Fantasea

Though it has been a while since I've been near the sea, but a bit of the sea is always in me! So I decided to put up a couple of sea-themed abstracts. While the square one is on canvas, the panel is a piece of treated board. 

I created the canvas way back in 2014 but forgot to post about it, and the poor fellow lay ignored along with some other canvases in a corner of my studio. When we moved into a bigger space last year, I decided to pull out these pieces and use them in our home decor. I had lots of fun doing the background for this canvas since it involved some crazy, unpredictable paint drips. One always lands up with interesting pieces of art if one lets go, and eases the control a bit. While the outcome may not always be what you expected, but that is where your artistic imagination is supposed to kick in!

As for the panel, I created it last month, and it features sea shells we collected on our last family vacation to a beach. The glass beads give a sense of sea glass, and the colour scheme matches that of the canvas. They now hang together as an arrangement appropriately named 'Fantasea'.

I have plans to do more panels in the coming days, and will share my experiments with you as always. Meanwhile, here's marching on with our creative pursuits as we near completing a quarter of the new year already....where does time fly, really?

An Ode to the Dettol Bottle

The other day I went down to the chemist nearby to get some Dettol. Yup, that same antiseptic liquid that we all grew up with.... our go-to solution for all ouchy cuts and scratches. Well, the friendly chemist informed me that Dettol is no longer available in the typical glass bottle it always came in. The company had changed its packaging to plastic - easier to distribute and use, but definitely adding to the environmental burden. Not sure if that is a good idea!

As I walked back home with my package, I realised that the absence of any more glass Dettol bottles meant  that my older painted bottles were now one-of-a-kind pieces. You won't get the same glass stuff anymore, guys! And I'm not at all keen to paint on plastic :P Call me an arty snob if you want but I don't want to encourage plastic use.

So here's a dekko at some of those lovely glass Dettol bottles that started my journey as a bottle artist all those years back... a trip down memory lane, full of nostalgia and love.

Most of these found new homes along the way, like this gorgeous Ganpati bottle....

....and this one featuring a coastal scenery that is viewed through a window adorned by a lush flowering vine. 




I hope all these babies of mine are still being loved and cherished, wherever they are. 


And meanwhile I better go back and check if I have any left to gloat over and display at home! 





#dettolglassbottle
#dettolart
#dettol

Bottles Revisited

Though I hardly work on bottles any more, such exceptions always bring me happiness.

The yellow one was a personal commission and is already displayed in its new home in Kolkata, the City of Joy, hopefully bringing joy to all those who see it.

While this pink beauty adorns my work table, holding crafty knick-knacks for my mixed media projects. I love this yummilicious one sitting on my desk! 😊

I do miss my avid bottle painting days.... when each piece conjured up a new story in my head, that my hands would then transfer on to the bottles. After all, my handpainted bottles played a huge role in my incredible creative journey! Hope I manage to make some more soon...

Beaded Beauties

I put together a few neck pieces recently after a gap of almost an year. Created 3 of these beaded beauties simultaneously; quite an achievement given the lack of time on my hands.

But totally loved working on these neck pieces after such a long hiatus. Two of these are already taken, adorning the necks and collections of 2 beautiful ladies.

But here's a chance to give yourself a unique handmade gift ahead of the festive season. In case this remaining one - pink, red and white - catches your fancy, write in to me at  creativerumblings@gmail.com to connect and order. Made from polymer clay and a mix of glass and clay beads. Comes in a cute handmade box in keeping with our penchant for recycling. Price: Rupees 300 only. Courier charges as applicable. Can be couriered anywhere in India.

Our handmade neck pieces can always make the perfect match because they are completely customizable. You can choose the colour combinations, the length and the design to match them with your favourite outfits. So what's keeping you?.... Shoot off that mail right away and I'll be happy to help.

 

Bouncing Back with Red and Black

My efforts at jewellery making had to be moved to the back-burner after the challenging turn of life events last year. But perhaps it is time to pick up the threads again.... This beautiful neckpiece, sporting an elegant combination of red-black-grey was promptly lapped up by a friend last month (so quickly, in fact, that I forgot to click a picture and requested this from her).

While I have a thousand ideas swirling in my head, right now it is the paucity of time that is turning out to be my biggest bane. Hope I manage to streamline things soon; am hoping the schools reopening next month should give me more time for my passions.

With the festive season not far away, do spread the word about these customizable neckpieces. And write in to creativerumblings@gmail.com to place orders of your own.

Flashback!

