For Amgele Ashray (Our home)

Amgele Ashray

After 20 days of superb vacation at home (seriously this was one of the best vacations ever as we didnt do anything :) we enjoyed family time all the days and complete Shrusthi at Anantheshwar temple after many many years) it was time for us to packup and start back to Berlin.. I was feeling bad that I did not paint one for our home which my mom has been hinting since the first painting, I said I will do it once I am back in Berlin..... But could read my Mom very well, she wanted one painting before we start to Berlin..

30th evening was our flight from Manglore, All bags packed.. only my painting kit yet to get into the last bag, 2 big canvas left (from my first day shopping in school book company), somehow I was not feeling good about packing painting kit without painting one for our home.... Surprisingly, Mom who is always eager to get packings done... was also supporting that idea.. so I started one on the biggest canvas board I have ever painted..  

When I shared this painting with some of my good friends who provide valuable feedback, one from UK said few great words about the meaning of this.. and I do agree with him.. While looking at this painting what it signifies (at least its my version and its my painting so ;) I do have a say) is that 2 birds are you and your spouse.. Your parents very near to you right on upper branch.... and the birds which are flying out are those whom you have helped, nurtured, thought how to fly and mentored all along.. they arent going too far, they are going to acheive something just like what you did years ago.. Bench is the place where you sat with your kids sharing them life lessons, teaching them how to be humans than being a rich person, sharing great stories from our rich culture... 

When I finished.. Amma and Aanu (Dad) were so pleased and very happy to give this painting a prime place in living room. Took around 90-120 minutes for this one (may be) let all brushes dry and packed them in bags and we were off to Berlin in few hours............ 

It is framed and resides in Amgele Ashray (Amgele = Hamara, Ours in konkani) Ashray is name of our home ! 

Lusiya, Lake, Sunset and A Big Tree...........

Movie and a Painting.... 

There is no explaination for the sense of satisfaction and greatfulness you feel when you are with your entire family.. Parents, Brother (whom I met with family at home after many years), 2 great cousins who are nothing less than own brothers, Mhaave all under one roof in Amgele Ashray.. What else you can ask for.. Eating great and delicious food from my amma's kitchen, laying around and then eat again and chat chat and chat all day..

One of the evenings, we decided to watch Lusiya - A Kannada crowd funded movie and I thought is it not a great idea to paint while we all watch a movie.. 

So picked up all my aayudhas (arms..) and set off to paint on a canvas board 40x30 with only acrylics and no other experimental stuffs.. 

Used Orange and yellow extensively and paused many many times to understand most complex movie in Kannada (at least whatever I have seen so far) and also to listen to nonstop comments (in favor of director) from my brother who happens to be one of the crowd funder of the project.... Sun came very well and tree could have been bit better, however ended it just when movie was coming to and end.. 

My brother framed it and took it to Banglore, Now its in Banglore.. I liked it.. and only few more days left in India and want to paint one for our home - Ashray, something which has deep meaning in it.. 

Some failed attempts !! No regrets though..

Failed Attempts ! 

These are 2 paintings which tried but did not get favourable result.. It was a learning on what NOT to do next time and doing it again ;))

1. Half Moon & Lake

This is purely from a youtube instruction, Instructions were so good and I thought it can be done easily.. While I could get somewhat good lake.. Moon and clouds were messy, I later realized that I shouldnt have used so much of gesso rather should have used acrylic paint itself.. However it was a failed attempt and goes into a box !! 

2. Full moon & Lake

While on vacation in India, Tried it again.. this time thought of making moon smaller (In India you dont get to see LARGE moon :)) Few major mistakes I committed are 

- Did not prime the canvas, Quality of Moon was bad ! didnt work on creating crators !! 

- Clouds were too bad, not sure why I was not able to get clouds right.. 

- Acrylic was not sticking to canvas and getting dry too fast because I left cieling fan ON (it was warm day)

- And may be many more.. which are unknown to me too.. 

But my brother says he liked it.. he took it !! He better keep it in cellar or some box !! 

Super Moon - 2nd try

Super Moon - 2nd Try.. 

We travelled to India for our vacation and wanted to carry some of my paintings to my home but didnt plan properly so was not able to pack them right.. so took all my armories (brushes, acrylic paints etc) so that I can paint at my home while on vacation.. 

