Color Palette

Egret in Flight

This artwork taken as a whole looks remarkably like an Egret (bird) in full flight! A gleaming white bloom appears exotic on its black canvas.
"Art is never finished, only abandoned." - Leonardo da Vinci

The White Egret Orchid (Habenaria radiata), an absolutely gorgeous Asian species is one of Japan's most famous orchids. It's Japanese name "Sagi-sou", is derived from its Egret-flying appearance. Egret flower comes in the form of small, pea sized tuber from which grass-like leaves are produced, alternatively on a single stem. It exhibits an extravagant lip as well as the impressive petals that are pristine white, whereas the sepals are simple, small and green. With no doubt, the bread heavily fringed lip steals the show.  

To achieve the luminous and balanced white a complementary color or colors is required for each of the opposing-color mixes to harmoniously glow as individual entities. A detailed and close study of the flower from botanical illustration helps in the intrigue composition of the uniqueness and the attractiveness of the flower to stand out. The flowers petals, stems, leaves along with its exact shape, color and texture must be learnt with keen observation. 

"Without great solitude, no serious work is possible." - Pablo Picasso

A blacked out canvas (Oil,16x20) for an eye-catching look of the subject, in this case the Egret flower adds more character to the luminous flower. On a prepared canvas, a layer of toner was applied to start with an undersurface painting. As I previously mentioned, I do not like to sketch my subject, I always prefer a free style painting to avoid marks. To add more value layers of paint colors is worked into the darks, mid-tones and lights. 

"Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." - Pablo Picasso

As most of you must have known that white is not a primary, secondary or tertiary color. Its an achromatic color of maximum lightness. Its not an absence of color, but a combination of all colors in equal proportions. The white paint is also mixed with a tint of yellow, green, black (grey shades) to achieve different shades of white that adds more depth to the white subject. I like Titanium white for its high- coverage quality and it is perfect as a base to add the tints and highlights.


"Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing." - Marc Chagall
For a pictorial realism adding values like the deep shadows and brilliant light makes the painting more compelling. The details comes with the slow refinement of lights and darks. A subtle dark toned background of leaves creates a dramatic mood in contract with the gorgeous white flower and vibrant green stems. For the finishing touches, the shadows are strengthened with glazes and the whites with yellow tint is used as highlights.

Beauty is the illumination of the soul! Hope this artwork charms and inspires you! 

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Abstract oil Portrait


Being my first attempt with portrait painting, the style I chose is to create a visual experience instead of a realistic portrait. 


This abstract oil painting is created on a professional level heavy duty canvas sized 18 in x 24 in. Abstract portrait painting is open to interpretation and that's the soul beauty of it. It is more free and expressionistic with form, pattern, color, texture and tone. These qualities describe what the art looks like and how it is created. Examine the subject's expressions that conveys emotion. 

The secret to making sense of Modern Abstract Art is effortless. All it requires is an open mind and a big imagination. Look at it like listening to music. When we listen to music we don't hold on to the notes. Allow your eyes wander over the painting like a symphony that washes over your soul. 

Art is an experience
Just explore the artwork and see where it take you to understand the artist's view. Observe the unconventional color schemes and nonalignment that is made intentionally. These observations guides how thoughts and ideas are organized to the subject. I have incorporated some delicate detailing and some rough brushstrokes to view this art with different perspectives. 

I would love to know your vision about this particular art. Leave your views in the comment box please. Thanks for stopping by! 

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Enduring Tranquility and Endless Enlightenment


It is a breathtaking sight to see one of the many beautiful things of nature. Waterfalls are one my favorite painting subjects. 


Waterfalls are quite abundant in nature with plenty of beauty with which an artist can derive a painting. By default they become focal points. 



Tranquil from a distance but deafening up close is the force of nature.

This oil painting clearly shows the soft edges and the illusion of water in movement. The hard edges of the rocks, in contrast with the still water, is very pleasing to the viewers eyes.


