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String Artistry 

I am back on this exciting day, as Busy Mom Creates completed another year and turned 6 in my blogging journey. Skilled crafters and newbies alike can discover that String Art is an enjoyable and simple form of wall art you can create to gift yourself.

I am so grateful to all my followers who support and motivate me even when I am not consistent. This year has been like a roller coaster ride with so many changes and challenges to face. My journey came to a screeching halt many a time and surprisingly if you see me still holding on tight and continuing my journey, it's because of you my readers. I truly respect this little space in the blogging game as I love creating. 

This three-dimensional string wall art stands out as a unique decor accessory on my wall. Do more what you like to enjoy the fun of experimenting and creating like what I did with this art. Creating wall art to our taste and preference which suits our current decor was the main idea of this craft. California state is where were lived for more than 2 decades now. As some of you know about our recent relocation from South to North Bay, I chose to incorporate it in our decor as well. Hence, choosing the theme was much easier.

String art was most popular in the 90's in the form of colorful quick stitches which many of you can relate to your childhood crafting. This string art is the quicker, easier, and improvised version that works with any decor. Honestly, no prior experience is required as this is my 1st attempt as well. 

This particular handcrafted wall art was made using a poster board. Although using a wooden board is ideal, I keep it less complicated. Working with wood requires some carpentry craftsmanship to cut the wooden board to the desired size. Additionally, thumbtacks are easy to work with poster board which was lying in my craft space. 

In order to have a sturdy look I decided to give it the desired texture. I cut and double-primed the board to let it dry completely for a couple of hours. Stained the base coat with a mix of amber and amber shades. I then made the impasto using primer and baking powder (1:3 ratio) for added texture. Imprinted circle designs and let it sit overnight to dry completely.  Redid the painting procedure but this time with my all-time favorite knife painting method. Drying time took another overnight. Yes, preparing the board took almost 3 days. 

If you choose to cut down or skip your painting process you may gladly adhere to a textured scrap paper, wallpaper, or any natural fabric to prepare your board. Choose your theme and have a template. I would strongly advise you to gather all your materials and color coordinates to envision your final result. There is no limit to creativity, so get going with no further adieu. 

I printed a miniature California state map outline as a template for guidance and started to thumbtack the state map outline. I wouldn't say this is a perfect map as the curves on the map were quite challenging given the space I had. If you can print a larger template it makes your job easier to tack it 1st along the outline and then tear off the template. Another easier method is to cut your template in order to trace it on your board. Use those notch lines as a guide to make marks all around the edge of the template.

Thumb tacks are available in various sizes, colors, and also decorative heads. I picked the simple metallic copper color tacks. The trick to work with these thumbtacks is to push the tacks all the way through the board to stay in place making sure the thumbtacks still pop up at least 1/8 of an inch to string easily and attain the 3D effect we are aiming. 

Use high-quality embroidery floss or tassel-making string for the mild shine outlook. You can also use yarn to string depending on your theme. Start with a simple stringing method, double knot one end and string from one corner and work around all of the tacks evenly one by one in a single direction and then go over it diagonally. You can also make distinct patterns just that a little planning will result in a unique artwork. Make sure you string it tight enough and go into each notch as you pass over it. Once done finish it off with another double knot and trim off the excess. Vola!

To hang this wall art, a shadow box works just right to treasure and admire keeping it away from dust. Creativity is an outcome of passion for artwork! Don't forget to tag me when you recreate as I would love to admire your creative side. 

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Harmonious Circles of Life! - Dual Abstract Painting 

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Busy Mom Creates! I couldn't feel happier and thankful as we celebrate all my loyal readers. Words are powerless to express my gratitude for all your continued support and encouragement.

Painting is my source of endless pleasure like reminiscing old memories at the end of the day. I picked up my palate after almost a year and a half and undoubtedly this process brings immense peace and happiness. With all at home, planning ahead to allot my space and time was the 1st step to creating this dual oil on canvas painting. 

People think abstract art is about nothing, but honestly, it gives you the freedom to explore the art as it's open to interpretation. Today, contemporary art is the key style with its dynamic combination of methods, concepts, subjects, and materials. 

“Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” – Twyla Tharp

Take your time to be involved and examine an abstract art by its form, line, color, composition, and process of building up textures. This includes the positive and negative space usage as well. Come up with your interpretations and don't forget to let me know in the comment section below. 

