Attention! My blog has moved to a new web space starting January 2016. For my latest paintings and art happenings head on over to - http://PreranaKulkarniArt.blogspot.com
Attention! My blog has moved to a new web space starting January 2016. For my latest paintings and art happenings head on over to-http://PreranaKulkarniArt.blogspot.com
Needed to make this transition... All old blog posts have also been moved to the new blog!
Thanks for following me on this blog and looking forward for you to follow me on my new web space as well !!
As plein air (i.e painting outdoors from direct observation) practice, I placed a big stuffed toy animal on a chair in our backyard. Positioned it to get some interesting light on it and originally had placed a trash can on the side instead of the bush. After about 3 hours the painting was not complete but light and shadows had changed drastically, so I had to stop. In my studio finished the stuffed animal, but the trash can was looking rather odd. So instead I converted it into a bush with pink flowers following the same light and shadow pattern as it was on the trash can. Looks good to me now!!
How do you like it?
click on image to view larger
Stuffed Animal in Sun - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel
Painting in watercolors is my childhood passion and I love painting flowers. This painting is inspired by the great American Painter - Georgia O'Keeffe.
"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else."
Georgia O'Keeffe
American Painter
Glowing Hibiscus, 7x5 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper
This year I have been taking up very different projects and this will be the last one for this year, I think! Before I started off this project, I met with the client who wanted to commission a painting. I talked about their vision for the painting and where it will be used. What all elements the painting should consist of, logo, color considerations etc etc. I made detailed notes and came up with a checklist of requirements that I used during my painting.
So the image of this painting is going to be used on promotional materials - postcard, notecard and such.
After completion, this is the feedback I got:
"Thank you for the beautiful artwork. I am so happy with the result. It is exactly what I was envisioning. ...."
I feel really accomplished!!
Hurray!! for a successful painting!
FBBC Aerial View - 14x18 inches, Acrylic on Canvas Panel
Happy Diwali!! This is a different painting experiment!! Finished this couple months back. Posting it now, since the Diwali-e-magazine with this painting as front cover is published. The theme given to me was Diwali - Saat Samudra Paar (meaning Diwali Overseas). It got me to thinking how do we really celebrate Diwali here? The celebrations in India are really a lot festive. Here, kids don't have holiday for this festival so celebration cannot be the same as in India. However, I do make few traditional sweets/snacks, decorate with lamps/candles and put on traditional clothes. With the few fire crackers that I save from July 4th weekend, we have "mini" fun in our backyard. Call our parents on facetime to greet them and show what we are doing for Diwali. With these thoughts in mind, I created the painting. My very first attempt to get published in a Magazine!!
I came back from walking our dog in the morning, opened our backyard door to get in. Right behind the door in a dark corner, I saw this flower shining bright - back lit by fresh morning sun. I couldn't resist taking a picture! I tried some different ways to get texture in the background, wasn't quite happy. However a good learning experience!
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Morning Glory, 5 x 7 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper
Here is the demo painting I completed on the day of Ganapati Festival in LA. It took me 2 hours to paint this, while I was painting there were people watching as they were passing by, few stopped to talk. But there was a very curious little girl who stopped with her Dad and brother and watched for sometime. Eventually she asked me questions and it was fun chatting with them during the demo.
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Coconut Halves - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel
This painting was created as a practice for doing Live Demonstration during the Ganesh Festival in Los Angeles. A week prior to the actual demo, I set up this still life in my back yard. It was fun to paint, standing in the shade. I chose to paint coconut because that is what I had on hand for preparing the sweet offering "modak" - a favorite of Ganesha.
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Perfect Coconut Split - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel
This is a custom painting based on 30 paintings in 30 days challenge I did in January. This time, I set up the still life outdoors in my front yard, keeping the table in full mid afternoon sun. Even though I stood in the shade and painted, it became very hot. Since there are more objects in the painting, it was taking me long to paint. After about 3 hours, I was not approx close to half done. But the light had changed, the shadow had changed a lot and I was getting tired. So brought everything inside and took rest. The next day I decided to complete the painting in my studio from the reference picture. Its drying on my shelf now and will be on its way to India by end of this month!!