School Book company in Manglore has excellent variety and great collection of canvas and painting supplies, so bought series of different size canvas boards

My Mhaave (Doddamma/Badi Mausi) was having her birthday in few days, All decided to give a surprise party to her.. She really liked my Super moon painting which I finished just before starting to India, so thought let me make a similar one but on a large canvas

So here it is.. took around 2 hours to complete this, one of the challenge I faced while painting at home was, Acryllic was getting dry too fast.. I couldnt smoothen the paints as easy as I could do it in a dry weather of Berlin, however learnt how to maneure those and could paint few during my vacation.. 

At least my Mhaave liked it very much and that gives a sense of satisfaction.. 

:) Bench comes again.. 

Super Moon..

Orange Moon.. 

I started one painting back in October, Wanted to paint Super moon and a big tree which covers it, Wife saw a photo in National geographic and asked me if I can paint it.. Started it with great enthusiasm.. but not sure how, was not able to concentrate beyond a white moon and didnt have any clue to move forward with it.. 

Rested that canvas for well over 2 months.. until first weekend of December to complete that unfinished one..

I would consider this painting as original as I did not follow any youtube video, did not see any instructions nor any painting as such.. even introduced a Bench which I would like to take it into every (at least most) of my painting and have it like my signature ;)

Personal learning - Painting a moon at this size was not easy, getting those craters in a yellow and orange combination was not easy, Background had become too dark blue and my earlier experiment on this canvas was hindering some of the things.. 

But at the end, here is what it became and my kids do not want this to be given to any :) Best compliment a dad can get.. My brother's comment was best 'Superb location..we just need to find that bench now, sit there and talk for hours' 

This adores our living room now :)

Moon lit mountains..

Moon lit Mountains..

After a long break of over 2 months.. restarted my quest towards making my paintings better.. 

My new theme was doing a night sky, searched for an easier one and came across one in which Moon was shedding light on mountains.. was very interesting one, Knew that its difficult but there were loads of help available in youtube on how to paint it.. 

Winter was kind of making its way to Berlin and on a Friday night after a stressful week (almost all the weeks earlier were also the same.. enough issues at work !!) picked up a canvas board (first time, as I did all paintings on framed canvas before) of 50x40, primed it and set off to paint which I thought wouldnt come good.. 

However, after few hours it was coming well and didnt think of any more possible improvements I can do... Here it is..

Wish (fingers crossed)- I would some day go to Himachal and view Himalayas in moon light, may be I have to wait for some more time...... havent had courage to do that trip yet !! 

I plan to gift it to one of my good friend and collegue and now its framed and awaiting to be gifted.. Hope our friend likes it..

Mystic Forest

As I posted earlier, my stress and frustration level at times makes good paintings :))

It was wednesday 11th November, I was working from home as I had several calls and not much of client meetings etc.. Day was going good and around 2PM had series of escalations and what not.. man.. I couldnt ask for more that day ! Addressed things to an extent and was losing patience on number of things.. Rather than venting it out in emails and getting into HR isuses ;) thought of venting it out on a black acrylic paper and some acrylic paints !! It was a good decision...... 

Earlier month, I went to Idee shop in search of new things and found a thick acrylic paper black in color, Paint retarder etc.. So picked that sheet, cut it into 50x40 shape stuck it to a newspaper and started this..

Background was a tricky one, I used a kitchen tissue paper to make that hazy look and with simple brush strokes came trees.. grass was also easier. Used a mix of paint retarder and blue to give a bluish shade to tree portion and retarder+yellow to get that grassy look for other portion

So far this was the best one -- my family said :) So its framed and hanged in the room.. 

Hope you like it ! I painted this in almost an hour ! used hair dryer to dry layers.. 

Cottage & Clouds !!

A Cottage for a pleasant weekend? 

Each time when my paintings were finished and signed, I used to take a picture of that and share it some friends and families.. Seriously their comments were my big trophies and each morning (as I used to finish paintings late in the night, used to send them and then go to bed) would eagerly wait for these comments.. some say excellent ! Some say.. not as good as earlier one.. some said 'Why are you in IT field' and so on and so forth.. 

One of my close friend (Professional and personal) bought a big mansion in US.. When he asked me if I could paint one for his home ! Man.. I was overwhelmed.. Really.. do you want a painting from me !! So I thought let me paint best (As much as I can) one for him.. 

Learned painting clouds through youtube and while I finsihed sky and clouds and some mountains below... Didn't quite like it ! It was looking bit boring... so thought of doing something different ! How about a small cottage and some trees.. 

Here it is.. and now this painting resides in Detroit ! Thanks to my friend... He and his family liked it (at least that's what he told me ;)) 

Hope someday, I own a cottage like that somewhere around Manglore (India).. go there and spend peaceful weekends (or may be weekdays.. after retirement) and paint another painting there.. 

