Goddess for Nine Days

 

In mixed media on A5 paper

Enough Is Enough

 Even Mahatma Gandhi would have lost his cool today

Medium- FC Pittpens and FC polys for color version

Jennifer Lopez

My favorite Jlo. I love her personality and fitness. she is so inspiring!  

Jennifer Lynn Lope (July 24, 1969) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and producer of Peurto Rican heritage. (Wiki)

Medium- Polys and Caran D' Ache Luminance color pencils on Strathmore 400 series Color pencil paper.

The Godfather

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." 

- Don Vito Corleone (The Godfather, 1972)

Medium- FC Pitt Pens and black marker pen on A4 paper

'Still I Rise' - A Portrait of Maya Angelou

Tried Derwent Pastel Pencils today. This is a pastel portrait of Maya Angelou, the great American writer and reformer. pastel pencils are far more easier than bar pastels for these provide much control and neatness.

Medium- Pastel pencils on Brustro 160 gsm A5 pastel paper. This paper is not smooth but is slightly dotted in texture which I think, is not very easy to work upon.

Her poem 'Still I Rise' is one of my favorite poems. Read more about Maya Angelou@ Wiki

Grapes

Done in mixed media on 5*7" watercolor paper  

Fisherman

Done with Camel soft pastel bars. This medium is fun but messy and finished works give a

 'blurred' look as sharp lines are not possible unless one is using pastels in pencil form.

The India Art Festival, Delhi 2018

Few days back, on one wintry morning, I came across a front page article about the India Art Fair at the Thayagraj Stadium, Delhi and decided there and then that I was not going to miss it! The three day festival (23-25 Nov) showcased more than 124 artists and galleries from across the country and yes, it was The India and not The Indian Art Festival, as most people, even participants mistook it for! So, on Sunday, I visited the place as for being an art lover and artist, I had no reason to miss the short and wonderful event. However, what I observed was different from what I had been expecting and given below are my personal observations. These are not meant to hurt or criticize anyone or any work.

Firstly, most works were only paintings that too mere renditions and I was disappointed that not much conceptual art could be spotted. Art is not only something painted on a canvas but the use of other mediums like metals, glasses, mixed media etc to reflect thoughts. Some metal and stone works were available but they were too few to be reviewed. The paintings looked amazingly well done but lacked original thought as well as concept. Beautiful renditions of sceneries, birds, nature and temples were a treat to the eyes but starved the soul. Only a few artists had focused upon concepts and innovation. I believe these two aspects, skill and thought, make up a good artwork. Sadly, almost all works were overflowing with the former but lacked the latter, although some pieces combined them in different proportions. I believe that a good artwork brings a change in viewer’s mindset. The message that it gives out subtly is always more important, for art can change the world.

Secondly, the dominant theme was that of Hinduism and art can rarely flourish when it is restricted in anyway. Most of the works showed Hindu symbols like temples, ghats, bells, worship, and deities mainly Shiva and Ganesha and too much of Buddha also. I think we need to be innovative and open up a bit. Art stems from artist’s subconscious and it shows that religion is occupying unfairly more space in society.

Thirdly, I noticed many works were lacking in basic elements like perspectives, proportions, symmetry and angles.

Lastly, the prices were exorbitant. Ordinary renditions were in lakhs and small canvasses with usual sceneries painted upon were in thousands. Also, the arrangement was shoddy and unplanned, food was overpriced yet unsavory and I feel the stadium itself is in a dire need of a good cleaning.

I did enjoy the festival but I feel religious themes and renditions were abundant and what lacked was what art basically bring out, that is original thoughts, breakthrough ideas and messages. But then, it is also true that in India it is difficult to make a good living out of art so artists have to align their works as per the market where mostly renditions are demanded mainly for beautifying the living spaces. I feel we need to give art some space to grow and bloom, for visual media is indeed the most powerful one.

King of Pop

'King of Pop' Michael Jackson. I am still a fan of his awesome dance slant! The secret lied in his patented shoes! :)

Done in Pitt pens

Buddha

This is a rendition of 'Head of the Buddha', a sculpture dating back to 4th-5th century AD which belonged to the frontier region of Gandhara. Ref pic from 'The Story of Art' by E H Gombrich.

