Excited will be an understatement

I really dont remember the day of the week and the time when Malgudi Days used to be aired on National TV. All I remember was I always watched Swamy and his friends with a lot of fascination and would wait the entire week for the show. That was the magic of R.K Narayan on whose book the series was based. Ordinary stories about everyday people in everyday settings is what RKN wrote about. But his characters and stories never failed to evoke thoughts in the reader. It never failed to touch. Probably because of the simplicity of the characters. Or may be because of the profundity of the ideas that his stories expressed.

RKN's works have touched the lives of many around the world. I have been a great admirer of his work. And in my wildest of dreams also I had never thought that I would be so fortunate as to have my painting as a book cover of an RKN collection of stories. I am deeply humbled. I got my copy of the book from the publisher today and I was still in disbelief, though only about a month back I had done this painting and sent it to them.

Here is the book available on flipkart.

I could not have got a better gift at the start of my new year. Thank you Universe.

Year End Post

Finally 2013 comes to an end. Its been an eventful year of art for me. And before saying bye to 2013 I thought I must share some experience with you, which you may find useful.

"Instead of trying to paint things using watercolor try to paint a watercolor using things".

I see many people trying to paint 'things' using watercolor. The thing may be a landscape, portrait, still life or any representational form or art. I also tend to do the same many times. But what experience has taught me is not to get into this trap of painting 'things' with watercolor. Instead it has taught me to paint a watercolor using the 'thing'. Guess its a little confusing. So let me explain.

Watercolor unlike other mediums has a mind of its own and it does like to do its own things on paper. Watercolor has a lifetime during which it moves freely on paper before drying (dying) and settling down on paper. Since its an alive medium trying to control it fully does not really lead to a fruitful relationship between the artist and the medium. It must be allowed to do its own things on paper. And if it is not allowed to do so then the painting does loose that watercolor charm. 

When people try to represent 'thing' using watercolor often they try to control it too much. Because they want the 'thing' on paper to look like the 'thing' in reality. But as soon as one thinks of creating a watercolor, where paint is allowed to do its own things there is a paradigm shift. The 'thing' is being used only as a reference and the artist is only creating a watercolor. Thought process is no more in terms of trees, branches, flowers, hills. It is now in terms of positive and negative shapes, tones, temperature, strokes, dry brush, wet in wet and things like that. Everything falls into place just because there is a change in approach.

Well this is what my experience has taught me. Further experience may teach me that all this is crap. But thats how life and art are. Everyday we are learning and I hope you find these learning useful.

Wish you all a very happy new year with this little snippet from Upanishad.

असतोमा सद्गमय। तमसोमा ज्योतिर् गमया। 
मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय॥ ॐ शांति शांति शांति - बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्

Asato mā sad gamaya 

Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya 

Mṛtyormā amṛtam gamaya 

Aum śānti śānti śāntiḥ

meaning of which is - 

From ignorance, lead me to truth; 

From darkness, lead me to light; 

From death, lead me to immortality 

Aum peace, peace, peace

Coonoor - III

18 x 24 inches

Coonoor

Hi. Its been some time since I have posted a new work here. I have been a little busy (Could not have come up with any worse excuse than that). And mostly I have been lazy (Now I am telling the truth). :)

I have not been painting well enough recently, which also means that I am stuck in a plateau and if I just keep at it then at the end of this phase I would have a taken a step higher (That is real positive thinking I guess). A couple of decent enough works still have come out in this phase which I thought were okay to post. I hope you like them.

To all my friends across the globe, A Very Happy Christmas. Ho Ho..... :)

Coonoor - I

11 x 15 inch

Coonoor - II

11 x 15 inch

Good News

Its time for some good news friends. 

My painting titled 'The Minimalists' has been selected for 86th All India Annual Art Exhibition of  AIFACS (All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society). I am indeed honored as my work along with all other selected works in different media from across the country will be on display at the AIFACS gallery. The show opens tomorrow (11 Dec 2013) evening and will continue till 30th December 2013. 

If you happen to be in Delhi then this is a show that must not be missed. The display will be open from 11 AM to 7 PM on all days. If you visited the show then do let me know and send me some pics if possible.

Have a great week.

The Minimalists

14 x 21 inches

Muvattupuzha - VII

It has been a long drawn series. And it comes to end with this one. Presenting to you the last of Muvattupuzha. Hope you enjoy this.

Muvattupuzha - VII

11 x 15 inch

Thank You

'Bengaluru on Location' finally closed last Tuesday (26th Nov 2013) after 4 days of  show at Chitrakala Parishath. The response this time was really overwhelming. So first of all I want to thank each and every one who helped in making this such a success.

Here are some pics and a short report on the show.

The opening was a big party. It was opened by my sketching club Pencil Jammers. Though everybody had to go through the torture of my nervous speech, I feel they enjoyed the show and the food.

Media was very kind to me in their coverage and reviews. Three top English dailies, namely New Indian Express, The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle and one local daily (Ee Nadu) covered the show and gave good reviews.

Those who missed the show can take a  virtual tour of the show below.

The show was well attended on all four days by people from all walks of life. Everybody seemed to enjoy the show. Many people came back with their families to see the show for the second time. Many artists came back with other artists to see the show again. For some people it was like seeing a dreamy Bangalore in a gallery. 

I'll leave you with some comments from the visitor's book and a few more pics.

"Brilliant Work Prabal. This is the first time I am seeing all your finished watercolors together, and I am really overwhelmed. Love the play of lights and shadows and the beautiful concepts. Keep it up and hope to see more..."

"Beautiful. Excellent watch, each and every one."

"By attending this exhibition my interest towards art has certainly increased. Thank you."

"Excellent impressionist style of watercolors. Loved it."

"Splendid collection of a dreamy Bangalore."

"Beautiful art works with a great sense of perspective and color. "

Invitation

Hi friends. Please treat this as my personal invitation to you all for my next solo show, details of which are given below. The show runs for 4 days starting 23rd of this month. The opening is at 4 PM on 23rd. Gallery is open from 11 AM to 7 PM everyday. So hoping to see you there.

Title            - Bengaluru on Location
Date           - 23.11.2013 : 26.11.2013
Timings       - 11 AM to 7 PM on all days
Venue         - Gallery II, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Kumarakrupa Road
Opening      - 4:00 PM, 23rd Nov 2013

Click here to go to the exhibition page.