CREATIVITY IN ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MAKE MISTAKES.....

Sometimes the most beautiful paintings are created from the biggest mistakes. Now the question is, "Will you allow yourself to do mistakes"? It is indeed frustrating and at some point you may loose your enthusiasm. But with perseverance and patience, you will succeed one day.

Since this blog does not have the intention to sell or market art, I can enjoy the freedom to express the art process, truthfully.

 When the idea of doing a sequel painting struck me,  I bought three identical stretched canvas very enthusiastically. As an artist, I planed ahead. I wanted to do an art piece which is unique and original. Since it was an experiment with gesso, I decided  to do one at a time. Working with gesso was quite interesting. The result was also encouraging. Although the subject and colour scheme were all planned, while painting I ended up in an entirely different colour combination. 

  

With a fairly satisfying result of my first piece, I started  applying gesso on the next two canvases simultaneously, keeping the continuity of the subject in mind. But my inexperience in working with gesso added with the  difference in  consistency, which happened while mixing water, resulted in a bit disappointment. Being an optimist, I thought  I can easily correct the differences while painting. But the challenges in front of me was more than I thought.  Because of the gesso, the grooves got hardened fast and I couldn't do much alteration to get the continuity of lines. 

Getting a harmonious gradation of colours was another challenge. The more I worked on it , the more I got stressed and frustrated.    

grads 

                                    At last I  decided to hang it on the wall. 

But I must say, learning from mistakes is indeed a good experience. Because  I believe ,  nobody can teach you the lessons, unless you allow yourself to learn from mistakes....

WHEN CREATIVITY COMES ALIVE- HOBBY IDEAS.

                                                      

                                    

                                                                        

                                                             

SOME EXPERIMENTS WITH ACRYLIC GESSO

 Acrylic gesso is a modern art material, and is used as a primer for acrylics and oil painting. It also can be used as a base for three dimensional surface. Althoough it is generally believed to be acceptable, several painting texts such as ' The Painter's Handbook.' states that it is unwise to paint  oils over acrylic gesso, because the oil paint will eventually delaminate from the acrylic gesso surface. Though this effect may not make itself manifest for several decades, the curators at famous museum do not permit to use  oil over acrylic gesso. 

IDENTIFY YOUR INSPIRATION

What is your driving force? Are you painting with the inspiration you get from a scene or an emotion? Or is it because of your deep desire to learn and explore art?  When you do painting as a hobby,  you want to get inspire, you long for encouragements, you look for favorable circumstances. But when art becomes your passion, none of the above matters. You are free from all  inhibitions. You are no more scared to make mistakes.

My experimentation with paintings comes from a natural passion for learning new painting techniques as well as trying different forms of art. A passion which gives me freedom to dabble and enjoy all categories of painting, from realistic Still life to mesmerizing Abstracts. As a novice artist, I am grasping firmly to whatever tips and techniques I can gets my hands on. With each new paintings, I am exposed to new insights  as well as new challenges to overcome.  And from each mistakes , I learn something new which push myself a little farther each day .  As for the progress with my creativity, I am willing to say, "It could have been better if I did it that way." Or " I really should try it other way next time". Because  I believe , " The only failure in life is failing to try".

THE FULFILLMENT OF A DESIRE

Some years back, painting was nothing more than copying any picture, which pleases my eyes. I did paintings, just to decorate my walls. And I was quite contented with the appreciation from people who see those.  When we are having a comfortable life, we tend to become complacent. And that complacency will eventually make us blind to lots of blessings in our life. But the spiritual journey with God helped me  a lot in understanding and valuing the greatness of having  a talent . It made me realize the fact that we are accountable  for each and every talents and blessings we possess. And those thoughts challenged me to   unearth the soul and passion for Art.

  And as a good start, me together with a friend  , got the opportunity  to put a painting stall for our church's Harvest Festival.  That was indeed an opportunity for us to show our gratitude to Lord through our talents. We could sell almost all the paintings and we are delighted  that the fruit of our labour goes for charity. That served the purpose of giving glory to God for our talents, he has given us.

