Har Ki Paudi

     In the foot hills of the Himalayas on the banks of the river Yamuna is the small temple town of Haridwar. Literally translated this means the Gateway to God. Every evening, at this holy spot called 'Har ki Paudi', thousands of devotees gather for the evening prayers. Many take the holy dip in the waters which are chilling in the winters. It is a festive atmosphere full of unabated revelry. There is something of interest for every one, be it young or old. Come join the fun through this watercolor.
     And yes, in another two days I will be leaving Africa for home : India. Will take some time to settle down. Lets see if I can manage something in between. Have a nice weekend. See you soon.

Watch Out !

     This is another street scene from one of the by lanes of Old Delhi. Essentially these lanes are more than 300 years old, dating from the Mughal era. They were designed catering for mostly pedestrians or an odd horse rider. The old structures have either been re-re-repaired or have been replaced by ugly modern structures. The population of the city has grown manifold. Some of the best and cheapest markets of the city are located here, attracting hordes of shoppers looking for bargains. You are always jostling for space.  You actually have to watch every step. But do not get scared. It is a shopaholic's paradise. Capturing the scene in watercolors was fun. Hope you like it.

YOO HOOOOO!

     This watercolor should bring a smile on the face of every Mumbaikar (As the residents of Mumbai or erstwhile Bombay call themselves). High tide coupled with strong winds make large waves crash on the pavements of Marine Drive. Its freak out time for children. Sporting adults are not an exception. The spirits are not dampened by the large amount of sand that these waves carry with them. This is what I call the 'Spirit of Mumbai'. If you happen to visit Mumbai and get a chance, make sure you join in the fun.
     The reference picture was borrowed from the net.

Stop, Look, Go

     After a one year sojourn in Africa I am heading back home to India shortly. The one thing, the thought of which is giving me jitters is the traffic there. In Congo, either the roads were non existent, or if they did exist, were mostly empty. So either you didn't drive or if you did, it was mostly peaceful. But Indian traffic is quite notorious. A peace loving person can really get nightmares! But for a person who loves to see things around, and is not in a hurry, it can actually be quite interesting. The number of different types of transport is itself phenomenal. From bullock carts, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws to the most modern cars and pedestrians, they all peacefully co-exist. It is chaotic, but it moves. Fortunately the accident rate is much lower than most countries.
     This is a watercolor rendition of a road scene in India. If you really want to enjoy this, do visit us and see it for yourself.

Digital vs Manual

     In Hinduism, 'Sadhu' is a term for a mystic or a wandering monk. They are ones who have left behind  materialism and live in forests or temples all over India and Nepal. They are still widely respected for their holiness and also at times feared for their curses. They wear saffron clothes and at times nothing but their own locks of unruly hair! Smoking hash and opium is very common among them. It is considered a means to forget the world and attain nirvana! If you want to know more about them click HERE.
     I found a picture of a sadhu in total bliss. Painted it first in watercolor and pastels. This was a quick sketch but some how got over worked. Could not get the fluidity of water color. Was not entirely happy with it. Decided to give it a try digitally also. Both are there in front of you. What do you think?

A Portrait

     I had been watching with envy some of my artist friends using the digital media with aplomb to create lovely pieces of work. Could not help but give it a try. The tools were confusing and the hands used to holding a brush were a bit foxed when told to draw and paint with the mouse! Finally managed to make something. This is a portrait of an African woman in all her finery. Hope you like it.

Valley of Flowers and transport to take you there!

     On one of my previous works, Kim Rempel had made a statement, 'There are no lines in nature, just color next to color'. Found the statement very interesting. Poppies are lovely flowers, are colorful and a vast expanse can make fascinating viewing. It was a lovely subject to explore the statement with. This painting was made without any planning, without any drawing and without actually referring to the reference photo. Just one glance and thereafter the aviator in me took off! Just kept placing blobs after blobs of color on the canvas. This work was a real adventure! Thanks Kim.
     And yes, my seven year old son also seems to be taking off after his Dad. His latest work has been transmitted across the globe all the way from India, online. Am posting it here and am really proud of him.

Dilli ki Baarish

     'Dilli ki Baarish' means 'Monsoons in Delhi'. What you see in front of you are North Block on your right and South Block on your left. These are the seats of power of New Delhi as some of the important ministries are housed in these blocks. As you look at this work, you are standing on 'The Raj Path' which literally translated means 'The Royal street'. A friend of mine had clicked this picture on a rainy day and kindly consented to let me use it. I hope you enjoy the rains. I definitely do.

Nice and Bright

     My last work was Japanese Maple leaves. Got such an encouraging response that I decided to paint the entire tree. Again wanted to try something different. This work has not been done in the classic water color style. It looks something like an impressionist kind of work. Frankly speaking, I am not sure. Can some one help me? All that I can say I really enjoyed myself doing this one. It reminded me of a quote by Jerry Fresia 'The point is not to intend a great painting but to intend a great experience. Look for pleasure, not results. Get to the pleasure and the amazing thing called art will follow'. Have a nice and bright and sunny weekend friends.