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)