Stuffed Animal in Sun

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?

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Stuffed Animal in Sun - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Code# PK_15_050

Available - Click Here

Coconut Halves

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

Code# PK_15_045

Available - click here

Perfect Coconut Split

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

Code# PK_15_044

Available Click Here

Here is what I made after doing the painting:
Modak: my favorite too and I make them only once a year during this festival time.

Modak

Modak Offering for Ganesha

Laurel Pumpkin - Work in Progress

Laurel Pumpkin Stages are below.
Upper left - Stage 1
Upper right - Stage 2
Lower left - Stage 3
Lower right - Stage 4 - Also the final painting

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Laurel Pumpkin - Work in Progress - 8 x 10 inches Oil on Canvas Panel

Laurel n Hardy Pumpkin Duo

For the 2014 Fall Art Show, I prepared 2 demo paintings. I chose pumpkin for demo - what could be a better subject for painting in Fall season !? A work in progress painting for both pumpkins are in separate blog posts.
They are put together below, but each one is a separate painting or can be framed together as a collage as it is shown below:

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Laurel n Hardy Pumpkin Duo - each is 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

In the Woods - SOLD

Here is one more water color magic experiment. I used lot of salt and alcohol for the texture in the background.
As I walked, each step was making sound - krrrr.. krrr... krrr... due to the dried leaves that had fallen on the ground. And looking up, the sky was lit with colors. Enjoyed the hike throughly!!

Now I am itching to do oil paint, have been away from it for quite a while...

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In the Woods - 81/2 x 11 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper - SOLD

SOLD

Glowing Branch - SOLD

I love to try out different mediums. Here is my latest, experimenting with Watercolors. I find watercolors a magical medium. This time I tried out spraying water on the painting to create the background effects. If the painting is too wet, then the water spraying did not work quite well. I darkened the background colors once again, waited for it to dry a little. You can tell how much a painting has dried by looking at it in at an angle and observing how much it shines. The shimmer is quite less as it dries. This is a perfect time to gently spray water and it creates magical texture on paper. Had fun with this piece. Hope you like it!

Glowing Branch, 81/2 x 11 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper - SOLD

SOLD

Day 4 - 30 Paintings in 30 days Jan 2014 - Winner

Here's an experiment with Gold. I had this trophy for a while and in my children's class I helped them sketch and shade it with pencil. Once again I was tempted to use this as a reference and this time for oil painting. This is my first object in gold, hope it looks like gold to you. I will be happy to hear your comments and suggestions!

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Winner - 10 x 8 inches, Oil on canvas panel

Day 3 - 30 Paintings in 30 days Jan 2014 - Pomegranate on Silver

The goal of these paintings is to do something different that I haven't painted before. So I chose a pomegranate, which I haven't painted earlier. Used a silver dish under it - this was a complete adventure - how do you paint silver using oils? The cloth under it was dark color. So most of the Silver became dark, specially underside of the dish. Does it look like a silver dish to you? I will do something with the same dish in one of these paintings.
Only thing I am in catch-up mode right from day one. Just sketched day 4 painting in the evening. Hoping that I will catch up by tomorrow! Also it is taking me little longer to paint 8x10 size, so maybe I will try smaller size as I had done in the September 2013 challenge.

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Pomegranate on Silver - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Day 2 - 30 Paintings in 30 days Jan 2014 - Together

It is just Day 2 and I am wondering what to paint. Once again started painting fruits - that's the most easily available subject to paint, and I haven't done Pears before. So here is a pair of Pears... Together.
This is painted from live set up right next to my easel.

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Together - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Day 1 - 30 Paintings in 30 days Jan 2014 - Egg on Red

Its been long that I did an oil painting, so here is an end of the year painting. I did this as a warm up exercise for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge starting tomorrow. It was a very simple setup - a boiled egg on Red cloth - with that good bye December and goodbye 2013!! And now I can go to the New Year's party - YES!!
WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

Egg on Red - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Day 28 - 30 Paintings in 30 days - Rangoli Inspiration

Last weekend I attended a Rangoli Competition in our community and was inspired by Rangoli Art. This is a painting from life. I decided to use one of my pastel art sheet done few years ago as base. Then placed one of my very own made candle on top. Actually I started my artistic career by making such soy wax candles and it is my very first blog post. I sold these candles for Diwali celebrations. Still have a few left and just one set of 4 candles as sentimental value... Take a look on that candle post here.
I hope you like my setup and the painting too!!

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Rangoli Inspiration - 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

For those who don't know about Rangoli - It is folk art from India. The purpose of Rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally done by women. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, marriage celebrations and other similar milestones and gatherings. more on wikepedia.

Best Friends - Lorikeets

Their color inspired me to paint it, and their pose suggests as if they have been "best friends" since long time!

These are a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets are colorful parrots found in Australia, Indonesia... A lot of people have such Lorikeets as pets too. I am not sure if I am ready to have such pets, but I had fun fun fun painting them!

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Best Friends - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

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.

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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.

Meow - SOLD

Friends, my new year 2013 paintings started with a Meow! Even if you are not a cat person - you will definately admire this little kitty.

Meow - 8x10 inches, Oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Hope you like it and I will love to have your comments.

A Glimpse of the Beach City

The air is sultry, noise level is high, hustle and bustle of people, and gray atmosphere could make someone dizzy. Nevertheless, against all odds, this is a city of opportunity – the commercial and entertainment capital of India – Mumbai. To balance out the “dizziness” there is this vast ocean where one can take a deep breath, look at the horizon and feel the promising air – a definite assurance of a bright future! So friends here is an attempt to capture a glimpse of the beach city.

Enjoy!

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A Glimpse of the Beach City - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

MetroCity - Mumbai Coastline

It always amazes me - tall buildings right next to ocean... This is an attempt to capture Mumbai coastline from a distance.

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MetroCity - Mumbai Coastline - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas panel

Did you like it?

The Beach, The People and some Fresh Air

A walk on the beach, that ocean breeze is always refreshing. And when you meet your friends there, it could be all the more fun. You come back home light hearted!
I have been trying to get a crowd of people on the beach for some time. Here is another attempt...
Hope you like it!

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The Beach, The People and some Fresh Air - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Fun On the Beach

I finally completed this diptych painting. It took me time to get into the flow after couple months "dead stop" on painting.... So I am really happy that I have this one behind me.

I wanted to show tons of people on the beach - just like a typical day on Chowpati beach in Mumbai. But it was my first attempt putting in many people, so I am happy with the results.



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Fun On the Beach - 2 Canvas panels, each 8 x 10 inches, Oil Painting

 As you can see below each part is a separate independant painting:

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Fun On the Beach - I, 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel





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Fun On the Beach - II, 8 x 10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Life is Wonderful

Looking at this fresh rose bud, I remember the quote by Albert Einstein:
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

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Life is Wonderful - 8x10 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel