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