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Healthy Choices - 14 x 11 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel
Flowers are my favorite for painting and this exotic Pink Plumeria caught my attention while browsing through reference pictures for painting. I liked the play of light and shadow on the flower. In my painting I tried to paint this light and shadow on the flower.
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Exotic Pink Plumeria - 7 x 11 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper
In different cultures, there is different symbolic meaning for Plumeria flowers and it was interesting to read from ehow:
Hawaiian Meaning
For Hawaiians, plumeria represents perfection and the bond between everything good. In addition, plumeria is the symbol of new life, springtime and re-creation of the nature.
Chinese Meaning
In China, plumeria flowers are tokens of love. Chinese consider plumerias even more precious than orchids.
Hindu Meaning
In Hindu culture, plumeria flowers represent loyalty, and young brides wear plumerias in their hair on their wedding day to show their loyalty to their new husbands.
Vietnamese Meaning
In Vietnam, plumeria is the flower of the educated and westernized upper class. Therefore, plumeria flowers are used to show status in society.
Once again indulging in Watercolors!! I had started another version of Spring Roses couple months ago but left is half done. Finished this one today. The earlier Spring Roses can be seen here.
In this new one, I added more texture in the background using rubbing alcohol and salt. I love how the texture shows in this and added a more defined bud on left side compared to earlier one.
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Spring Roses 2 - 16 x 20 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper
Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) 2015 17th Convention Opening Ceremony - Jugalbandi Performance - a unique perspective - see the painting come alive, along with dancers and musicians.
Many thanks to Videographer - Hemant Warudkar.
I would like to thank the whole team for support, guidance, feedback after each practice, contributing ideas for successful execution - Sudhanwa Karmarkar, Ajay Dandekar, Vidyut Gharpure-Page and Sayali Pendse, Manali, Ria, Vidyut, Sayali, Rutuja, Anushka, Sandeep Katre, Amisha, Rama, Rucha, Abhijeet Dharmapurikar, Jyoti Gharpure, Kaustubh Page and Amita Dalal Rajadhyaksha.
And it goes without saying - a huge support from my FAMILY!!
Feeling accomplished and blessed, broke my own record of #speed painting - 5 x 9 Feet in 12 minutes, and Painting Largest size so far!!
Happy to say 2 of 6 Paintings are SOLD. For available paintings click on my blog link
This is sixth and final painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Flamenco dancers emphasized "Fire" element. Hence in the literal sense, I chose to paint fire for Flamenco dancers. I love bright warm colors and this painting portrays energetic movements of brush strokes.
click on image to view larger
Flamenco2 BMM2015 OpeningCeremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
AVAILABLE $600.00 + Shipping
Contact me - preranap@hotmail.com, 949-742-2579
The painting will be varnished and available ready to hang with hooks and wire. Edges of canvas are painted in dark color so it can be hung unframed. In addition as a memorabilia, I can paint BMM 2015 logo on it, see below example:
click on image to view larger
SOLD
To see the set of 6 paintings together, click here.
This is fifth painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Flamenco dancers emphasized "Fire" element. Hence in the literal sense, I chose to paint fire for Flamenco dancers. I love bright warm colors and this painting portrays energetic movements of brush strokes.
click on image to view larger
Flamenco1 BMM2015 OpeningCeremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
AVAILABLE $600.00 + Shipping
Contact me - preranap@hotmail.com, 949-742-2579
The painting will be varnished and available ready to hang with hooks and wire. Edges of canvas are painted in dark color so it can be hung unframed. In addition as a memorabilia, I can paint BMM 2015 logo on it, see below example:
click on image to view larger
SOLD
To see the set of 6 paintings together, click here.
