Small Portrait Study

A Small Portrait Study, Charcoal on Paper, (11.75" X 8") 

Wish you all a very merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Here is a small portrait study in charcoal. 

Please feel free to leave your comments and critiques. Thanks for visiting my blog. :)

Evening's Glow

Evening's Glow, Watercolour on Paper, (20" X 14") 

Another boat painting! This is based on several references. I had photos of this boat taken around midday and some other photos of the evening.  I made many value sketches in black and white by moving the sun around along the horizon. I then chose the one that seemed to work best. I hope I could do justice here.

Thank you all for stopping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Almost Evening

Almost Evening, Oil on Canvas, (24" X 36") 

One more of the boat paintings. Did it on Friday night. Painted all night without sleeping. Reminded me of those engineering college days when we would stay up all night and finish long pending practical records :).

Thank you so much for stopping by. All critiques are most welcome.

Portrait Study and Our First Child

Portrait Study, Charcoal on Paper, (8" X 11.75") 

This is a study for a portrait I hope to do sometime soon. 

Our first child, a lovely boy, was born last Saturday in  my hometown, Nagpur. It was one busy week and perhaps the happiest time of my life. :) Its difficult to explain my feelings. Its a sense of fulfillment and a sense of responsibility all at the same time. Perhaps these things cannot be explained, only experienced :)

Finally it was only yesterday that I got the chance to do some drawing. All critiques and comments are most welcome.

The youngest Deshmukh yet! :) 

Tribal Boy .... Again!

Tribal Boy, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" X 16.5") 

Added a little more definition to the ear using an oil pastel. Hopefully that makes the drawing look more complete.

All comments are most welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

Tribal Boy

Tribal Boy, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" X 16.5") 

This boy belongs to the Bhil community of Maharashtra. Historically they were tribals but now they speak the local languages and participate in all walks of life. Nevertheless, they make great subjects for paintings. :)

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

A Time for Long Shadows

A Time for long shadows, Watercolour on Paper, (10" X 14") 

 

This field is on the outskirts of Pune. I was intrigued by the long shadows and the colours of the early evening.
Thanks for visiting. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Rest Day

Rest Day, Watercolour on Paper, (14" X 22")  

Its been about a couple of months since I did a boat painting. These boats are waiting their turn to get minor repairs done before the tide comes in.
All comments are critiques are most welcome.

Mutual Love

Mutual Love, Watercolour on Paper, (11" x 14") 

This is my entry for Dailypaintworks's "The Emotion Challenge". I have attempted to portray the love and affection the lovely little girl feels for her per turtle and the reciprocation of the same by the turtle.

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Attentive

Attentive, Charcoal on Paper, (11.75" x 8")  

The handsome, intelligent face of this female got me interested in drawing her. My effort was towards capturing the attentive gaze she has cast here as she listens to someone over her shoulder.

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Stark Sun

Stark Sun, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" x 16.5")  

I was gifted a brand new Daler Rowney Drawing Pad by a friend and couldn't wait to try it out. This drawing is based on a photograph on Deviant Art by Crysta James, who is a fabulous photographer. Thank you so much Crysta. :)

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

P.S. I wanted to titled this pice "Girl with the pearl earring"! But wont that be too presumptious !?! ;)

Sonja

Sonja, Charcoal on Paper, (11.75" x 8")

A study in charcoal. This was done from a photograph of a facebook friend Sonja Ljubicic.

I just love doing these charcoal studies. Hopefully with practice I will be able to do a better job :).

All comments and critiques ar most welcome.

Phoenix Rising!

Phoenix Rising, Oil on Canvas, (24" x 30")

A few months ago I was contacted by someone for a painting of a phoenix. My initial reaction was "NO", I dont paint such fantastic stuff. Then I felt that since I am a "struggling artist" I should not be turning down prospective clients. Besides, I might just learn something new that will help me with the kind of painting that I normally do. So I finally did give it a shot.