This month, last year.... was such a super busy time. I was in the midst of preparing for my very first exhibition (you can read about that here) and neck-deep in work.

As the rains poured outside, I poured out my creative designs inside. :) Here are some moments capturing the action behind-the-scenes.

Yes, that is yours truly working on multiple bottles simultaneously. Half-finished bottles and glass pieces lay strewn around on all tables at home for a whole month.... LOL. That isn't a mean feat when you have 2 kids at home!

But when we finally lined up the finished bottles together, how gorgeous they looked...

 

As did the glass paintings...



So happy that most of my creations found new homes, and are now bringing joy and adding colour to the lives of so many others. Feel immensely grateful to have been gifted with a creative mind and an artisan's hands!

As I relive last year's journey, here is to many more to come!
 

Tiger Lilies

A unique-shaped four-sided bottle deserves a special design. The reason why tiger lilies seemed the perfect flower to bloom across this beauty. Let the pictures do the talking....



Not only do the flowers look gorgeous, the bottle looks beautiful as a lamp when you toss in fairy lights. But pity I don't have a picture to show you the bottle in its lighted glory.

One of my personal favourites.... and still available. Go on, indulge yourself this festive season! :)

Glass & Bottle Painting Classes Schedule

It gives us great pleasure to finally bring you the schedule for the Glass & Bottle Painting Classes.

Keeping in mind the requests received from our patrons and followers, the classes are based on weekends so that office-goers and school/college students can also attend. We are starting at 2 venues, one in south Delhi and one in west Delhi, and both locations are easily accessible by the Delhi Metro.

Seats are limited and will be reserved on first-come-first-served basis (as per registration). We are keeping limited seats so that individual attention can be given to all participants.

Please note that the schedule for the Glass & Bottle Painting Classes is also available under the Classes & Workshops tab of the blog for your convenience. In case of any queries, feel free to message us through our Facebook page or write to us at creativerumblings@gmail.com.

The Glass & Bottle Painting Classes start in October.

 



Lantana Inspired

Sad how with time certain species seem to disappear from our environment. And I don't just mean birds, animals or insects but also floral species. Like the Lantana that was so much a part of my growing-up years but can hardly be seen in these parts now.

So how many of you remember the Lantana plant that was mostly used to build hedges - in parks, in the small gardens adjoining government quarters, and was a common sight. Its multi-coloured florets were a magnet for butterflies while the coarse, gravelly feel of the leaves would keep most animals away. Good for the plants as animals wouldn't care much about eating and ruining them. Wonder why there was this drive to uproot the lantana from our local ecology.

Anyhow, I digress.... the point of this post was to present to you my Lantana inspired bottle that I created in July. The yellow-green combo really stood out on the dark olive-green coloured bottle, and it got sold on the last day of the exhibition. No worries, if the design catches your fancy just drop me a mail at creativerumblings@gmail.com and I'll be happy to make one for you.

On hindsight though, those flowers should have been a combination of yellow, pink and orange; then they would truly mimic the real Lantana flowers. What say? Hmmmpphh! An artist is never satisfied. :)

Workshops/Classes Announcement

New month, new direction!!..... Creative Rumblings is proud and happy to announce the commencement of its workshops and classes very soon. After a lot of interest and queries during our outing at Select Citywalk, this was the next logical step to take.

We are currently working out the venues and timings. So keep an eye here and stay tuned.... for dates will be given out soon along with other details.

Curio Bottle

So who says bottles are only meant to hold flowers or money plants? See how perfect these found bird feathers look in the small curio bottle.

The abstract design (that many folks at the exhibition called the Tiffany stained glass effect) is eye-catching and attractive. Simple yet beautiful.

I absolutely love how you can view the design on the other side superimposed on the side facing you.

And of course, a single floral stem would look equally nice in that bottle! So what's holding you back from getting one? :) Write to me at creativerumblings@gmail.com to get yours.

The Minions

They are the hottest brand on the horizon, the characters everyone is raving about. You know who I mean, right.... the title to the post gave that away!

I caught up with them last weekend (thanks to my kiddos) in the movie by their name but not before I had captured them on a bottle. Yes, the Minions, with their oh-so-cute expressions adorned a jam jar at my recent exhibition.

And since everyone wants to be seen with them, a not-so-little-kid-turned-adult picked them up for his home. So he could "Be one.... in a Minion!!" :)

The Minions jam jar now doubles up as a pen/pencil holder and works equally well as a night lamp!

Aren't they looking super? If you want something similar for a kid you know, or for the kid in you, write in to me at creativerumblings@gmail.com and get your own Minions home.

