other day my mom was preparing for Puja. I opoened the window of the room and sunlight came rushing in to create this beautiful scene and my painting was born.

Matteo Coffee

Title - Matteo Coffee

Size - 15 x 22 inches

Medium - Watercolor on paper

Trying out a different subject here. The other day on one of painting outings I spent some time sketching in a coffee shop. This painting is based on one of the sketches. Somehow these coffee shops have a weird kind of lighting. It creates a kind of haze all around. It was a big challenge to try and get that feel. Dont know how much I suceeded, but it was worth trying.

My Desktop

Title - My Desktop

Size - 10 x 14 inches

Medium - Watercolor on paper

Hi all. I hope you guys are in perfect health. Here it has been raining quiet a lot and only since this Sunday we got to see the sun after a long time. That meant I had to paint at home itself. So I came up with this idea of painting what I paint with. So here is my desktop. And yes it is very much an active desktop. LOL.Wondering why the paper is missing from my desktop? I was painting on it of course.

Short spell @ Church street

Title - Short Spell @ Church Street

Size - 22 x 15 inch

Medium - Watercolor on paper

Bangalore has a very strange weather pattern. In one day one can experience 3 different types of weathers. Hot scorching sun in the day followed by rains, followed by chilly nights. And since 2 weeks we are having rains almost everyday. In short spells though.. Rains in November..November rains.. Reminds me of Guns and Roses. :). Anyway here is to Bangalore rains.