Sketch of a girl - a master copy

Sketch of a Girl (after W Bouguereau), Oil on Canvas, 14" X 12" 

To say that I am a huge admirer of William Adolphe Bouguereau would be such an understatement. I enjoyed doing this alla prima master copy and also it was a wonderful learning experience. I will be doing a few more these copies and hopefully achieve a better likeness :)
Thank you so much for stopping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Charcoal Triptych

Charcoal Triptych, Charcoal on Paper, (9.5" X 21") (9.5" X 7" each) 

I love doing these charcoal studies. They are not very time consuming, an hour for each and are a great exercise in values. I mostly use pictures I find on the internet that are not copyrighted. 
All comments are most welcome.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tikkar Billa, Oil on Canvas, 24" X 20" 

A very happy new year to all my friends and fellow bloggers. Thank you for all the encouragement you guys have provided me with in the past year. I look forward to it in the coming year too. 
I composed this painting using several sources, mostly photos and a couple of face and hand sketches. I have changed the colours of the dress hoping to create a more pleasing harmony.
Thank you so much for stopping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Charcoal Sketches

The Gaze, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Happy Girl, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Tried out some new, advanced techniques in charcoal here that are bolder and riskier to what I am used to. (These techniques are new to me although they are well established for ages). No doubt I need more practice until I can make my drawings look convincing. :)
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Evening

Evening, Oil on Canvas, 18" X 14"

Reference Photo Courtesy: Olga Burczyk (www.facebook.com/ksantypa.photography)
I did this one from a reference pic by Olga Burczyk who was really kind in letting me use her work. I have altered the background and colours to suit my theme.
All comments and critiques are most welcome. :)

The Year That Was... 2013

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and have begun the new year in high spirits and great aspirations. 
2013 was a particularly happy and fulfilling year for me as an artist and art student, even though I sold only two paintings :). My paintings were selected in three juried shows, out of which two were my first time selections. :). I also won my first award ever at professional level in this year :)

Hyderabad Art Society Annual National Exhibition:

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

This drawing, Tribal Boy received Highly Commendable certificate at the Hyderabad Art Society's Annual National Exhibition 2013.

 SCZCC Nagpur Annual National Exhibition:

Woman from Ladakh, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.5")

My first time selection at South Central Zone Cultural Centre's National Exhibition 2013.

Camlin South Zone Exhibition:

"Evening Light", Oil on Primed Paper, (22" X 15")

This painting and the next were my first time selections for the Camlin South Zone Annual Exhibition.

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

This painting won best entry award at the regional level. My first ever award at the professional level! :)

Thank you so much for reading this far. I thank all my readers and friends for their support and encouragement throughout the last year. I hope I will receive the same in the coming days too. :)

I pray everyone of us has a wonderfully fulfilling new year as artists and as human beings.

Best wishes .....

Worker Woman

Tribal Woman, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11") 

This was done from a photograph of a group of ceramic workers who toil at various factories on the outskirts of our city, Hyderabad. I thought the sunlight on her face created a nice contrast which added to the drama of her dark skin against the white white scarf.

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Woman from Ladakh

Woman from Ladakh, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.5")
Photo reference Courtesy: Shabbir Ferdaus

A portrait of a woman from Ladakh.  People who have lived difficult lives have such expressive faces. I hope I have been able to do some justice. I am glad the exceptionally talented photographer Shabbir Ferdaus allowed me to use one of his photos for this.

Please feel free to give your comments and critiques.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Tibetan Child

Tibetan Child, Charcoal on Paper, (15" x 11.75) 

Last week I happened to watch "Seven years in Tibet". I was amazed by the beauty of the place and people. 

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Female in Profile III

Female in Profile III, Charcoal on Paper, (8" X 11.75") 

This is a small sketch I did last night. In my limited experience I feel that side faces look easier to draw but it often gets tricky because one has to communicate so much and there is so little to do it with. :)

Thanks for visiting my blog. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Side lit

Side lit, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.75") 

Firstly, wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2013. 

Here's a portrait drawing I did today. All comments are most welcome.

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. :)

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! :) 

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.

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

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.