This is fourth painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Kathak dancers emphasized "Air". Earth and Space(Void) are additionally incorporated in this piece using colors brown and green and yellow (for earth), Circular pattern being for Air and Space.
click on image to view larger
Kathak2 BMM2015 OpeningCeremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
SOLD
Contact me - preranap@hotmail.com, 949-742-2579
To see the set of six paintings together,click here.
This is third painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Kathak dancers emphasized "Air". Earth and Space(Void) are additionally incorporated in this piece using colors brown and green and yellow (for earth), Circular pattern being for Air and Space.
click on image to view larger
Kathak1 BMM2015 OpeningCeremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
AVAILABLE $600.00 + Shipping
Contact me - preranap@hotmail.com, 949-742-2579
The painting will be varnished and available ready to hang with hooks and wire. Edges of canvas are painted in dark color so it can be hung unframed. In addition as a memorabilia, I can paint BMM 2015 logo on it, see below example:
click on image to view larger
SOLD
To see the set of 6 paintings together, click here.
This is second painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Bharatnatyam dancers emphasized on "Water" and so I used blues in this color scheme and also incorporated wave motion in the painting.
Bharatnatyam2 BMM2015 OpeningCeremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
AVAILABLE $600.00 + Shipping
Contact me - preranap@hotmail.com, 949-742-2579
The painting will be varnished and available ready to hang with hooks and wire. Edges of canvas are painted in dark color so it can be hung unframed. In addition as a memorabilia, I can paint BMM 2015 logo on it, see below example:
click on image to view larger:
SOLD
To see the set of 6 paintings together, click here.
This is first painting in the set of six paintings that was performed live during BMM 2015 Opening Ceremony, Jugalbandi piece.
**BMM - Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
For looking at overview and 6 paintings together, look at blog post here.
The Dancers portrayed "pancha mahabhoot" (5 elements of nature) theme. Bharatnatyam dancers emphasized on "Water" and so I used blues in this color scheme and also incorporated wave motion in the painting.
Bharatnatyam1 BMM2015 Opening Ceremony - 30 x 36 inches, Acrylic on Canvas
It is hard to believe - haven't posted anything in last 2 months!!
As I finished up the last Spring Roses painting and installation, I found myself occupied in a very interesting project. It was something I had never done before and eventually as the project progressed I got completely consumed.
Before raising your curiosity further, let me just show the end result and then write up the story...
Here it is..
BMM - is Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal
5 x 9 Feet, Acrylic on Canvas, Painted live on stage in ~12 minutes, synchronized with live musicians and dancers
Live Painting - 5 x 9 Feet, Acrylic on Canvas
Each of these paintings are for sale for $600.00 as memorabilia for the BMM 2015 opening ceremony event. Contact me at preranap@hotmail.com, or 949-742-2579
Now the story:
There was a 12-13 minute Jugalbandi item within the Opening Ceremony for BMM 2015. This item consisted of 3 different dance forms - Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Flaminco - pair of dancers for each dance form. Dance was performed to live music - Tabla, Pakhawaj, Flute and Vocalist. While the dancing and music was performed there was painting being performed on stage portraying music and dance through colors.
I don't know if I was burnt out or what, but couldn't continue on Oil painting. So took a break for sometime and saw these beautiful Roses. I love painting flowers and I had not done watercolors for so very long! I love how watercolors create a magical effect when mixed.
For some reason, I have never mixed colors on palette. All my color mixing is done directly on paper in this case and on canvas directly when I am painting oils. The 2 colors laid side by side on paper using watercolor creates a magical effect. Its a surprise to see the effect when the painting dries up.
Also this is the first time I have painted this large size - 16x20 inches using watercolors. I think I should work with even larger paper now, its fun experimenting with this medium!
click on image to view larger
Spring Roses - 16 x 20 inches, on Arches paper
SOLD
Email me if interested in a similar piece - preranap@hotmail.com
SOLD
SOLD
