White Lotus

Pastel on La Carte paper  5" x 7 "

The last couple of paintings I made didn't quite turn out the way I wanted, so I didn't post them on the blog. Then I started a relatively larger painting and I am going to take my time to finish it. But it's important to regularly keep making small paintings as an exercise. So here's what I have.

India Gate Canopy at Sunset

Pastel on Canson paper 5"x 7'

This is just a study. I used a number of reference photographs to make this. I had a few sunset photos and a few photos of the canopy. Although my favorite pastel surface is La Carte, this time I used Canson paper thinking it will be quicker and easier to blend. But every time I use a new surface, my fondness for the La Carte only increases.

Bara Gumbad Tomb

Pen and ink 8"x10"

This is a sketch of Bara Gumbad (Big Dome) at Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi. It's a prominent structure in the middle of the garden, adjoining the bara gumbad mosque to the right. I have drawn this from a photograph taken by my friend Devajyoti Sarkar, and I am really thankful to him for always so happily letting me use his compositions.

India Gate, New Delhi

Pastel on La Carte paper 8" x 10"

India Gate - situated in the heart of Delhi, and the heart of every Delhiite. I decided to draw a series of monuments in Delhi, and the first that comes to mind is the India Gate.The best part about painting is that it takes me to places where I want to be!

Athpula - Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi

Pastel on La Carte paper 16" x 20"

This painting is from a photograph I took of the Athpula  ("eight piered") bridge at the Lodhi Gardens last summer. The beautifully maintained lush green trees, the watercourse running through the  bridge, and red bricks complementing the trees makes this a lovely composition.

Few from the past

The painting I am currently working on is taking some time to finish. For my viewers, here are a few still-lifes from the past.

Pastel on Pastelmat 8" x 10"

Pastel on La Carte paper 8" x 10"

Pastel on La Carte paper 5" x 7"

Flat Pea

Oil on panel 5" x 7"

Spring is in the air and flowers have started blooming all around. Naturally I wanted to paint these tiny yellow flowers!

Eggs and Onion - Still life

Pastel on Canson paper 8" x 10"

Having made a few white eggs, I added brown ones. The rough texture of the onion in the background plays well with the smoothness of the eggs.

Sculpture - Head of a youth

Oil in canvas 8" x 10"

This is a painting of an Indian sculpture from the second-third century AD. The sculpture is from the Gandhara region, where art was influenced by Greco-Roman artistic techniques and Budhist iconography.

Milk-pitcher and egg - still life

Pastel on La Carte paper 5" x 7"

I continued further with the whites, this time placing a porcelain milk-pitcher behind the egg.

Cracked egg - still life

Pastel on Canson paper 4" x 6"

I decided to crack up an egg and place it next to the one I painted yesterday. Sometimes the smaller things make a bigger impact.

White egg - study

pastel on Canson paper 4" x 4"

Just did this quick study of an egg. It's always challenging to work with white objects, one has to work within a very small range of values. I think I will play around a little bit more, and try out a few more combinations next.