Just let go... and fall like a little waterfall -Bob Ross

The challenge for a landscape artist rendering a realistic water scene that's still and in motion which gains momentum. This painting has a mixture of both moving and calm water which calls for some glazed reflections and some energetic and varied strokes to show movement and force. Generously loaded fan brush creates the never-ending splashes and the foaming with titanium white paint.
You cannot just ignore the beauty of nature
Like how we pay attention to the surrounding, painting a piece of land gives an opportunity to add other elements like rocks, trees and shrubs that takes the water scene to its next level. 

 "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in raising every time we fall"
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Splendor of Mother Nature

A seascape oil painting on canvas brings out the magnificent colors of mother nature.

Sunrise or Sunset ?

Seascapes are usually painted with blues and greens since we include the prime two elements (water and sky) in any seascape artwork. This rule is broken when the most magical moments of a day either the sunrise or sunset is pictured.


It is quite difficult to distinguish between a sunrise and sunset just by looking at a photograph or painting. These two events are quite similar and you cannot be totally sure unless you actually see the sun going up or down the horizon. The sun creates a magnificent view in the sky reflecting on the endless sea. The true magical colors of warm scarlet and dreamy purple and indigo hues brings out the beauty of mother nature. 


Our perspective on life is a choice and not a fixed unchangeable position.

People most associate a cooler, softer and brighter colors (yellow, orange, pink and blue) with sunrises and; dark saturated, warmer and intense colors(red, orange, magenta and vibrant purple) with sunsets.
Sunsets tend to be much grander affairs than sunrises. As we see a blaze of colors as the sun's rays are melting before the darkness creeps in. The sunset at its best when it paints the sky with warm and vibrant tones to reflects in the water.


"All endings are also beginnings,
We just don't know it at the time."
              -Mitch Albom

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Earthly Reverie - Abstract Painting


An abstract painting is the purest form of expression that can stir emotions and creatively inspire us through the different forms found in objective reality. This abstract painting "Earthly Reverie", is a pleasant and fanciful musing of this world and its physical life.

Painting is highly an intuitive process that comes from experimentation. It takes us to a greater level of depth to an entire room simply through the elements of art - color, shape and texture that artists creates.


This abstract oil painting (22x28 inches)  is created on a stretched canvas that is stapled on the back. Freshly primed and textured with Gesso enumerates intensity to the professional grade oil paints to create this "Earthly Reverie". The sides (edges) of the artwork is painted and is ready to hang. 


Most likely an abstract art is random and comes from experimenting with different color combinations and tools to create a unique art. In this "Earthly Reverie", you will see the magisterial earth colors - blue, green, brown, yellow and white that zing together having a relationship creating varied shapes and lines. 


It is a free style painting to build your intuition to create different elements. The thumb rule is not to think at all and do whatever comes to mind. All that I decided in readiness was the color palette. Each step led me to the next, making this a joyful experience. 


Idea of subject comes while working. The mental notes taken along with imagination procreates this masterpiece. The balance of cool and warm shades, and the readable understructure balances the techniques used in making this piece interesting and eye catching.


Earth is by far the most dynamic and spectacularly colorful planet when seen from outer space. Thanks to decades of aerial, orbital and space-based photography that makes us familiar with these global earth colors.



You might be interested in taking a look at my Knife Painting - An abstract art! Suggestions and comments are always welcomed. Thanks for stopping by!

Reigning Harmony

Canvas Painting


Oil on Canvas

This intensely personal process enriches the viewer's experience of an artwork. Let your eyes play with the painting, slipping around corners, following the twirls, twists and turns, dipping in and out of the surface. 


I particularly chose silhouette to avoid details in the subject just to enhance the background effect.  



Under-paint/wood grain effect

Let your eyes dance around the piece. The consistent flow from one side of the painting to the other was planned with its precise strokes. I used painting knife, and a regular comb to get the wooden grainy effect.


Examine the varied colors, forms, materials, surface, and how they interact with each other. Take your time and simply let the painting "speak" to you.

Symphony

Look at this art in the same way that we would listen to a symphony. When we listen to music, we don't try to hold on to the notes. Allow the eyes to wander over the painting the way the notes of a symphony wash over our soul. 


