A 'Horsey' New Year Post

A Chiaroscuro using charcoal.

Back after a long while

Hi friends,
Sorry that I couldn't post anything for a long time. I was struggling in between the hour and minute hands of my clock.
I am back in track with some new works in progress. Shortly I will be posting few of them.

Happy new year 2010!!!

Nitz

Thoughts...

A collage oil painting.
Canvas: 11"x14" panel

A PJ's autograph

I am very delighted to say you all about the autograph that I got from A P J Abdul Kalam Sir. Thanks to Anil Gupta Sir. After seeing the sketch he helped me to get it autographed from A P J sir.
Have a closer look at the autograph.

study # painting in planes

A still life painting to study painting in planes.
The still life set up, middle stage and final stages are shown here.
Canvas: 16"x20" stretched canvas

A monochromatic oil painting to study the values

An indirect painting to study the values. As you see in the different stages of this still life painting I have tried to do it in two layers. First stage being creating a rough sketch with burnt sienna and second stage covering it with different shades of blacks and whites. I m thinking of doing one more layer to make it colorful. :) Canvas size: 16" x 20"
colors used: lamp black, titanium white and burnt sienna

Candle stand chiaroscuro

Glasswares Chiaroscuro

Exploring more with Chiaroscuro..

Paper used: 18"x24" cold-press watercolor paper
Materials: round and square compressed charcoals, white charcoal, pink pearl eraser and kneaded eraser

Chiaroscuro -- Reflective Objects

This was a challenging one due to the difficulty in finding different shapes of reflections formed on the surface of objects. Once you get the light and shadow shapes properly with correct value/shade then you can make it look great.

It's done on a 18"x24" cold-press watercolor paper with square and round compressed charcoals, pink pearl eraser, kneaded eraser and white charcoal.

Quick Chiaroscuro -- Doggy

The thought of having more fun with chiaroscuro led me to do this work. It was really interesting even though it does not have more ranges of value/shades. Being a quick sketch it was satisfying for me.

It is done on a 9"x12" cold-press watercolor paper with square compressed charcoal, white charcoal and pink pearl eraser.

Chiaroscuro with White Charcoal

Here I used white charcoal to highlight the bright areas. Also I tried to give more contrast for objects closer to me and I feel this created a very appealing visual effect of three dimensionality.
I am impressed with the depth of values I am getting with this technique.

I did this on a 18"x24" cold-press watercolor paper with square compressed charcoal, round compressed charcoal, white charcoal, pink pearl eraser and kneaded eraser.

More Chiaroscuro...

I am having so much fun with Chiaroscuro. These are three different drawings with same stills in three different positions of view.

All these drawings are on 9"x12" cold-press watercolor paper.

I just wanted to show you the paper with which I was working. This is just after I did a medium grade charcoal(using square compressed charcoal) coat over the paper. We have to start working from here by removing charcoal(using pink pearl eraser and kneaded eraser) for light and adding charcoal(using round and square compressed charcoal) for dark.

Chiaroscuro Drawing

This week I learned a new technique called Chiaroscuro drawing. Chiaroscuro means Light-Dark in Italian. It is a type of drawing which evolved during Renaissance. Initially we have to make a medium grade paper using charcoal. Then the illusion of light and shadow is made by rubbing and adding more charcoal appropriately.

This method was very interesting for me because I found this pretty easy and more effective in terms of light and shadow.

It is done on a 18"x24" cold press watercolor paper using square compressed charcoal, round compressed charcoal, pink pearl eraser and kneaded eraser.

Collage - Beauty

A collage out of trash papers and water color. I started by making the face with papers torn from used magazines. I thought of making a crown for her after that. Then I was just playing with water color for few minutes to get the collage ready.

It is done on my 9"x12" sketchbook.

Collage - Peace

A collage dedicated to world peace.

It is done on my 9"x12" sketchbook.

Pineapple Impasto

The completed painting is here!!! A loose work of pineapple :)

Last week in painting studio we had to make an impasto of pineapple. It was my first attempt using palette knife as applicator on canvas. It was really uncomfortable since I was not able to make the details of pineapple as I wanted. But then I told myself, "Welcome to the world of loose painting". Hope I will adapt to it as I practice more. Next class we will be completing this work and I can post the completed work by then.
I am using 18"x24" canvas and oil paint here.
The studio area where I worked with pineapple impasto.

Few quick sketches

This week I got the opportunity to take sketches of few Italian sculptures at Art Institute of Chicago. Below I have posted the gesture drawing and a rough sketch (with hatching cross hatching) of such a sculpture.

Another sketch with hatching and cross hatching technique.
This one with hatching, cross hatching and then blended with drawing stumps.
Landscape sketches of few paintings at Art Institute Chicago. These are rough sketches done to learn the hatching, cross hatching method.

Sketch of my mobile. I felt like doing this when I saw it lying on my table.
All these sketches are from my 9" x 12" sketch book(done with HB pencils).