Showcasing Bottle Art at 'Artivity'

How time changes perspectives!.... Read on to know why I write this. And yes, I'm sounding a long post alert too. So proceed at your own risk! :)


The Creative Rumblings stall at Artivity, Select Citywalk

To think that just a month back I was choosing to ignore the invitation mail from the Select Citywalk team for participating in the Artivity event. And here I am, giving you all a round-up of our experience. Yes, it all started on the wrong note.... by my not wanting to participate. But then, as they say, destiny had other plans!


View from the inside

A close-up of our name board

This was the first edition of Artivity at Select Citywalk, and it was aimed at promoting both traditional and modern art forms. There were 16 stalls in all, each giving a glimpse into a special form of art. Right from traditional crafts like wire craft, rice etching and calligraphy to modern ones like decoupage, dry flower crafts to bottle art.


At the risk of sounding clichéd, I have to say that our experience at Artivity was quite similar to our first exhibition at Gurgaon last Diwali. So many people showered love by visiting our stall, taking time to look at the pieces on display, clicking pictures (sometimes with and sometimes without our permission!), openly appreciating our work and saluting our creative thinking. Our penchant for upcycling and giving the discarded a new lease of life won us lots of accolades. 


The uniqueness of bottle art was very well received as countless people stopped by to appreciate, to ask us how we work, what materials we use, and most importantly, to show their children, family and friends this unusual form of art.

Interacting with our admirers and patrons

Many people who had seen our work on Friday came back with others in tow on the next two days, giving us knowing smiles! Sitting three whole days doing 12-hour shifts in a mall is not easy; we were dead tired by the end of it all. But such a heart-warming response made all our efforts worth it.

Loved the joy on the faces of the young and old alike

Our original concept of turning old CDs into rangoli diya trays was also a big hit, both with elders and the young crowd. Not only did the diya trays sell like hot cakes, many promised us to try out similar decorations this coming Diwali. These encouraging reactions to our endeavours always keeps us on our toes, motivating us to further innovate with recyclable materials. Must confess I felt elated being recognized for my small efforts in the overwhelming presence of the big brands surrounding us.

Discussing, explaining and conveying our thoughts

The artist as mommy on the final day :)

And of course, all this would never have been possible without the 24/7 support of my home team. The youngest ones who showed a little more independence so mom could work on creating enough inventory. The eldest one who kept his demands to the minimum so as not to burden the rest. The mother, who handled the home front single-handedly with a smile, and had encouraging words on her lips every time I had moments of self doubt. And the hubby, who stood (sometimes behind and sometimes beside) like a rock, steadying me each time I faltered. Last but not the least.... my buddies (you know who you are) who trooped in to motivate, encourage, support and lift us up. I feel blessed, truly!


Since we received a lot of enquiries, I plan to introduce workshops shortly. So keep an eye on this space and our Facebook page, and you'll see announcements soon. Till then, apart from resting my tired bones, let me bask in the glory of a job well done. Whoever heard of modesty?!?.... Modesty is out of fashion!! ;) Hope you enjoyed reading this long post.

Thanks!

A big Thank You to all those who made our outing at Artivity, Select Citywalk a grand success!

Pictures and details coming soon.... stay tuned.

Creative Rumblings Exhibits at Artivity, Select Citywalk

The time has come, dear readers and followers, to finally let the cat out of the bag.... sharing with you all today the 'big news' that I harped about in the last post!!

And the news is that Creative Rumblings has been chosen to participate in Artivity, a celebration of traditional and modern art forms, at the posh Select Citywalk mall in Saket. Artivity is an initiative by the Select Citywalk team to bring art to public spaces, out of the confines of galleries and elitist surroundings.

Creative Rumblings and our unique brand of bottle art, is proud to be associated with this venture to connect better with the public and bring art into the everyday realm - to be touched, felt and explored. We wholeheartedly support this initiative of taking art to a public domain and reaching out to a wider audience.

So look forward to seeing you between 31 July-02 August, 2015 at the Central Atrium at Select Citywalk. We will be at stall number 15. 

Crane Spotting at the Pond

Last week I worked on a bottle again. After 6 long months!.... Yes, if you scroll down this blog, you'll see the last bottle I did was back in November last year. I wasn't even sure I'd pull this one through but once I started, there was no stopping me.

This time I thought of extending my bottle design oeuvre, and worked on a large water bird motif, painting a scene that any birdwatching enthusiast would identify with.

