Koti Teertha

Hi there. This painting is a new effort from my side. My approach was quiet different in this painting. Generally I paint the 'scene' and then place 'people' in it. But here I thought the scene was the activity on the water front. Hence I painted people first and then painted the scene around it. The scene was kept as simple as possible so as to draw attention to the people.

In my last post Jona asked me how do I get light in my paintings. I'll try to answer that here.

1. I first try to fix the type of light for a painting. It could be soft, harsh or something between soft and harsh.

2. Feel of light comes from the shadow areas painted around it. I try to keep the shadow areas large so that the impact is more.

3. The contrast and edge (soft/broken/hard) of the shadow will define the type of light.

4. The colors in the shadow (warm/cool) will contribute to the over all mood of the painting too.

So before starting a painting using small sketches one can work these things out. Then you can paint more freely and confidently. I hope this is of help.

Koti Teertha (Gokarna - VII)

11 x 15 inch

Let myself loose... finally

The paintings that I have made so far this year have been done in as many as ten to twelve sittings because of my back pain. I have painted for not more than fifteen minutes in a stretch which is not the way I paint. I guess thats why they were a little stiff and I was not really happy about it. Finally for this one I took three sittings as there was not much of drawing to be done and the composition was simple. I also did not do any initial study for this. Just wanted to paint spontaneously and loose. And I am happy with the way I painted. I guess the outcome is also not bad.

Have a happy weekend everyone. :)

Lunch @ Om beach (Gokarna - VI)

22 x 15 inch

p.s. With a new treatment that I have started back seems to be getting better.

Getting Better

Hi. Thank you all so much for your wishes. I am slowly recovering. But ever so slowly. Sometime its causing a little anxiety, but otherwise I am doing well. So again not much of painting. This painting was completed in many shifts as compared to my usual one or two.

For the information of people in and around Bangalore, Chaitrasanthe, the annual art fair will commence this Sunday at Kumarkrupa road. Its a one day event where more than 1000 artists will be displaying and selling their work. Though I have booked a stall, I'll not be able to participate due to my back injury. I am going to miss it this year. But make sure that you dont miss it. :)

p.s. Since someone asked I must come out now. I got the slip disc while I was playing football (soccer). I know I know..I should have respected my age. :)

Daily Affair (Gokarna - V)

22 x 15 inch

Getting back.. gradually

Hi there. My 2013 started with a bang. Literally. I managed to gift myself a slip disc early this year. Which meant I was bed ridden for a good time. Right now I am undergoing treatment and it will take a good amount of time to heal. Which in turn means I am not able to paint as much as I would like to. And not painting outdoors is a certainty now for a few weeks at least.

Anyway I have managed to a painting while all this has been happening. Hope you like it.

Strolling In Gokarna (Gokrana - IV)

22 x 15 inch

Happy new year

Wish you all a really great 2013. Hope you all grow even more this year.

I was on a vacation for two weeks and hence you could see no posts from me during this time. Moreover I too missed most of your posts. However whenever possible I had a glance at your blogs to find out what you were up to. And unlike me I find that most of you have been up to something or the other. I have not painted for about 20 days now. Feel very rusty. What I am posting now are three paintings of last year which I could not post. All three are beach scenes. The paintings are the first three of my Gokarna series. A few more will follow soon (whenever I pick up my brushes again. :)). Till then take care and have a great weekend.

Day end @ Kudle (Gokarna - III)

11 x 15 inch

Stepping out of Kudle (Gokarna - II)

15 x 22 inch

Stepping on to Om beach (Gokarna - I)

11 x 15 inch

Sketches from Gokarna Trip

Last weekend I was at Gokarna with a few of my friends. Gokarna is a small seaside town on the west coast of India. We stayed bang on Kudle beach. It was one of the most peaceful beaches I have seen and hence it was fabulous. We stayed there for the weekend only and I felt it was just too short a stay. While playing beach football, trekking from one beach to other, sea bathing, hogging, visiting famous temples I manged to squeeze some time out and do some sketches. 

On Saturday evening we witnessed a very beautiful sunset. While I was soaking up the amazing sunset I realized I did not have my camera. So I just tried to memorize everything that was creating the mood. The tones, colors, shapes, edges etc. When I got back I did a quick WC sketch of the sunset. 

I have got some photos all right. But still I am posting these sketches for you as I think they tell a better story than my photographs (as my camera is very slow and outdated and I never happen to click a picture at the right moment).

I am posting one picture that I had clicked of two kids playing on the beach and I really liked it.