The professional canvas is the most common support medium as the surface for an artwork. Heavy-duty canvas (level 3) is high-quality natural cotton that is stretched and stapled to a thick wooden frame. The two 20x20 canvases were set up together for preparing and creating this particular artwork. The fresh wet paint smell still lingers as it requires a couple of months to dry completely for the final sealant coatings. 

The striking term "minimalistic design" plays a vital role here. Minimalism is about expressing only the most essential and necessary elements of a subject by getting rid of unnecessary features and components. Affirmatively, two dominating and contrasting hues result in a modern and sleek look. The cooler and refreshing blue along with the neutral brown hues leads to a trendy and relaxing mood as they harmoniously compliment each other. Pure imagination and process resulted in this simple art considering the 8 elements of composition - focus, balance, unity, rhythm, contrast, proposition, pattern, and movement.

I have incorporated the geometric abstraction in this painting with circles as it creates a sense of harmony and completeness. With no distinct beginning or end, it implies graceful movement creating a path for the eye to travel around the design as it represents life and its cycle. The circles of life represent love, truth, humility, honesty, and gratitude. 

This curvy pattern connects and resonates with the feelings and emotions of love and energy. Straight freehand thick lines express strength and indicate a sense of motionless rest and peace. Additionally, it gives a visual depth, distance, and balance to this art.

The techniques fused here are brushing, splattering, blotting, and blending. To create dimension layering of paint doesn't seem to be apt for this type of painting. However an oil painting's beauty arises with its texture and the extra shine from the oil, else it would have the effect of an acrylic paint only. To incorporate the little texture and dimension, small groups of circles on both canvases brought out this subtle yet much-needed effect. 

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams

Life is full of endless possibilities for you to just go after. At the same time, without actions, it becomes an endless loop that eventually becomes dreams that aren't real. We have to identify our own needs and embrace all that we have, leaving behind the rest for this is our life. At times this creative work can teach us life lessons that suit our current emotions as well. How did you like this "Harmonious Circles of Life" artwork? 

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Cityscape - Textured abstract knife painting

Original abstract oil on canvas is hand-painted with a palette knife to create the "Cityscape". 

This work of art has been created on 18" x 24" white-wrapped canvas is relatively a smaller version of canvas compared to my previous canvas sizing. It is well-primed and prepared for the textured cityscape effect. 

The technique adapted here is the textured painting. The texture paste gives enough thickness to build an almost three-dimensional base to any artwork. 

Different palette knives were used to apply it on the canvas for the buildings and to carve their mark-makings on all of the buildings.

Major colors black, white, and grey also contain a subtle cooler tone to set the mood. A mix of pink and blue hues gave this gloomy subtle violet color creating the dazzling evening scene. 

The white highlightings provided the wet and slippery effect after a rain. To give this artwork some life, a brightly dressed lady holding an umbrella is accompanied by a black dog (silhouette). The lamp post bestowed the needed yellow lights and sparkle to this cityscape.

The edges of the canvas have been painted black and a final coat of protection is yet to be applied. Do leave your comments and feedback in the box below. 

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Cherry Blossom Painting

Welcome Spring! Blossom Festival is just around the corner, now celebrating its Golden Journey - its 50th year in the US. Created a stunning Cherry Blossom painting with the impasto technique for a 3-dimensional impression on dual canvas.

"Only do what your heart tells you" - Princess Diana 

Cherry Blossoms

The Cherry blossom is considered the national flower of Japan. These spectacular pink flowers bloom in early spring for a relatively short time about 2-3 weeks only in a year.  

The cherry blossom festival is an important custom called Hanami (meaning "flower viewing") in Japan. It represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It's a time of renewal. Reminds us that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful at the same time, it's also tragically short. Hanami at night is called Yozakura (meaning "night bloom"). The viewing spots are crowded at night as well, with people enjoying the pink blanket of gloriously illuminated blossoms in a beautiful and romantic atmosphere. These magnificent blossoms typically are more ornamental in nature as they do not produce any fruit.  

Vibrant pink buds to the 5 petaled baby pink blossoms on the branches resemble a heart wreath in this artwork. A wooden swing hung on a cherry blossom tree is something unlikely. Well, we do not have to impose boundaries when it comes to art, we are free to do what we love. 