Colour study

This work is to learn colors and mixing . It consists of 90 different colors mixed out of 4 colors titanium white, alizarin chrimson, cadmium yellow and prussian blue(i.e. white and the primary colors).
Done on a 16" x 20" canvas panel with oil paint.

Hathi mere sathi

The title means "Elephant - my comrade" in Hindi. I was just getting bored and wanted to re boost myself. So just thought of playing with some colors. It was a quick one done within an hour.

It is an oil painting done on a 16" x 20" stretched canvas.

Over the week

It was my first week at School of Art Institute Chicago. Also my first ever Art and Design course. It was really an amazing experience. Each wall and brick of SAIC has it's own story about art. I was amused like a kid when I got to saw those wonderful art pieces and some of the creators.
This week I just did the assignments and did not really get time for any serious works. One of my instructor wanted us to do some design with minimum 80 shapes in it.


These are designs with lots of shapes stuffed into it. On top, I named it Nature. But one of my friend named it Animal Kingdom. Second one is a design with some of our daily chores stuffed into it. It is done on my 9" x 12" sketchbook with black marker.

I meant to do a greeting card illustration kind of design here. It is done on 9" x 12" sketchbook with 2B, 6B pencil.

Two rough sketches. First one is the vase on our coffee table and second one is the sketch of our living room. Done on my 9" x 12" sketchbook with HB pencil.

On top, done with 2B, 6B pencils. On bottom, done with HB mechanical pencils. Both are on my 9" x 12" sketchbook.

Gandhi

“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood.” -- Albert Einstein

A tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 61st death anniversary.

A charcoal sketch done on 11" x 17 " paper.

Kalam

Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.
-- APJ Abdul Kalam

A charcoal sketch done on a 11" x 13" paper.

Solitude

I started with painting the doggy and lamp. Then I felt I should add something else to fill the canvas and did an open book with pencils on it. Still I feel the canvas is not fully utilized. Let me see if I can fit something else. If so I will update it soon. I named this one Solitude since I felt that doggy is feeling so lonely and secluded.

This is a detailed view of doggy.

It is an oil painting done on 16" x 20" stretched canvas.

Sunrise

The most beautiful sight I have ever seen... I always get amused by the way nature throws it magic colors into sky during sunrise.

It is an acrylic painting on 10" x 8" canvas panel.

Friends

A rare pair of friends, a Kitten and a Chick.

Lets this be my first posting of 2009. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. I have not taken any special resolutions because I always take resolutions to break it. But just thinking of concentrating more on arts in the coming days.

It is a pencil sketch done on a 9" x 12" paper with 2H, B, 3B, 8B pencils

Jingle Bell

Jingle Bells for Christmas!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

Just experimenting with oil pastel painting. It is done on a 9" x 12" paper.

Innocence

Pencil sketch done with 8B,4B,2H and charcoal pencils on a 11"x17" paper.

Cherry Tomato Splash

I was thinking of doing a drawing with water splash from many days. This time I got a very good reference photo(which I can't post it because of copyright issues) and thought of materializing it on a paper. But finally the water splash was the one which came worse in this work :(. Hope practice will solve it.

It is an oil painting done on a 16" x 20" canvas.

Lips

This is another tutorial practice work. It was a wonderful tutorial and I learned a lot from this exercise.

It is done on a 9" x 12" paper using 2H, B, 4B pencils.

An eye to the world

I got inspired to do this after seeing one of my friends work. When I researched more about drawing an eye I got a very useful online tutorial . I did this as a practice work to understand the tutorial.

It is done on a 9" x 12" paper with 2H, B, 3B, 6B pencils.

Stawberry

I love strawberries. Last time when we were back from shopping we bought some of them and I was just curious to draw it.

It was just an experiment. I just tried to create a pencil sketch, a crayon sketch and a watercolor pencil sketch of it. It was my trial with crayons and watercolor pencils and I felt it didn't come well this time. But then it was a quick trial and so its okay.

It is done on 9" x 12" sheet of watercolor paper.

Birds of paradise

A bouquet of flowers in a corner of the room is really pleasing. Here comes a bouquet of Birds of Paradise flowers.

I have kept this for drying now. When it is ready, I am planning to make this a part of my living room.

It is an oil painting done on a 16" x 20" canvas. It is my first attempt with a bigger canvas size.

Tulips in a glass vase

It is an acrylic art done on 9" x 12" mixed media paper.

Tulip

Flower experiments continues... Its an orange tulip. I did this in a 9" x 12" paper using color pencils.

Seeking Serenity

Are these birds flying away fearing the inhuman fumes coming out? Or are they trying to spread peace across the world while the human beings fight themselves for nothing? I am not sure.

I got to see this scene in one of the Indian news channel covering the barbaric Mumbai terror strike. It is the prestigious icon of India - 'The Taj Mahal Hotel' in fumes.

I used 2H, 3B, 5B graphite pencils and medium charcoal pencil for this work. It is done in a 9" x 12" paper.