Free up yourself to be taken in by the painting. See what emotions, sensations or memories emerge. Allow your eyes relax and travel around the piece without expectation. Forgive me if the musical notes are not up to the mark.

Silhouette

A silhouette appears as a solid shape and its interior is featureless. It depicts the edge of an object in a linear form. 



 "I have my mantra about silhouette, proportion, and fit. I believe that when they are in harmony and balance, you'll look great in anything."
                           Author: Tim Gunn

Don't forget to suggest a title for this work of art.
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Abstract Art - A Knife Painting

Abstract art gives the freedom to explore the artwork and assign your own meaning to the art piece. An open inquiring mind and a big imagination is all you need to understand an abstract art. You must enter the painting and see where it takes you. 



Experienced artists are confident and produce every mark with intention. Paint splatters may look random but they are put there for a reason and the techniques used in this style cannot be easily replicated. 

It is evident that I am researching new techniques, because I have always been pleasantly enjoying a bird or landscape painting. Capturing a painting is quite challenging. Tried my best in natural lighting in different times of the day for the paint hues to look accurate.

Description:
An organic or free form of painting in a visual motion was the key intention of this art piece. Repetition of abstract strokes with a painting knife in contrast with the shimmering foreground brushstroke values the elements of this painting.  The visual movement of the eye and the textures it created makes this piece unique. 

The formal qualities of an artwork is about form, color, line, texture, pattern, size, scale, composition and process. These are the basis of an art because they describe the subject of the art and what it looks like and most importantly how it is created. A good abstract art is compilation of layers. There is typically an underpainting, in this case the grey gesso (primer) and the brown hue. These layers often create the bases for the depth of an artwork.


Technique:
Painting with a knife is an excellent technique that I have used mainly in this work of art for producing texture, impasto*, tiny shapes of color and sweeping areas of flat color. There is a purity of color that can be achieved when painting with a knife which is very different than with a brush. The intensity of the color is strong and the creamy texture of the paint shows up when its layered on the surface. An oil painting with a painting knife is challenging, but rewarding approach to the paint application. 

People use the term painting knife and a palette knife interchangeably. Even though it doesn't really matter, this is just a piece of knowledge that I would like to share. 

Palette knife is a long, straight blade or spatula that is used for mixing paints and mediums and also for scraping a palette clean.  It is usually blunt with no sharpened cutting edge. 

Painting knife is an artist's tool with a flexible steel blade used to apply paint on the canvas. It has a pointed tip, lowered or cranked like trowel or bends in the handle, which keeps your fingers out of the wet paint. Painting knives come in various lengths and shapes.

In contrast to this knife painting, I have emphasized some brushstrokes using my 3.5 inch brush which also acts as a shimmering focal point.


Color:
The color that is used in an art piece can elicit different moods and emotional reactions from people. Whether its a positive or negative emotion, it gets thrown on the canvas; of course with thoughts and planning put into it to add personality to the artwork. 

Neutral hues are the epitome of nature and is been used abundantly in this design. Started of the canvas with a grey gesso as a primer/under color. The neutral tones of brown represents the stability and wholesomeness and it works well for backgrounds and accents. This hue almost blends with every other shade to create a pleasing effect.

The dominating green color  takes on a cooler tone which is most pleasing to the eye as it harmonizes with the other warmer tones. The spring-like yellow based green symbolizes the beginning of something like a new birth or new growth. Metallic gold and pearl white brushstrokes gives the shimmering effect that stands out from the glossy oil paint.


Perspective
The vision and visual perception is the way in which the subject appear to your eyes, based on the dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the art work. 

In person,  you can see the detailing of the brush and knife strokes, the texture, shine effect of the artwork. You can also feel the strength of the painting from across the room to judge an art work. This art piece can be displayed either vertically or horizontally, hence I endorsed at the back. 

Does this qualify as a good abstract art being my first? If you like tell us why?

Notes: 
Impasto is a technique used in painting, where paint is applied on the surface very thick enough that the brush or the painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint can also be mixed right on the canvas. 
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Misty Autumn

An escape from the city for a little stroll in the misty morning woods, will make the journey together with memories of life that grows forever. 