Now, I have never painted birds in my life or even studied their anatomy. So I researched the internet for pictures of the phoenix. (in fact I didnt even know the story!). The basic idea was taken from a graphic I found here. Thanks :) I tried to model the head on that of the bald eagle with a longer beak. I had to make several sketches (atleast 15) before I could zero in upon what I wanted to paint!

This was quite an exercise for me. I have never used cad red, yellow, orange, vermilion etc is much in a painting. It felt kinda wierd to finish an entire painting without dipping in any of the blues.

All comments and critiques are most welcome. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Introvert and Some Happy News

Introvert, Charcoal on Paper, (11" x  8.5")

The moment I saw this photo I got an impression that this girl was a little reserved, hence the title. :)
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

I got some pleasant news a few days ago that I wanted to share here. My painting "Evening Light" has been selected for the 26th South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Annual National Exhibition to be held in Nagpur. I have been sending my entry for the last 3 years,  I am glad I have finally been able to make it atleast to the exhibition stage. :)

Evening Light, Watercolour on Paper, (14" x 10")

Village Girl

Village Girl, Watercolour on Paper, (9.75" x 13.5") 

This is perhaps my first serious portrait in watercolour. The likeness is far from perfect, as you can see :), but I hope to improve with practice.
I would be really grateful to all who give honest critiques and point out the mistakes. Thank you so much for visiting.

Photo Courtesy: Damon Lynch

Kolthare to Pune

Kolthare to Pune, Watercolour on Paper, (19" x 12.5") 

This place is somewhere in the western ghats of Maharashtra, India. This winding roads leads from the town of Kolthare to the city of Pune. The best period to visit this place is the rainy season (which is now!) when the clouds are low and there is fog everywhere.
Photo Courtesy: Prasad Dabke

Cozy in a scarf

"Cozy in a Scarf", Pencil on Paper, (10" x 8") 

Did this small sketch yesterday just to break the long and unnecessary sabbatical I took from painting for about ten days. Time can pass by real quickly and then one day you suddenly realise that its been a long long time since you did what you love to do most. :)

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Beached Rowboat

Beached Rowboat, Watercolour on Paper, (14" x 20") 

I just cant get over these boats. Who knows I might have been a fisherman or a pirate in my previous life! ;)  I have not painted a rowboat before. I loved the interesting zigzag pattern of light and shade created on the planks that are supposed to support the bottom board. 
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Adasa Hut

Adasa Hut, Watercolour on Paper, (10" x 14")

Another painting of these beautiful tiled roof houses in the village of Adasa. I have taken so many photos of this place that they may easily last me for a couple of years :).

Thank you everyone for dropping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Old Fishing Boat

Old Fishing Boat, Watercolour on Paper, (14" x 20")   

Hello friends, its been really sometime since I have been able to produce something worth putting up here on my blog. I made this from a few old sketches I made from the below mentioned reference. I think the slant of the boat shape draws us into the painting and so perhaps make up for the imbalance in the composition. 

I think, for a change, I am satisfied with this one, and I would really love to know your opinion on this. So please do leave a comment. :)

Photo Reference Courtesy: http://www.photosharing.org.uk/ used under the Creative Commons Licence 3.0

Verve - Group Show

I have a bit of news to share with you my blogging friends. Its quite unbelievable! :)
I am participating in an group show VERVE at Art Perspective, Delhi. This is the first time I have been invited to participate in an invitational show.
And believe it or not the participants include Vasudeo Kamath, Rajesh Sawant, Prafull Sawant, Sachin Naik, Ramesh Jhawar, Prabal Mallik, Amit Kapoor and so many other masters of the medium. I am indeed honoured.
Cant believe I am not dreaming ;)


Venue: 
Art Perspective,
F-213/D, Lado Sarai,
New Delhi - 110030
India


Ph: 011-40564889


The exhibition starts on 12th of July, 2012.