Dalia

I am continuing my experiments with flowers and here is my attempt in drawing Dalia flowers with both color pencils and water color. It's my first try with color pencil sketch.

Roses

My first experiment with Acrylic comes here. Thought of spending the long weekend with more art works. So with the full excitement, I started working with my new acrylic colors. :) I tried to recreate one of the photo taken by me here. I have used 9" x 12" Mixed Media paper for this work.

I am thinking of doing more experiments with flowers in coming days. I will keep you posted as I progress my work.

Simba

Got to see Madagascar-Escape to Africa last week and inspired to draw a lion after seeing Alex "The King of New York City".

It is an African Lion done with oil paint. I used a 12" x 16" canvas for this.

The original picture is posted below.

Unni...

Unni my nephew. I did this using B,3B,6B pencils in a 11" x 17 " drawing sheet.
When I felt like drawing some cute kiddies picture, I started searching for a model photo and apparently I ended up with my own nephew. :) Luv ya unni...

Original photo is posted below.

My first oil painting

Bamboos... It is my first attempt in oil painting. I did some research before doing this and realized that I should select some thing close up with more details in it. I wanted to do some piece from the Nature and ended up doing this.. I used a 12 " x 16 " canvas for this.

Shawl for my mom

This too is an old work that I made for my mom. This is again a woolen shawl using croshio stitching.

Sweet Home

I did this long time back. It is done with woolen thread on plastic mesh. The flowers are made using flower frames and stiched into the mesh. It is decorating our living room now. :)

Engraving Art

Puppy and Kitty... My first engraving experiment. It is actually a do it your self kit. I just did the scrapping work. I love metal engraving and embossing. Now I am not able to find proper materials for it. As soon as I get it I will update you with more engraving/embossing arts.

Woolen shawl

Woolen shawl I made. Croshio stitching is used here.

Lady with flowers...

Another experiment in glass painting.. The sketch I did for this pattern is posted below.

My first glass painting

My experiment with glass painting starts here.. It is a Russian sunflower.. I was looking for a simple design to start with and I got this pattern from www.lostartoriginals.com .. It is a wonderful site for glass painting..

Double Layer Chocolate/Vanilla cake.

I made this for our first Wedding Anniversary(02/05/2008). The recipe is posted below.

For the cake

3 cups sifted flour
3 cups sugar (or powdered sugar)
3 sticks salted butter (softened)
5 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
Half cup cocoa

For decoration

1 cup Whipped cream Chocolate
2 cup whipped cream Vanilla
Chopped Nut toppings
Cherry toppings
Hershey’s dark chocolate

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Sift flour 3 times with sea salt and baking powder, then set aside. Put softened butter and sugar in mixing bowl, mix for 15 minutes on medium speed. Break eggs into a bowl, then reduce speed to low. Add eggs one at a time. Stir vanilla. Divide flour into three portions then add, alternating with liquid, as follows: When thoroughly mixed, add one cup of flour, then a half cup of buttermilk, one more cup of flour, then another cup of buttermilk, then the last cup of flour. Mix well, but do not overmix! (A rubber spatula helps to scrape down sides of bowl while mixing).

Pour exactly half of batter into a greased and flour-dusted Cake Pan. Put cocoa into rest of batter and mix it well. Pour it into the second greased and flour dusted Cake Pan.

Bake At 325°F for 60-70 minutes. Time may vary for different cake pans and ovens. So set it accordingly.

Icing:

Let the cake come to room temperature.

Now beat the chocolate and vanilla whipped creams in two bowls. Keep the yellow cake on a cake base. Apply vanilla cream on top of it. Keep the chocolate cake on top of it. Apply Chocolate on top of the cake using proper applicator. Apply Vanilla on sides. Now take the vanilla whipped cream in a disposable cone with star cone end. Do the side wise decoration with it. Put the nut toppings above the chocolate icing. Do some more decoration with cherry toppings if needed. Grate the Hershey’s chocolate and put that above the vanilla icing.

The Cake is ready!!! Enjoy!!!

Teddy Bear

Long time back I did this.. It is a wall hanging made with woolen thread on plastic mesh..

Squirrel

One of my friend gave me a positive criticism after seeing my previous post that it would have been good if I tried shading too in that. So here come my next creation to try shading..

I made this from one of the photograph taken by me.. I used pencil for the squirrel and Charcoal for the background..

Guess who?

let this be my maiden post here.. I tried this for my sweet heart's birthday.. I did this with a normal HB pencil in A4 size paper.. :)

My artworks revamped after a long break through this work. I know this isn't a great work. But still I felt so delighted after doing this one. I was not sure whether I will be able to do it well because my drawing history ends back in my school days. After that I remember doing drawings in my lab records ( and of course 'Electrical and Machine Drawing' How can I forget that? It was a trembling paper during my graduation days). Still I was longing to give some personalized gift to my hubby. So thought of giving it a try and the most exciting part for me was my hubby liked it very much (at least he acted so to encourage me) .. :)