Speed Painting Trial..

Green Forest.. Speed painting experiment

Note: Even if I call this as a speed painting, In the actual sense its not.. Its indeed a speedy one for me as I did this within half an hour to 40 minutes.. 

My Aunt (Doddamma), Cousin and his wife were visiting Berlin.. All through those 5 weeks, did not get into painting as we were busy roaming around and having fun with our dearest doddamma's family.. My Mhaave (doddamma/Badi mausi in Konkani) liked my paintings so far and expressed that she would like to have a painting for their home :) Man.. How can I say I cant :) So thought of doing something which I have done in the past and do it in a speed way as I didnt want to spend whole night doing this.. 

This is done on framed canvas (40x30) and did it when all were taking afternoon nap after a heavy konkani jevan (meal)

Overall, I was satisfied with the outcome but satisfied myself with a comment 'Comeon it was done within half an hour.. ' so here it is.. 

Now this painting is in Shanteri, Kulai, Manglore

Buddha

Buddha - Looks more like Neelkanth :)

My liking which started during beginning of the year became one of my strongest hobby and was always looking out for new ideas.. Parallelly my visits to shops like IDEE (www.idee-shop.com) became more frequent and started storing more canvas, paint supplies, thinners/mixtures etc (many of them I didnt even know how to use it) - By now, I had a collection of some good quality canvas (framed), canvas boards, acrylic papers etc... but no idea on what to paint !! 

From the beginning of this painting journey, I wanted to paint BUDDHA just because of the serenity, peaceful nature of Buddha face.. But never had that much courage to pick up brush and start it on a brand new canvas

In search of an easy to paint - budha faces, got to see so many great paintings of Buddha and finally chose the one in which I had to paint only half of the face.. somehow I got hooked to that picture and whatever I saw later were not that catchy !! 

Preparation of background was tricky, Photo which I was refering had a great background with multiple colors, I did try all of them but it wasnt looking good so smoothened it up with another, then  one more and yet another.. Finally I had a background which I didnt know how it came... Drawing buddha with a pencil and then painting it was first time for me (Never did faces except my first Yakshagana painting). Enjoyed it a lot.. Final outcome is this one..  

I was kind of intrigued with the tilak on forehead, original painting did not have it in red, it was just a circle.. I tried a red color on it... Many who saw this painting thought it was Shiva (Neelkanth) 

Overall, Satisfied with this one and now its in my living room.. Got good comments on this painting from many..

Lonely Tree

Lonely Tree - After a gap of over 5 - 6 weeks

After few of the landscapes and other stuff, decided to paint a lonely tree in a silhoutte of sunset.. I thought it would be easier to do as many videos were suggesting it as for beginners !! However.. it wasnt as easy because my background was not gelling enough.. First started with the crimpson red which was a big mistake, lighter colors were then getting reddish and light background which I planned was tough to come.. so gave up and rested the canvas for few weeks.. 

After several weeks, picked it up once again and started off on a Friday night.. This time I let the brush do whatever it likes to do :) and it worked.. clouds were not upto the mark initially but when painting finsihed.. they were looking good, brighter one would have made it look bad ! 

Tree - I love to paint such trees and while painting this one.. I did not correct anything, I let it go as it is and was almost in a meditative mind.. no thoughts about the office issues or anything !! Perfectly enjoying the tree.. At the end I thought let me paint that tyre in which I played when I was a kid !! 

After painting this one, my kids wanted it in our dining room so that we see that every now and then.. While I gaze at this one, It gives a sweet memories of childhood, child within us and still I feel like 'climb in that tyre and swing' ... May be someday !! 

Hope you like this one.... I aint give this to none ;) Somethings should stay with me... 

Strange Village

Village & A Tree - Not satisfied !! 

When I started this one, First of all had no plans of what to paint.. Had no prior thoughts in my mind, Had few pictures from here and there and set off to paint on a Saturday night after kids went to bed

All along I wanted to paint a scenery with a large tree and some great mountains in the background + some village stuff + some bushes here and there.. I think I underestimated the difficulty of making such a combination, Background wasnt coming good (May be I wasnt in much stress), Village was becoming messy, Tree was not coming good.. 

