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.

Grey Cap

Grey Cap, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11" 

I have not done charcoal for a while now. Did this one today morning from a small photo I had taken with my phone. I think the best part of charcoal is that one need not worry about colour and can concentrate on getting the values perfectly right. I am never too confident with my colour and prefer to atleast stay loyal to the values. Its precisely for this that charcoal is a relief for me after a series of failed paintings ;)

Balu

Balu, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11" 

Meet Balu, a construction worker from Hyderabad. He does one of the most difficult jobs around, especially considering the Indian climate. The heavily tanned skin is evidence enough that he has to brave the harsh sun all day long. I find great spirit and depth of character in such faces. 

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Polo: Commissioned Pet Portrait

Polo, Pencil on Paper, 11.5" X 8.5" 

I was commissioned to do this portrait of a dog named Polo by his owner. Unfortunately the dog is no more and this is to serve as a memory of this lively and beautiful creature. Though the drawing is small I felt a huge sense of responsibility in doing this as I had to capture not only a likeness but also the elusive emotion in his eyes. I hope I could do justice here. Thankfully the collector and her family are very happy with the drawing.
Thank you all for dropping by. All comments and critiques are most welcome. 

Rangaiah

Rangaiah, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Another charcoal sketch :)

Seasons Greetings and Hungry Child

Hungry Child, Charcoal on Paper, (19" X 25") 

First of all, wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year. I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. I did this from a reference photo I actually took hoping to make a landscape out of it. But later when I saw the photo on my computer I felt the gesture of this poor child as he drank something from the vessel very touching. Hence this drawing!
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Shantaram

Shantaram, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11")

This is a portrait of a roadside fruit vendor near my place in Hyderabad. I tried a bit of abstraction here with the forehead merging in the background on the left side. I find charcoal a very flexible medium and quite amenable to such experimentation.
Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about this piece.
Thanks for visiting my blog.

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.