A crane or egret walking slowly with its long legs, amidst lotus blossoms and reeds in a pond, searching for food. A slight sound, and it looks up, startled for a bit. Then, assuring itself that all is well, the bird goes back to its search. Yes, that is what I tried to capture - all on a round bottle.

The finished bottle is one of my personal favourites. And I'm sure all birdwatchers will enjoy this one! The bottle has a broad mouth, and will work very well as a centrepiece on a table. Use it simply as a vase or to hold straws at the next dinner party. Heck! you could even prop up tissues in it. 

Meanwhile, I'm already dreaming of the next bird I want to put on my bottles....

Daffodils and Tulips

The brief said "shades of yellow, ochre and rust" were required along with "some vines". What I thought was a four-sided bottle turned out having eight sides - four slim sides and four broader ones. The expansive neck of the square-ish bottle only made things more difficult. And to top it all, not only was time at a premium but I also had guests at home. ...Phew!!!

Yes, these were the circumstances in which I started work on this bottle. After agreeing on daffodils and tulips with the client, I tentatively created the flower outlines, one type on each alternate side. As I diligently filled in the appropriate shades according to the brief, things started looking up. The four broad sides were covered; so far, so good. But what next?

I still had no idea about what to do with the upper part, the neck and those slim sides. And how were the vines supposed to be incorporated? Traditional and leafy green vines would have made the bottle look too cluttered. So one morning, very hesitantly, I started making vine-like designs using the colours of the outlines - yellow and black. At least they would fit in well with the colour scheme. But I wasn't sure if my unusual take on the vines would go down well with the client....

....Till that lovely Saturday morning when I actually met her to hand over the commissioned bottle. It was with a mix of relief and satisfaction that I saw her joyously accept what I handed her. And yes, as she very succinctly put it, my vines added a "vintage look" to the cherished bottle.

Believe me, there is no greater happiness than to see the look of wonderment when you hand over a finished bottle to an appreciative client. Thanks, dearest J, for giving me this opportunity!

Diwali Countdown: Bottle Lamps

This Diwali, go hand-made! Light up a special corner of your home with these hand-painted lamps that are sure to be the conversation starters at your next gathering.

After the festival, you can always convert these lamps into vases, to display fresh or dried floral arrangements. Or even those paper flowers that the kids learnt at school!

Want one of these? Write to me at creativerumblings@gmail.com or catch me at the Ardee City Diwali Mela in Gurgaon on the 19th of this month. Happy lighting up!

Diwali Countdown: Bottlemania

With the festival of lights just a week away now, can this blog afford to be in snooze mode any longer? ....Well, I am back and promise to share with you some easy-breezy décor ideas over this week. So that by the time Deepawali dawns, you and your abode are more than ready to welcome all - your family, friends and the goddess of wealth!

To start with, I have a bunch of bottles ready in a festive combo of pink, white and silver. While one has been inspired by traditional henna motifs, the other two are more modern in their design. Display these singly or as a group, they are sure to add a touch of classy appeal to your festive décor setting.

Want one or all of these? Write to me at creativerumblings@gmail.com or catch me at the Ardee City Diwali Mela in Gurgaon on the 19th of this month. And yes, keep your eyes open for more decorative items and décor ideas on this page all through this week. Happy decorating! :)

Pattachitra Bottle

With the annual Rath Yatra (car festival) of Lord Jagannath having started in Orissa and other parts of the country this weekend, the time seemed appropriate to post about another aspect of the state - its arts and crafts. Orissa has always been deeply associated with age-old crafting traditions. Its villages of Pipli and Raghurajpur are famous for their colourful appliques and Pattachitra crafts the world over. Though I have visited the state many years back, but a visit to these craft villages has been on my to-do list for a while now.

Recently I attended a casual workshop where one of the projects was making a Pattachitra bottle. I couldn't be happier, of course! But it is only once I started painting that I realised how much patience is required to execute the intricate designs. And mine is nowhere close to what the Orissa artisans make.... I remember seeing these bottles a few years back at the Surajkund Crafts Fair when they were getting newly introduced in the market. Absolutely amazing designs and such delicate finery!

I chose to make Jagannath-Subhadra-Balram, the three gods that almost define Orissa; they are placed in the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri and worshipped in every Oriya home. Hope my bottle does justice to the images of these much-loved deities. Click on the image to see a better view of the bottle.

And next time you come across those Oriya craftsmen at a fair, don't forget to stop by, admire their creativity and pick up some gorgeous pieces for your home. Alternatively, you could commission a bottle from me by writing to me at creativerumblings@gmail.com. Have a happy July! :)