Leaning Over to see Myself

As I leaned over, it was a pleasant surprise to see myself – my reflection was beautiful! All this time I thought of myself as being quite ugly, being surrounded by murky water. It was a miracle to realize the beautiful world and all the wonderful blessings!

click on image to view larger

Leaning Over to see Myself - 11x14 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Garden Reflections

Title: Down beneath
I haven't been able to think of a creative name for this painting. Any suggestions? Let me know.
We always draw and paint regular paintings, but this was fun to do upside down.
What is your impression - does it look like a reflection or an upside down painting?

click on image to view larger

Garden Reflections - 24x18 inches, Oil on Hardboard panel

With this painting I have graduated myself to a little larger size. The most I have done so far is 20x16 inches, on readymade canvas board. This is 24x18 inches, this size was not available, so I bought hardboard in home depot, got it cut to this size. To prepare the board for painting, I primed it with 2 layers of liquitex gesso, both front and back. This is also to protect the board from moisture etc. It was a great experience to paint on this surface. I think I prefer this to premade canvas boards.

Down the Shady Path

I painted this from Susan Sarback's book titled - Capturing Radiant Light & Color. It had been long time I had not tried out any demo from this book, so it was fun doing it.
After finishing and signing the painting, I felt I should have painted the first tree on the right, a little more shady; Painted a man sleeping under that tree with a basket on his side; and a few monkeys on tree with caps on. It would be a perfect illustration of the story "Cap seller and the Monkeys". Do you know this story? Ok, see the painting first and I have the story below it for you to read.

click on the image to view larger

Down the Shady Path - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Here's the story:  Cap seller and the Monkeys
Once a cap-seller was going to sell his caps in a village market. He was going through a forest. He was carrying a basket of caps on his head. It was very hot and he was tired, so he lay down under a tree to take rest. He put his basket on the ground. He fell asleep.
There were monkeys on that tree. They came down and took the caps. Then they climbed on the tree. When the cap-seller woke up, he was surprised to see that all the caps were gone from the basket. He looked up on the tree and saw monkeys were wearing his caps. He became sad. He thought of a plan. He threw his own cap on the ground. The monkeys also threw down their caps. He collected his caps and went away.
Moral: Wit works where strength fails.

Bird Enjoying Spring

This bird is sitting on a rock and singing spring time song! I painted this landscape for my Oil Painting Class I am currently teaching.
Artisans Winsor and Newton - water mixable oils are used in this painting. I was fun to use a limited palette from the beginner's set - U. Blue, Ali. Crimson, Yellow, White. 

click on the image to view larger

Bird Enjoying Spring - 14x11 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel



Beach Blossom

Here's a new experiment... This is Oil Pastel on a simply a posterboard paper.

The 4x16 inches was requirement for the design of a lamppost banner competition in Laguna Beach City. I have submitted this design, because I love florals. Thinking of Laguna Beach, I always love to see these cactus blooms while strolling there on the hilltop overlooking the ocean. The results will be out next week and the selected designs will then be painted on 4x16 feet acrilon banner by the Artist. Once complete these banners will be displayed on the lamp posts in City of Laguna Beach. It is my first time trying out for such a thing... so lets see... 

click on image to view larger

Beach Blossom - 4x16 inches, Oil Pastel on Paper

Rainbow in Foothill Ranch

This is a result of one day "marathon" painting session. I had lot of fun doing the sky. I loved the contrast of light and dark in this painting and the inspiration photo too. And most of all I wanted to try paint a rainbow which I had never done before and did not know if I will have success painting it "wet in wet". I think it would have been easier if the underpainting was dry and then paint the rainbow over it - but I might try this next time. I am happy with this wet in wet result too. Everytime I put color in the rainbow, I thought I was going to ruin the whole painting... so I feel very accomplished after doing this.
I was in a time crunch too, since I had to submit this painting before the deadline time... I have submitted this painting for Viewpoints: Orange County juried exhibition, and keeping my fingers crossed until the results are out next Monday!

click on image to view larger

Rainbow in Foothill Ranch - 14x11 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Here is the inspiration photo. I cropped the original picture in the painting.. This is from the back of my office, on a rainbow day. The picture was clicked by my friend - Marilou:

Rocks And Stream

Last Saturday - March 2nd, I participated in one day Watercolor workshop by renowned artist - Geri Medway. It was organized by Saddleback Art League. It is the first time I have taken watercolor class and I was so very happy. I came to know the importance of using good paper. I usually use Strathmore paper which is easily available, but the supply list strictly mentioned NO Strathmore... But after using Arches, I realized how wonderful the experience was using this paper, even though my brushes were not up to par! Good watercolor brushes are very very important as well.
There were 2 projects to choose from - Yellow Rose with lots of droplets and Rocks n Stream. My first impulse was to choose Rose, since I love florals. But I decided to use Rocks n Stream since there were different techniques to be learnt here. In the Rocks project, there was a great deal of negative painting and learning to create textures using resist, splattering using toothbrush, spray etc. I must say that my resist did not work quite well, so I could not get the water splashing against the rocks. In oils I would have done that as a last thing, but in watercolors the first was getting the watersplash right by using the resist. I am still very happy with the result. Below is my finished painting.
Now that I have professional watercolors and paper etc, I hope to indulge into watercolors whenever possible ...

click on image to view larger

Rocks And Stream - 11x14 inches, Arches Watercolor Paper