Yellow Bougainvillea

Though this month had many creatively non-productive days, yet it has ended on a high note. I'm back to doing the things I love best, and at a pace that seems just right.

I have finally managed to tackle the two floral sketches that were lying around since last month. This is the first of the two pieces. Close-ups of yellow bougainvillea that bloom in my mom's garden.

Must say I'm rather surprised at the final outcome. Since I was getting back to watercolors after a gap I started off tentatively but somewhere along the way the flowers picked up pace, and I really enjoyed the process.

Canary Islands

Though I got into the swing of things rather late (it has been an unusually busy month), I did manage to catch the trip to Canary Islands planned by Virtual Paintout. And what a trip it was! Really enjoyed travelling through Google Street View and touring the place virtually.

This was my submission for the paintout this month. Looking forward to more such exciting trips!

Kiddy Project Visuals

Sharing with you a couple of visuals I created for yet another of our kiddy projects.

The credit for inspiration goes solely to my six year old who keeps asking me curious questions all the time. :)

When I told him this was a picture of him going to school, he was mighty pleased and elated! And now my four year old is demanding that I paint her as well.... got to think up something soon. :)

p.s.- Apologies for the slightly fuzzy pictures; since I don't have Photoshop to watermark my images, I decided to play around with their resolution.

Living By The Stream

Wouldn't it be such fun living in such scenic settings, with a gurgling stream flowing in the backyard? Well, no harm dreaming on a manic Monday morning! What better way to face the week ahead....

Got inspired for this painting from this picture I came across somewhere while trawling the net.

Though I didn't realise this while painting, but parts of this work have a distinct fairy-tale like quality to them.

When I saw the picture up close I was transported back to my childhood, where I'd sit with a beautifully illustrated storybook and dream away. :)

Update and Cityscape

I haven't touched my pencils, brushes and paints for over a fortnight now. The new session at school, a visit from my parents, and my own birthday :) kept me occupied!

So the plan is to get back to painting with a vengeance, and I've decided to work on a series of cityscapes in my fav medium (acrylics and pen). Two sketches made for the watercolors await me but somehow I'm running away from them. Hoping this stint with acrylics will put me back in a frame to tackle the watercolors again.

Meanwhile here is a semi-urban (or semi-rural if you like!) cityscape of a scene I witness daily from my front sit-out.

The typical green of the mosque and its pretty domes especially catch my attention every time I look at them.

Lone Poppy

Though I didn't get any poppies in my garden, but they do seem such an enduring subject to paint. So I tried my hand at one....



Here is a close-up of my effort.



I'm especially awed by the floral studies done by Annelein Beukenkamp. They are such a delight to watch, and truly inspirational.

Croak On (Crow Con)

Have you ever woken up to a crow conference on one of those high-tension wires? Well, I often do, especially after my afternoon siesta when the sun is going down a little.

The croaking cacophony on the wires outside my bedroom balcony prompted me to make this piece.

Basically a fun painting that I enjoyed doing because of the freedom it allowed (no looking at reference pictures required). And of course, the obvious pun in the title! :)