These are the paintings which I have put for sale. 

Silk painting  (sold)

                                                                 Emotional  Tides.
                                                            Oil on stretched canvas (sold)

The Rays Of Love.

 Oil on stretched canvas.  (sold)

The Harvest.

Oil on canvas board.  (sold)

The Eucharist /  The Epitome of love

Oil on canvas board.  (sold)

A Wall Decor.

Oil on stretched canvas.

                                 
                                                                  Silk Panting. (sold)

                                                   The Mediterranean Morning.
                                                    Oil on canvas board.  (sold)

                      

                                                        The Blossom At Night.

                                                       Oil on stretched canvas.  (sold)

                                 
                                                              The Lady With A Rose.
                                                                 Oil on canvas board.

SILK PAINTINGS I

"THE RAYS OF LOVE"

"EMOTIONAL TIDES"

This was really an experiment..

I started this painting with a theme in my mind , I wanted to portray the emotional struggles of human mind . As humans, we always have a  tug of war between good and evil . I believe, it is the stream of good thoughts,which comes  deep from our heart, gives brightness to our soul .    I don't know to what extend I could justify the theme through this painting. I am giving the privilege to the viewers to judge me on that.

For this painting, I wanted to get some special textures and effects. This was attained by doing some experiments with acrylic gesso. And I am satisfied with the outcome.

"THE BLOSSOM AT NIGHT"

The Epitome Of Love

         
                                   If That Isn't Love


                                                  He left the splendour of heaven
                                                  Knowing his destiny,
                                                  Was the lonely hill of Golgotha,
                                                  There He lay down his life for me.


                                                   And if that isn't love
                                                  Then the ocean is dry,
                                                  And no stars in the sky,
                                                  And the little sparrows can't fly.
                                                  Yeah, if that isn't love
                                                  Then heaven is a myth,
                                                  And no feeling like this
                                                  If that isn't love.


                                                    Even in death he remembered
                                                    The thief hanging by his side;
                                                    Then He spoke of love and compassion
                                                    And He took him to paradise.


                                                    And if that isn't love
                                                    Then the ocean is dry,
                                                   And no stars in the sky,
                                                   And the little sparrows can't fly.
                                                  Yeah, if that isn't love
                                                  Then heaven is a myth,
                                                  And no feeling like this
                                                  If that isn't love.
                                                  It's got to be love.


           An Elvis Presley's song.
If you want to listen to the  the music , click play and enjoy.

   
       

The Lady With A Rose.

                                                        

                     The Mystery Of Unfolding Rose

                                    It is only a tiny rose bud,
                                   A flower of God's design.
                                   But I cannot unfold the petals,
                                   With these clumsy hands of mine.


                                   The secret of unfolding flowers 
                                   Is not known to such as I.
                                  God opens these flowers so sweetly, 
                                  Then in my hands, they die.
                                                              
                                   If I cannot unfold a rose bud,
                                  This flower of God's design,
                                  Then how can I have the wisdom,
                                 To unfold this life of mine ?


                                 So I will trust in him for leading
                                 Each moment of my day.
                                 I look to him for his guidance,
                                Each step of the pilgrim way.


                                The path of way that lies before me,
                                Only my Heavenly Father knows.
                                I 'll trust Him to unfold the  moments,
                               Just as he unfold the Rose.


                                                                           Author  unknown.

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.

Fruit basket

This was a painting which I did few years back. I was not satisfied with the 3D effects of the fruits. So I tried to give some more touches to it... 

                                                             And , then  I understood that I have a long way to go to attain that satisfaction..                     
                           

My first abstract painting.

My first abstract painting, with no preconceived and preconditioned   ideas. Just played with colours.
It was actually a good experience. I think I am loving it.. Hopefully I will do more abstracts in the coming days.

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.

Two Rajasthani Ladies

This picture I found on a desktop calender . This was my first attempt to do human figures. Though I could not capture the expressions fully, I hope it is good for the  first attempt.

Fruit basket

I found this picture on one of my serving tray... tried to paint it

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. 

Glass paintings