All Buddhists follow five moral Precepts that are abstaining from-

1-Harming living things

2-Taking what is not given

3-Sexual misconduct

4-Lying or gossip

5-Taking intoxicating substances

Medium- pencil

Discobolos

This is a rendition of a famous artwork named ‘Discobolos’ by the ancient Greek sculptor ‘Myron’. The original was a bronze one that was unfortunately lost. However, an exact Roman copy is still preserved. Greek artists were experts in sculpting movements and muscle tones. The winners of the Olympic Games commissioned their statues from famous artists of that time. This young man must have won a prize in the game of discus throw.

I have intentionally used the black paper as I wanted to recreate the look of ‘old marble’ and display muscle tones that ancient artists so deftly sculpted upon the marble stone.

I love reading about ancient cultures esp Greece and Egypt and nothing fascinates me more than the ancient art! I hope you will like it. 

Medium- Color pencil on black card paper.

My Art on Cover Page!

I am excited to share this amazing news with you all!

Congratulations to Ms Geetashree Chatterjee as her debut book 'A Basketful of Lies' has hit the stands! In this collection, each short story is a gem presented in a lovely lyrical prose. Everything from concept to language and from flow to the ebb, has been handled very meticulously. I just loved reading her work!

I am so glad to have done the cover illustrations for this title.There are six illustrations in total, done in color pencil. Each one reflects the respective story line. I sincerely thank the author for putting her trust in me.

This book is available on Amazon and Flipkart. 

Get your copy now!

Help Kerala

It seems God is livid with His own country. With extreme floods all around Kerala, over 373 people lost their lives within a fortnight, while at least 280,679 people have been evacuated. The state is on a high alert. 

It is a time for us to donate as well as pray for the people stuck in such a painful situation.

White gel pen on black card paper

Decline

Hate crimes are on a steady rise. The communal harmony is declining and hatred is slowly darkening the love communities in India had for each other.

Medium- Pitt pens and color pencil

Karma

I firmly believe in Karma. The 'Law of Karma' is infallible and it sees everything. It also ensures that what goes around comes around too. 

I got my new watercolor squeeze brushes today and this is my first poster with them. 

Lakdi Ka Pul III

I am over the moon! Three of my poems have appeared in 'Lakdi Ka Pul III' an international multilingual poetry anthology published by Twin City Poetry Club, Hyderabad.

Also, I am happy to have painted the cover page for this title.
Cover painting done in color pencils.

Caution

Acid attacks in India have become a major concern of late. As per ASFI (Acid Survivors and Women Welfare Foundation) there were 80 reported cases of acid attack in 2010 that in 2016 rose to 307, nearly a fourfold rise. 

This sketch is dedicated to all brave acid attack survivors.

Medium- Pitt pens and color pencils

Divided by States, United by Rape

The alarm bells are already ringing nonstop. 

With one rape every 30 minutes, Hindustan is fast turning into ‘Rapistan’. This concept sketch indicates that every woman, from a housewife to a corporate executive, a tribal woman to a modern city girl, even an old grandmother to a newborn, is constantly on the radar of perverts and sexual predators. Statistics reveal that in more than 90 % of the cases the victim was already well known to the predator and also that clothing of the victim (the bête noir of conservatives) had no role to play so every nook and corner of his country is unsafe.

The clock hands indicate predators too come from all age groups, from elderly men to young men and even juveniles and school going boys. Well, it strikes me that we, as a nation are-

“Divided by states, united by rape”

*This concept struck me this morning when I read about a few rape cases in today’s HT. In one case, a woman was raped and burnt alive inside a temple, which is outright horrendous. In another, a three year old was raped inside a well known school in Delhi-NCR. Through this sketch I am describing that women of all age groups and backgrounds are unsafe in India, which is extremely shameful.

(12-Grandmother 1-College girl 2-Purdahnashin Woman 3-Modern City Woman 4-Housewife (I don’t mean a housewife cooks all day and the rolling pin/Belan indicates she is a nurturer) 5-Sports woman 6-Newborn 7-School Student 8-Foreign Tourist 9-Tribal Woman 10-Corporate Executive 11-Invalid woman)

Medium- FC Pitt Pens and watercolor on 130 GSM art paper

Sunday Funday Art!

Sunday Funday art fun with sketchpens! 

Mangoes!

Medium- Pencil color