Duality

Medium: Oil Pastels on Sandboard
Size: 11" X 9"

I am still working on Chatterbox and Nutcraker. So I just thought of writing this new post in between about this painting which I did few months back. This is abstract Radha and Krishna
with four cows.

Have named this painting Duality because Krishna depicts the Masculine form here and Radha depicts the Feminine form. Duality exists everywhere in every form....which is one of the basis of Hindu philosophy. And even when we talk about energy body...we talk about Ida(Feminine Energy) and Pingala(Masculine Energy). Radha and Krishna symbolize that duality which exists in the universe in a beautiful way.

I did add something recently to this painting...Lot of people who saw this painting before and some of them were not familiar with Krishna and Radha were not able to differentiate between the male and female. And Krishna in sanskrit means Dark blue...a particular blue which I have used here conveys completely the identity of Krishna...But it did not seem enough to people not familiar with krishna and therefore I added the nose ring to Radha. It also looks much better to me now...so posting it...

Wings at Work

Medium: Mixed Media on Wooden Board
Size: 12"X12"
This is a Monarch butterfly with a yellow flower. This is mixed media work where oil pastels, acrylics and multipurpose colors have been used in combination to achieve the final result.

I used only the clear color on the top of oil pastels to fix as oil pastels tend to smudge and I do not like using those sprays to fix oil pastels sometimes. This color gives a glossy finish and long life to the painting. The Calcutta Street Scene and Florida Sunshine were done using these colors. These colors are not available commercially. My art instructor in Delhi makes these himself.

So wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year :)...Have lots of fun !

The Sunset

Medium: Oil Pastels on Sandboard
Size: 18" X 16"

The inspiration behind this painting was Banaras. But I let the painting remain very abstract and that was achieved by using "less is more" approach. This was a sort of study where I tried to work with minimum strokes and played with colors. The use of red and orange for the boatman in foreground was deliberate for the obvious reason that warm colors appear nearer and therefore achieved depth. I took complete advantage of the excellent texture which the sandpaper provides.

Rajasthani Man with a Turban

Medium: Oil pastels on Paper

This is a Rajasthani Turban Man mostly done with oil pastels. Some silver and gold acrylics have been used in the earings and the pendant. This was a study which I did along with my art instructor at Delhi..."Sirish Sir"...as we all students address him.

The paper used here was a thick indian handmade paper with a lot of texture and therefore paper did most of the work for us. And I like the way white is used on the face for highlight. It gives the face a very natural look.

If you are in Delhi and looking for a quality art instructor he is the one for you..you can contact him on his mobile 9810564353....I have learned a lot of drawing and handling of colors from him.

Mystic Sadhu

Medium: Oil pastels on Sandboard
Size : 11" X 9"
This painting is oil pastels on Sandboard ( as I call it ). Sandboard is nothing but Sandpaper pasted on a thin wooden ply or compressed board. And this provides excellent texture for pastels. If you love working with oil pastels then this is a must try.
Coming on to the Sadhu...I just love this composition and anyone who is from India or understands India will find this painting very engaging. And what makes it interesting is the idea of the Sadhu holding a Beedi ( handcrafted cigarette) along with his usual kamandal ( Water vessel ) and Lathi (Wooden Stick). The credit for this idea...I mean sadhu holding the cigar goes to my art instructor " Sirish Sir" from whom I learned oil pastels and drawing.

Gautam Buddha

Medium: Dry Pastels on Wooden Ply

Mother with Daughter

Medium: Oil pastels on Paper