Evening Light ... SOLD

Evening Light, Watercolour on Paper, (14" x 10") 

Photo Courtesy: Suresh Pethe


I did this painting from a beautiful photograph by Suresh Pethe, who is himself an amazing watercolourist. I have always wanted to do such backlit scenes but never had the courage to actually begin one. Finally I did one today.
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Just Shy, Charcoal on Paper, (11" x 8.5")

Photo Courtesy: Prasad Dabke


I got this photograph from a wonderful photographer friend. The moment I saw it I knew it was meant to be 'charcoaled' :). The shyness of the girl in showing her full face to someone behind her really caught my eye.


 All comments and critiques are most welcome. Thank you all for visiting.

Low Tide III

Low Tide III, Watercolour on Paper, (10" x 14")

This was painted from a photograph of the beautiful Havelock beach of the Andaman Islands. I am just loving painting these boats.
I hope you enjoy watching these paintings as much as I do painting them.

High and Dry

High and Dry, Watercolour on Paper, (11" x 4.75")

Another 'boats during low tide' painting. I had this odd shaped piece of paper and wanted to do something nice with it. Came up with this composition after many rough sketches.
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Repairs Before the Tide Comes In

Repairs Before The Tide Comes In, Watercolour on Paper, (13.5" x 15.5")

I have painted boats after quite some time. I just love to paint boats and coastal scenes in general and it was so refreshing to paint this one. This is not done from any specific photograph or reference. Its actually done by commbining five or six sketches and colour studies. I have done this on Arches paper. I tried this paper for the first time and was a little anxious because I did not want to ruin all the homework that had gone into in before the final thing was done. I must say I was most pleasantly surprised, especially so with the freshness of the colours and the ability of the paper to avoid formation of backruns. With handmade paper its really difficult, if not impossible to do this.


I am planning to paint a few more boats before touching any other subjects


Thank you so much for visiting my blog. . Comments and critiques are most welcome!

Higham Hills Cottage

Higham Hills Cottage, Watercolour on Paper, (9" x 15")

Most of the novels I read have made me dream about England and the english country life. I love to surf with Google Street View and visit places I can only dream of. I cam across this view in one of these "visits" ;) I used Fabriano paper for the first time today and found it a little too absorptive for my taste.

All comments and critiques are most welcome. 

Gdansk

Gdansk, Poland, Watercolour on Paper, (9" x 13.5")

This is my entry for the current month's virtual paintout on Bill Guffey's blog  I just love browsing through Google Street View. Its perhaps one of the best things to have happened to internet users.

Your comments and critiques please.

Railway Bridge

Railway Bridge near Wardha, Watercolour on Paper, (11.5" x 10")

This is a common sight in India. With rail lines running through fields and villages, cattle can be seen grazing all around. I love to travel by train and take reference photos. This one was taken in the outskirts of the town of Wardha.


All comments and critiques are welcome.

Old Library Building

Old Library Building, Watercolour on Paper, (10" x 12")

I went plein air sketching after a long time this Sunday. I love the old houses with tiled roofs in the railway colony. Sadly they are not livable any more and the railway administration is demolishing them and constructing new quarters. This lovely place used to be the community library building. 

I hope to make many sketches of these beautiful buildings before they are lost forever.

Thank you for stopping by. Critiques and comments are most welcome.

The Sunny Spot

The Sunny Spot, Watercolour on Paper, (10.5" x 9.5")

This is a small watercolour sketch of a house in Konkan. I love painting houses with tiled roofs, even though its sucha a cliche! :)


Comments and critiques please.

Anxious, Charcoal on Paper, (8.5" x 11.5")

Did this drawing from a photo by my friend Prasad Dabke.  I love doing these charcoal portraits once in a while. I hope to achieve greater edge control with practice. 
Its a shame how fixatives spoil a day's work. The hair and lips were a rich, deep dark. Thankfully the fixative was so bad that it actually could be removed by wiping with a dry brush.
Thank you all for stopping by.

Boats

Boats, Watercolour on Paper, (6.5" x 14")

I did this small painting today after a gap of more thank a week. Trying to get the technique going.
Thank you for visiting.