Misty Autumn

"Misty Autumn", an oil painting on canvas (18 *24) is a tribute to the flashiness of fall for the colors to come alive. A wet-on-wet technique used with various tinctures of brilliant red, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, crimson alizarin, burnt sienna and sap green were the major pigments used to transform a blank canvas into a picturesque "Misty Autumn."  4 hours of painting with just 2 sittings brought out the richness of autumn and a lovely father and son relationship.


"An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. " 

~ Henry David Thoreau     

Misty Autumn
Autumn has always been my favorite season. After the action and adventure of summer, autumn is a good time just to be "mellow." The time when green leaves will soon be gone, turning everything golden like that bursts with its beauty, as though nature has been saving up all year for the grand finale.

"A tangerine and russet cascade of kaleidoscopic leaves, creates a tapestry of autumn magic upon the emerald carpet of fading summer." 
~Judith A. Lindberg

Misty Autumn
Under the hued autumn foliage standing shadowless hand in hand only to listen to the crunching and crinkling fall leaves swirling in the breeze. The kind of love we see in a child's innocent face cannot be described in words. When the child grabs and pulls his Dad's hand saying "Come on, Daddy..." It is a force that drives us to accomplish what we thought we couldn't. It makes everything worth it!

Misty Autumn - "Walk with me Daddy..."
Falling foliage hide the path so quickly allowing us to take the less traveled path leading to the most amazing view. Would love to hear from you with your valuable comments :)
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Birds of Paradise

"Birds-of-Paradise" - Is it a bird? Is it a plant?



Title came first, subsequently the canvas was prepared. This art-piece is like a dawning to me, since I grabbed my palette and brushes after nearly a decade. 




In 5 sittings with 2-4 hours of painting I created this oil on canvas (24 in * 30 in) depiction. Just like how brilliant colors are expressive, the texture is a common element in oil painting that brings out a 3 dimensional look to the artwork.


I grow a birds of paradise plant at home, inquisitively googled for namesake (a bird of the same name).  I was awestruck that they are a group of 39 closely related species (Paradisaeidae). My thirst for knowledge elevated. Picked an awesome National Geography's book at the library titled "Bird of Paradise- Revealing the World's Most Extraordinary Birds" by Tim Laman & Edwin Scholes. It is a must read if you love exotic birds! 


Decided to incorporate both plant and bird in my painting. The next question was the background, the answer came from the title itself - Paradise! Paradise has been used to designate mankind's first home, the Garden of Eden. A place of timeless harmony where good people live forever and share their happiness.



My Utopia/Garden of Eden is lush green, filled with pure and beautiful fragrance from the colorful blooms and the tranquil waterfalls with its natural soothing sounds. A small thatched house well-lighted to live in. It is mostly built with natural materials - hay, stone, wood and glass (windows). Paradise is free of disease and death, hence, there will be no negative/empty space in my painting as well. 


Flowers are the symbol of joyfulness, 
Such Magnificence!

Birds-of-Paradise (Stelitzia reginae), makes a very attractive ornamental specimen also known as "Crane flowers" in Africa. It is one of the most beautiful of all exotic flowers. This green and pink boat-shaped bract with its brilliant orange and intense blue petals looks like birds in flight. The thick evergreen foliage resembles miniature banana leaves, attached to a long stalk as this plant is trunkless. This may bloom year round. 


"From so simple a beginning, endless forms 
most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being , evolved" - Charles Darwin



Bird-of-paradise really deserved its name. This Paradisaeidae group live in the same part of the globe: the island of New Guinea, nearby islands, and northeastern Australia. Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These colors distinguish them as some of the world's most dramatic and attractive birds. 
A rare bird on earth!


The males and females have different appearance. Males often sport vibrant feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Although I love Greater bird-of-paradise, I settled on Blue bird-of-paradise for my work of art due to space constraints. Beautiful and bright blue bird-of-paradise is medium sized with ivory bill, broken white eye-ring and blue wings. It performs an elaborate courtship display. 