Somehow unlike earlier painting, I didnt have much patience to go on with this.. Finished it after 3 hours of starting this one :( 

Color combination of tree trunks are delicate ones, should have been more careful there and I should practice to have some patience

Still few gave very good feedback and one of my friend and collegue liked it very much.. Gifted it to him :) Now this painting resides in UK (London)

Mountain Cottage

Trial with palette knife

After few of these paintings, Thought of more experiments and tried this with palette knife for the first time ! Bob Ross makes it look so simple.. Trust me, I saw that video many times and thought it must be OK to try.. No its not, It requires some real hands to use that knife to make snow mountains.. This painting did not finish in one shot, I took well over 5 hours of multiple tries (Many times in between I thought of quitting it) to come to this shape ! It was called 'simple one' by Mr.Ross (You are genious Mr. Ross) but it was the toughest one for me

But thoroughly enjoyed the whole painting.. I have to admit that clouds have not come good, I didnt prepare the black canvas properly (I should have used Gesso rather than using a black paint), Trees look ameturish.. 

All those with whom I shared this via whatsapp gave good feedback (Except few who have been my good critics ;) because of whom I try to improve further) 

Personally I was quite satisfied with the outcome.. Was overwhelmed by some cute responses my kids gave specially regarding the cottage and mountains, Few collegues offered to buy this. I dont think I would sell these, rather I would gift them as and when I can and will keep painting :) whenever I can.. 

Now this painting is hung in my living room

Mystic Forest..

A Surreal painting of Mystic Forest.. 

Again with a thirst of experimentation.. went back to Youtube in search of something new and serene.. watched many videos, demos etc but somehow came back to this one by Tim Gagnon - Its a fast forward version and looked very simple, however it wasnt as simple as it looked.. But I at least earn enough that, I can throw that canvas out if it doesnt come good :) With that in my mind.. Painted this on one of the late night on Friday (I dont like to disturb family and like some silent space, thus I usually paint after 10PM till 3-4AM in the mornings on weekends) 

Trust me, all professional stress goes away with the paintings and I at times feel that my stress level is equally proportional to quality of the painting.. simpler the painting, stress is lower ;) 

Just so that you can also do this painting, here is the video which I followed to do this painting.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVOqjsa5IXY

I never thought that I would write these in blogs, so never took quality photos !! 
Later, I gifted this to one of my good friends in UK, He says its in his kids room now.. 

Meditating Monk

Meditating Monk in Himalayas... 

After 3 paintings by now.. started browsing many videos of how to paint, Bob Ross was too ecstatic, Tim gagnon was very cool and similarly many more artists were providing free lessons on the internet (few links I have provided in this blog at the end) 

After several such speed browsing, thought of creating something of my own.. with no photos to follow or no videos to refer, only refered some of the techniques (how to draw snow caped mountains etc), came up with this one.. Didnt have courage to make that monk looking towards me ;) 

After painting this one, I felt yes, I can do some better ones.. 

Some of the useful channels I started following.. 

Bob Ross - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxcnsr1R5Ge_fbTu5ajt8DQ

Tim Gagnon - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkeSxwMmON04vvmRpXSiAOQ

Do let me know what you think of this.. 

Love Birds Painting in a moon light - Another try

Love Birds..

One of my good friend and collegue was having his marriage anniversary in Feb, Thought of various things to gift the couples.. however ended up deciding to make a painting for them.. Wanted to make something which also represents love and togetherness.. 

Chose to paint 2 birds (Of course, not humans as its tough to paint) and moon light in the backdrop, Here it is.. 

Painted on a canvas and friend and his wife were really happy to get this.. Many more folks liked it and also gave me courage to buy few more accessories like easel and some better quality paints and brushes (I started this with cheapest available ones)

Lion & The Sunset

Lion and Sunset.. 

After my first try with Acrylic, got some interest to create some silhoutte type of paintings, thus chose to paint a lion in the backdrop of a sunset. 

If you search in internet for such things, you have abundant material with which anyone can start painting.. So here it is.. 

Even to some it looks like more of a buffalo, my 2 year old Khushi identified it as Lion and same with my son Naman who said Lion looks majestic :) That was enough for me to convince myself that I can also Paint ;) 

My First Acrylic Painting..

My First try with Acrylic on Canvas.. 

I have been thinking to paint for too long time, Bought all necessary things loong back from various places but never had the courage to start it... Finally Jan 2015, I made up my mind to give it a try.. Chose my most favorite folk tradition of Southern part of Karnataka - Yakshagana as a theme and searched all over the internet for a picture which I can paint, Got many.. chose the simplest one and that night after office hours, set off to paint... Since I was completely novice, had loads of trouble in getting right colors, textures on the canvas (which I didnt know that, had to be primed or prepared ahead of time), However.. final one was not that bad :) 

At least some liked it.. 

Naman and Khushi (My kids) liked it a lot.. they and Radhika (My wife) encouraged me to paint next one.. Thus my painting hobby kicked off...