Female in Profile II (Modified)

Female in Profile II, Oil on Canvas Panel, (12" x 10")

This is the same painting as the previous post. I have taken the advice of my friends and well wishers and decided to remove the background details on the top left corner. I have also deepened the value of the background. I am thoroughly satisfied with the result. Thank you so much Carol, Crystal and Katheryn for your valuable advice. 
Comments and critiques please .....

Female in Profile II

Female in Profile II, Oil on Canvas Panel, (12" x 10")

Another painting done from a movie still. I wish I had handled the hair a little better. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

As If Nothing Has Ever Happened

As If Nothing Has Ever Happened, Oil on Canvas Panel, (10" x 12")

This painting is again based on Sense & Sensibility. This is Eleanor after she gets news of the wedding of Edward Ferrars with Lucy Steele.


Comments and critiques please.

Palace Square St. Petersburg, Russia

Palace Square, Watercolour on Paper, (10.5" x 9")

This is my entry for the ongoing Virtual Paintout of St. Petersburg, Russia hosted by artist Bill Guffey. This is done using Google Streetview, which I think is a fantastic creation of Google.


All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Adasa Rooftops

Adasa Rooftops, Watercolour on Paper, (14" x 10.5")

This is the view from the beautiful and ancient Ganesh Temple in Adasa village. 
Comments and critiques please.

Konkan House 2

Konkan House 2, Watercolour on Paper, (11" x 14")

This is another painting based on a referece photograph taken in Konkan. I wanted to capture the feel of a warm sunny day, but I guess the excessive use of blue goes counter to that intention.
Anyways, we live (read paint) and learn :)
Thank you all for stopping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Lady with a Lamp

Lady with a Lamp, Oil on Canvas Panel, (12" x 10")

Please don't charge me with plagiarism, I have only copied the title! I hope I may be pardoned for doing that because the painting is no way close in subject matter or QUALITY to the great S.L. Haldankar's masterpiece.:)


This stylised bust of a tribal indian woman was a gift from a very accomplished artist whom I greatly respect and admire. I have wanted to paint this brass lamp for a long time too. This one took me about 12 hours to complete.


I hope you guys enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed painting it. Comments and critiques please ......

Evening in Adasa

Feeding the Bullock, Watercolour on Paper, (10.5" x 14)

I am back after another unforced break. Took me three attempts before I could get this painting this far. I did this from a photograph of the beautiful village of Adasa (about 50 km from my hometown Nagpur). This place is famous for the ancient Ganesh temple.I took loads of photos here and hope to convert atlest a few of them. 
Thank you so much for stopping by. All critiwues and comments are most welcome.

Curious Peaches

Curious Peaches, Charcoal on Paper, (11" x 8")

This is done from the same photo reference as my painting "Female in Profile" on my other blog.
I enjoy doing charcoals of late primarily because you do not have to worry about colour and just concentrate on drawing and values. I find great inspiration in the works of Niranjan Mhamane (in addition to so many others :)) One of his charcoals have been selected for Strokes of Genius: The best of drawing. I am sure you will all like his work too.
Thank you for visiting. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Shubha

Shubha, Charcoal on Paper, (11" x 8")

I did this portrait drawing of my wife Shubha today afternoon. Sundays can get really lazy and it was quite a task to keep her from dozing away and drawing at the same time. :)
In the end though I think I have been able to capture a reasonable likeness.
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Konkan House, Watercolour on Paper, (10.5" x 14")

(Actually Ko-Kan as pronounced in Marathi)

This is my first post in the new year. So let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, prosperous, fulfulling  and artistic new year. May we all achieve greater success in our artistic endeavours.

This is a typical house from Konkan ( the western coastal region of Maharashtra). The place is hilly and so most houses have rooms at slightly different levels from each other. I did this from a photograph I took in Guhagar and a couple of sketches done on site.

All critiques and comments are most welcome.