Birthday girl!

Pencil on Bristol paper 11" x 14''  

Pencil on Bristol paper 11" x 14''  

Today is my daughter Bela's birthday. She turned 8. I wanted to make her a portrait but have been so busy since yesterday that I could not even get started. I pulled out these two sketches I had made a couple of years back, one of when she was about 2 years old, and the other when she was 6. I haven't made any sketches of her since then. I think it's high time I did!

Buddha - charcoal drawing

Charcoal on gray  Canson paper  9" x 12"

I am planning to make a large painting based on the sculptures adorning the temples of India. For that I was browsing through my books on ancient Indian art and architecture. It is amazing how profound and beautiful works of sculpture were fashioned out of stone more than two thousand years ago. The craftsmanship is unbelievable! I keep looking at my books and hope some day I will be able to paint a series of Indian sculptures as a tribute  to those great craftsmen. 

Well, I still haven't decided which painting I am going to make, but last night I just though of making a charcoal drawing based on some of the Buddha sculptures of the Gupta period (around 400 AD). Buddhist art actually originated in India and then spread throughout Asia and the world. 

Thanks for visiting my bog. Hope you enjoy the drawing!

Rajasthani Woman

Pastel on Pastelmat 8" x 10"

This is a portrait of a Rajasthani woman. Painting people of Rajasthan  is a lot of fun. Their colorful outfits are so beautiful and the women usually wear lovely traditional and chunky silver jewelry. I am making a portrait painting after a long time. My entree at the art exhibition made me realize how much I have missed making them. Hopefully I will paint a  few more!

Coconut Palm Trees

Oil on canvas 8" x 10'

I have been working extensively with pastels for the past couple of years. Initially, I struggled with it quite a bit and then simply started loving it. Before that, I worked with oils whenever I painted. I decided to get back to them and  am trying to find my old form. I guess I need to make a few more to get there!

Elephant Sculpture

Oil on canvas 16"x20'

LAA - 2012 Annual Spring Members' Show

 I am a member of the Livingston Arts Association and for the annual Spring member's show I entered a portrait of an Indian tribal woman that I painted last year. It was quite difficult for me to decide which "one" painting to submit for the show, but then I felt this one definitely deserved recognition. I was thrilled when the president of the art association called to inform me that my painting had won an award of excellence! The exhibition will be on now through May 30,  at the "Towne Square Gallery" at West Caldwell, NJ. It is a wonderful collection of paintings, hope you can visit!

Smile - My painting at the show.
pastel on Wallis paper 8" x 10"  

The exhibit

And that's me with my painting!!

Pink Lotus

Pastel on La Carte paper 5" x 7"

This is another one of the flower series. I enjoy painting many things -  landscapes, still-lifes, portraits, flowers and monuments. The problem is that I keep toggling between my subjects a bit too frequently.  So I decided, at least for the small paintings to make 4 to 5 of the same genre before I switch to the next.  Now that I have made a few flowers, it's  time for a change!!