Blossoms

It's been a while (again) since I got paint on my hands, and this time I decided to try out some nib-painting!

The last time (which was also my first time), that I did attempt a bit of nib-painting was more than a decade ago when this really caring art instructor at Nasik taught me the technique. I was just over 16 then and was enjoying the hobby of trying out various art work while waiting for my results to get published. Little did I know then that it would be a while until I picked up another felt backdrop and mixed paint to re-create the same feeling.

The trouble with the nib-painting is that once done, no one gets to see the trouble taken to get it to that point! (which is quite sad). A simple boquet of flowers (could have easily been splattered by a 9-year old, as long as the paint stayed within the lines!).


Well truth be told my friends; it's quite cumbersome. I won't say it's tough, b'coz you just need to pick the right picture, trace it out and fill in. But if you look closely at each flower petal, you can see the detailing involved in each petal of each flower. Many single strokes of the nib helps create the complete pictures.
Well, at least now it's not thought of as childs play :) although the child in me did enjoy each moment when a blank black sheet transformed into a bright, almost 3D imagery.

Try your hand, it's tiring but definately not impossible... just needs the right material and a whole lot of patience!!

Coy Mistress

We were visiting an IKEA store at the US when I chanced upon this picture and it stayed with me…. 2 years later and I’ve finally got her out on canvas! (I shan't tell you how my output got so close to the original even after 2 whole years.)!!

  

She is truly one of my favourite works (I know an artist always feels that their immediate work is better than the previous one); but this one’s different… there is something quite beckoning in her. (Don’t you feel it?) . It’s almost like she’s luring you in with her coy, yet impish glint in the eyes J

For those of you who watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" this picture might just ignite your memories of Audrey Hepburn. (In fact that might just give you a hint of how I managed to get this painting right.)

To me, I call her my “Coy Mistress”. She does get my husband’s attention every time he passes her frame! Do I mind it? Not at all! In fact I just love smiling back at her!!!!

Daybreak!

It feels like not so long ago when I was sitting in class in my neatly tied up pigtails learning about the 18th and 19th century, and I imagined how it would feel to be a part of the 21st century which at that point in time seemed so far far away; almost like a whole new era....

But before I knew it not only did I waltz into Y2K, but I even watched a whole decade fly by. WOW! That makes me feel pretty nostalgic!

Hmm.. and what has all this to do with my creative side? - you should ask. Well, for those among you who did run that thought in your head, sorry to disappoint you, but there isn't much of a connection. Just a bunch of emotions the new year has thrown in.

Although, I admit, there are two obvious lessons learnt here: Lesson #1 - time flies, and Lesson #2 - "Little did she know (at that time)..." :-)

Hence, before time plays another trick on me ... it's time for me to get my work do the talking. I need to get the artist inside, outside (literally)!

The idea I share with you is an abstract one, different from what I have tried up untill now. I call it 'Daybreak' as it carries the vibrance from a sunny mix of colours and that coupled with the dry flowers giving the 3D effect brings out a warmth inspiring a different beginning... (I think I need to try out a couple more of these!!! This time with ornaments! what do you think??)

These different strokes does give me the confidence of continuing to attempt many more variations in my work.

Now, as a connoisseur of art that's what we all love to be a part of, don't we?  :-)