Sailing Away...

     As a helicopter pilot flying offshore regularly, I see small fishing boats fighting the raging waves in the middle of nowhere, with no one else in sight for miles. Keep wondering what kind of mettle these sailors are made of. Probably it is a question of their livelihood. In contrast, close to the harbour I also see these sailors sailing for fun, entertainment and sport. Life can be such an irony. What ever be the case, boats, big or small, are all really fascinating.

     Recently  I got a chance to witness a Regatta. Sport aside, the artist inside me jumped up with joy at the sight. The result is in front of you.

     Have a nice weekend.

Fishing boats @ Kakinada

     I am presently at the Port town of Kakinada on the eastern coast of India. Long time back this used to be a sleepy little fishing village. Fishing boats were  the only sea faring vessels here. Then people realised that it was a natural harbour. The traffic increased. A few years back oil was discovered off the coast in this region. The traffic just went on multiplying. The village became a crowded town with people jostling for breathing space. The fishing boats got pushed to a corner called the fishing boat harbour. Some of them found space in some water channels coming into the city. They also appear to be struggling for breathing space. 

     It was a lovely subject to paint. Hope I have done justice to it. 

Lamayuru Monastery

    This is the Lamayuru Monastery in Ladakh, located at an altitude of 3,510 metres. It was built by the builder monk Rinchen Zangpo who is said to have built 108 monasteries in this region. It is one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh. It can house about 400 monks at a given time. It gets its name from the Lamayuru rock on which it was built. We helicopter pilots also call the area 'moon face' because of the way the terrain appears from the air. 

     I enjoyed painting this though was not satisfied with the results. It got over worked at places. Though I did manage a story for you all. Thanks and enjoy the week ahead.

Lavender

     I was very fascinated with a flower called Delphinium. The lavender color was so mesmerizing. I simply could not resist the temptation to paint them. Some where down the line the painting appeared to go out of hand. Tried to salvage it some how. The result is here. Hope it looks respectable.

J L T

     Well... JLT stands for 'Just like that'. Well this work was done just like that. No stories and no history lessons. Was in no mood for any serious work. Found an interesting picture and just decided to enjoy myself. Hope all of you like it. Have a nice weekend.

Hemkund Saheb

     Hemkund Saheb ji is a Sikh place of worship or a 'Gurudwara' as it is called. This one is dedicated to Guru Govind Singh, the 10th guru or teacher of the sikhs. Though the origin of this structure is quiet old, it was constructed in the present form in the 1960s. It is located at an altitude of 15000 feet surrounded by glacial lakes in the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The trek to this site is very tough and can be reached only during the months from May to September. The rest of the year it remains snowbound and unreachable. But faith makes devotees go through all the hardships. There are many who go there just for the sake of adventure and curiosity. Next time you get a chance try and make it. You will not regret. Have a nice day.

Kathakali-2

     Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance drama which has its origin in the Indian state of Kerala in the 17th century. Traditionally there are 101 stories which are enacted in this form. Earlier the performances were designed to last the whole night however they have been modified with the changing times. Now they last for 3-4 hours. This dance form is noted for its colourful make-up, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well defined body movement. Percussion is the main accompaniment. The stage actually becomes a riot of colors. It becomes too tempting to resist painting. Hope this work conveys the story...!