Hope you gained some knowledge about Birds-of-Paradise with a treat to the eyes with my brand new painting (which is still wet). Will wait for 3 weeks to dry completely for a coat of sealant to protect the artwork. Your words of suggestions and comments on this particular artwork is highly appreciated!
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Bird Art

Birds are always inspiring and painting birds is one of my hobbies. As much as I love bird watching I enjoy painting them as well. Tried 3 major different surface for my bird paintings. Canvas, wood and the most challenging glass. "The Nature Guide of Birds" and "Birds Encyclopedia" are my best handy book to learn about each bird that I decide to paint.
  

My very 1st bird painting was "The Willow Goldfinch/American Goldfinch/ Wild Canary", an oil on Canvas. The bright cadmium yellow Willow Goldfinch with its black cap, cone-shaped bill, white patterned wings and white rump is most likely to be a male. As the female's plumage is more muted with olive-green body and dark brown tail. 

Though I was very much interested in birds, was unsure of its strokes and the right effect to make it look natural. Hence visited the local library for some help to self-learn the art of painting birds.

The daisies and the fence added more beauty looking natural, but I purposefully removed the details for the bird to get all the attention in this particular painting. Realized painting birds was just a piece of cake if observed keenly to understand the layers of hues and chose the right brush strokes for each effect to appear near realistic and presentable.



My next set of bird paintings were on a wooden Birdhouse. All the 5 sides including the roof of the birdhouse was painted with different kinds of Birds - 
Cardinal, Hummingbird and Sparrow, Butterflies, flowers like Morning Glory Vines and some radiant Cherries to go along. I thoroughly enjoyed painting this birdhouse as I didn't required any guidance. Sorry I couldn't do justice with this birdhouse picture, just found these casual photos as the bird house is no more with me.


The most challenging of all bird paintings was The Bluebird on the Window sill. Songwriters has adapted this elegant Bluebird as a symbol of happiness. I was eager to try something new and chose to paint on glass. As some of you already know, glass painting is always done with reverse steps. All the highlighting and detailing goes first. Had to take notes of the necessary steps ahead of time to proceed gradually from last to first step.  Most importantly I had to guess the proportion and the right placement of each detailing.

This short and brightly colored Bluebird is elegant with its royal blue upper body and head, along with beige breast and white belly has slender beaks with short legs. Broken glass effect on glass and the web was the highlight apart from the Bluebird.























Do these birds look realistic? Vote your favorite and don't forget to let me know in the comments below to improve on my upcoming projects or a few words of encouragement will be appreciated. Enjoy bird watching!
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English Cottage

I am pleased to present my "English Cottage", an oil on canvas painting. I guess we all dream of home; we live in the city but dream of an english cottage. The serine atmosphere sets the mood for this landscape painting. As the dawn light is slowly seeping up, the grey begins to fade and the vivid colors creeps from leaf to flower...


The technique that I have specialized and used on this painting is called wet-on-wet painting. Took almost a month from start to finish to create this work of art. The clear sky with colorful trees set the backdrop for this scene. I took my own sweet time to get started with the cottage. Once I had planned on the composition, I decided to sketch the cottage with a ruler and pencil. Which was very unusual, because all my paintings are sketch free. My husband was very disappointed seeing clean straight lines and suggested to try free hand painting method as always. I'm happy it was the right decision as the outcome is a lot more natural then I thought. 





The focal point being this house, not to miss the decorative trim, stair rails and most importantly a verandah to sit on at night. Wish I could walk barefoot on the lawn while the dew is fresh with the sweet smell of the roses. The welcoming garden arbor with pink flowering vines and the elegantly delicate gladiolus and delphiniums on either sides of the pathway makes me feel heavenly. 

Comments

  1. Imagination is a part of creation...you have imagined very well and it's all in your beautiful painting...very nice.

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    1. I greatly appreciate your kind words Caroline :)

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  2. Wow.. these are truly amazing paintings..You are very creative Amudha.
    I loved the oven less cookie on the other page, I am gonna try that out soon..
    Looking forward for more of your awesome creations....too good my friend

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    1. Thanks Divya for your kind words :) Do try the cookies and send a pic to share it here...

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  3. Beautiful work of art!

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