"UPAJEEVANAM" ( Livelihood )

•  Category : Landscape
• Title: Upajeevanam (livelihood)
• Medium :Oil
• Theme : womanhood
• Size : 50cm x 40cm x 3cm
• Done on gallery quality stretched canvas

For an artist, there is a story behind each painting. I came across this reference photo as it was tagged on one of my friends Facebook page. Something about the picture caught my eye. My first impression was that it would have been better if it was lush with greenery, but the barren land was the very reason it caught my attention.  As with the progress of my thought process, the lady in the scene became the focus. I was profoundly caught by the confident posture of the lady. The way she walked, holding the staff and leading her cattle, as if she was the master of her trade. "She could be the only bread winner of her family" I thought.

I see lot of successful women and I admire their lives. But seldom do I think about the womanhood of the underprivileged women who works hard in the adverse circumstances but keep their self-respect and dignity. This painting is a tribute to those women to show my solidarity towards their womanhood.

This photograph was taken by Mr.Francis Joseph, a retired professor at Bharat Mata College - Thrikkakkara, Cochin - Kerala. He is a true nature lover, a passionate traveler and a photographer.
As he told me, this photograph was taken 15 years back with his old camera on one of his expedition through 'Attapadi' . (Attapadi Reserve Forest is a protected tribal area in Palakkad district of Kerala.) Thank you sir for graciously allowing me to use the photo.

"WATER LILY POND"

• Medium: Oil
• Category: Landscape
• Title: Water Lily Pond
• Size: 19"x 14"
• Status: Open for sale
• Done on gallery quality canvas.

Observe and study 'Old Masters' painting is an integral part of an Artist's growth. Claude Monet's, 'Water Lily series'  is the inspiration behind this painting. I am a great admirer of his 'Impressionist style'. In this painting, I did the foreground and the middle ground in a realistic style and as it go farther, I tried to include the impressionistic style. Capturing the play of light and shadow on the water surface is the main element of this painting.

Hope this painting comes as a treat to your eyes. Feel free to express your feedback. Comments and suggestions are always appreciated.                                       

"THE VIRGIN NATURE"

                                             
                                            Category : Landscape
                                           Medium : Oil
                                           Size : 45 X 60 cm
                                           Status :  Exhibited in Lots Gallery,Kochi.                

Nature is always the cradle of an artist,which provides the inspiration to kindle creativity. It is indeed a beautiful experience to depict the beauty and serenity of nature on a canvas. I have titled this painting, "The Virgin Nature" because of it's unadulterated rawness.
Nature reveals the creative exuberance of 'God, the Creator' and that is what I have attempted to capture in this painting. From the serene valley down below, to the glorious mountain tops, He has most amazingly created them in all its splendour. Life gets hard for us at different points and it is God's creation that reminds and teaches us that we need his strength to grow beautifully.
This is a poem by Jane Eggleston, which I came across a few years back , which became the inspiration throughout the creative process.

It Is In The Valleys I Grow

 Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then I have to remember

That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

                                                      Jane Eggleston.

An experiment to get the glazed transparent effect.

Applying colours in thin , transparent layers on an opaque layer is called "glazing". When you apply a transparent colour over another colour,the transparent colour visually alters the first ; the light rays mix, creating a visual colour blend. When used correctly, glazing can give great depth to a painting.

It is important to use extremely transparent media for this kind of painting, and you must allow each layer to dry thoroughly before applying the next.  Glazes are usually applied in a slightly deeper value than needed and then softened back to the desired depth by wiping off paint with a soft brush, cloth , or finger.

A Mediterranean Morning

 As they say, "Writer's block" for writers, for last few years, I also had a creative numbness. I used to look at my unfinished paintings with a blank and pale emotion, accompanied with a guilt . And in the long run , I realised that somewhere  I have lost the enthusiasm and passion for  creativity. But the Grace of God didn't really allow me to fail through my failures. So like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, I decided to renew myself .  This is the painting I did after a  long break.This is so close to my heart, because this painting really revealed to me that I still have the talent and potential . Which eventually made me realise that , for a renewal, the changes and inspiration has to come from within.

My first few encounters with the world of painting.

These three paintings were my first few attempts  in oil painting. An  unexpected encounter with an artist during my interior designing course was the first spark of light which revealed a hidden talent.