Impasto

This is my very first try painting impasto for the flowers to pop from the interesting underpainting for an embossed look. Impasto means "paste" in Italian. This medium creates a sculptured quality to a painting with its unique textures and effects. The thick paint adds an element of texture and movement to the painting. It is usually applied using a palette knife straight on the canvas. When dry, impasto provides texture making it stand out from the canvas. Oil paint is the traditional medium for impasto painting due to the viscosity of oils, their thickness, and slow drying time. 

Canvas
The dual square canvas (two 8"x8") when aligned and united, creates a heart wreath with its branches. The continuity of the painting will be retained even when the two canvases are set differently. 

Underpainting and Subject
Usually, the underpainting on canvas sets the foundation with its monochromatic color for the focus to be on the subject. Unusually, I wanted to choose the woody brushed pattern with two colored underpainting (Yellow ochre and Burnt Umber). The hues compliment both the interesting underpainting and the blossom impasto subject. The focus is on the techniques used thus the exquisite subject is simple. 

Embracing spring with these cherry blossoms, the fragrance of the blossoms fills the heart to swing high in the air. Hope this inspires your creativity! Be merry! 

"Give freely, love freely, and play with fervor! Don't put so many conditioned rules on your happiness. Life can be a beautiful experience if we allow it" - Steve Maraboli

The Cosmos of Mechanisms

An abstract oil on canvas wall art in monochromatic color is a powerful tool in this artwork. 

Interesting and intricate patterns of black and white colors depict reality. These raw and natural hues give a contrasting effect that dispenses a sense of nostalgic feeling. The classic and achromatic grey-shaded background changes the value of this painting. As it reduces the saturation and adds to the dilution of the color. The tonal variances become all the more important as they create an illusion of depth. The expressivity of texture and nuances of patterns strike a hidden message to enchant the viewer giving a sense of peace. 

The geometric circle patterns or shapes repeatedly used here are the key designs of this painting. It can sometimes almost go unseen in color due to the color itself drawing attention. Hence this monochromatic hue was chosen for the patterns to dominate and come alive taking an abstract quality. 

The sparingly used light element against the dark draws the human eye to the subject creating an impact of visual abstract art. The black punctuates the color scheme to capture the mood that is being portrayed. 

"By having a clear vision, even a short vision of what will happen in the future. We will be less worried and feel a little bit confident, and calm because we can manage our life in the world that is changing every second." Ly Nguyen, Time Management: 80/20-in-80/20 

Interpretation:

An analogy of the present and past. People are happy with all the modern mechanisms and technology that make life easier at the same time perturbed about where it is going to take us. There are various keys available everywhere, but which is the right one??? 

My son's brain wave voices out that Wii-fi technology in all directions (corners) is the essential tool in today's world for networking. A telescope view of outer space where planets are colliding and meteors flying as the paramount robot floats in space proudly. The complicated and perpetually active watch gear (time) is in motion while a simple and introductory wheel reminds us of the past. Invariably the planetary crescent moon brings a beautiful smile to human face with the euphoric future in mind. 

A human being is a highly sophisticated mechanism. If you are in proper tune, you are capable of perceiving the whole cosmos within Oneself. - Sadhguru

What do you infer from this abstract painting? I am looking forward to hearing your perception, so kindly share it with us in the comment box below.  Thanks to all of you readers for participating and supporting me, which is much appreciated.

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Rays of the Morning Sun

What is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods and the first rays of the new rising sun?

"The sun is new each day" - Heraclitus

Hello February! The month of love.. Yes, I am inspired by love. It's how much we love what we are doing. My love for painting and the color green induced me to create this monochromatic landscape artwork (24" x 30"). 

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do"- Steve Jobs. 

Soak yourself with some morning rays as it take you to a new place through this oil on canvas(heavy duty)... The lush green rainforest with its natural and refreshing body of water is what this painting is all about. 

Gleams of Sunshine

Green is the prime color of the world and from which its beauty arises. Such is this monochromatic painting with a green hue that stands out with the subtle hues of yellow, white, and brown. 

A nice little glow in the sky with bushes and lots of trees that were the towers of the forest sets the backdrop for this work of art.  The light is filtering through the trees where it's mostly covered up. Sketched in the water body and under painted some water that reflects a bit of light from the sky. Gorgeous tree stands out especially the ones that go over the light area. Beautiful branches and a few leaves randomly covering up some of the background add life and depth to this art. The foreground tall trees and an old stump create interesting contrasts. Simultaneously, beautiful highlights give an indication of the light source and the dark shadows reveal the depth of this painting.

Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.

Always follow your inner voice to do what you love and love what you do! Sometimes this is all we need. Thanks for stopping by and for your valuable comments as a little encouragement goes a long way :) Have a pleasant sunshiny day!

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Snow-clad Nature's Beauty

Nature's grandeur with its tranquil reflections sets this winter scene. 

The vision of Lake Tahoe at its best was my inspiration for this oil painting on canvas. This lake is renowned for its high water clarity. Most importantly it doesn't freeze in winter due to its large thermal mass. 

Bob Ross's mind-blowing wet-on-wet technique was used to complete this artwork in less than 3 hours. The snow-clad mountains, happy Jeffrey pines, magnificent clouds, and the glorious reflections in the clear bluish water set this exotic scene.

Palette knife plays a vital role in creating these incredible mountains. The snow is plentiful and the slopes are grand with titanium white. A mix-up of grey shadows creates these snow-clad gigantic mountains from one end to the other.  

Dazzling phthalo blue with its happy clouds is truly a beautiful sight around the lake. Snow overlaid on pine trees was created with the Fan brush.  1” Round Foliage brush creates numerous fantastic effects such as clouds, foothills, trees, and bushes. I have used it mainly in this artwork for bushes.

"I can't think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through painting. Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul." ― Bob Ross, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Vol. 29

If you admire this "Snow-clad Nature's Beauty" landscape artwork, please leave a comment or suggestion in the box below. Thanks for stopping by!

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Elusive Art

An abstract oil painting on canvas with an illusive two-in-one face art. 

"All illusion comes and goes, but the soul remains unchanged" - Meher Baba. 

An illusion is a piece of magic that is imagined. It is a clear perception that is hard to express. The space created for this art is beyond average mind-frame composition that is as deep and vast as the ocean. While the elusive soul is undeniably safe within and free-spirited in harmony.

"Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that we live if we do" - Elizabeth Bowen. 

Creating a turquoise hue for this painting was quite challenging. Instead of rushing to the art supply store, I decided to take this challenge to create it myself. With some trial and error, I learned that it is not a mixture of blue and green. The basic color theory pops up to understand that turquoise is a tertiary color. This means it can be achieved only by mixing a secondary color (yellow) with a primary color (blue). This mixture of blue and yellow created green. Later a bit of blue hue is added to successfully achieve the color I aimed for.  

The pearl white elusive face image is highlighted with ivory black. The heart symbolizes Aristotle's famous quote, "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies". The abstract ivory black brush strokes with the subtle hues of orange, yellow, and brown sets the backdrop for this "Elusive Art".  

"If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion" - Noam Chomsky.

"The painter's only solid ground is the palette and colors, but as soon as the colors achieve an illusion, they are no longer judged" - Pierre Bonnard.

Your valuable suggestions and comments are always welcomed as they guide me to improve in what I do. Thank you for stopping by and hope you enjoyed surfing :)

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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. Its Japanese name "Sagi-sou", is derived from its Egret-flying appearance. Egret flowers come in the form of small, pea-sized tubers from which grass-like leaves are produced, alternatively on a single stem. It exhibits an extravagant lip as well as impressive petals that are pristine white, whereas the sepals are simple, small, and green. 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 intriguing composition of the uniqueness and the attractiveness of the flower to stand out. The flower's petals, stems, and leaves along with its exact shape, color, and texture must be learned 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 are 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 white is not a primary, secondary, or tertiary color. It is an achromatic color of maximum lightness. It's 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, and black (grey shades) to achieve different shades of white that add 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 pictorial realism adding values like the deep shadows and brilliant light makes the painting more compelling. The details come with the slow refinement of lights and darks. A subtle dark-toned background of leaves creates a dramatic mood in contrast 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 are 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 convey 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 to wander over the painting like a symphony that washes over your soul. 

Art is an experience

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

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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 of 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, are very pleasing to the viewer's 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 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 surroundings, painting a piece of land gives an opportunity to add other elements like rocks, trees, and shrubs that take the water scene to its next level. 

 "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall"

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The 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 are pictured.

It is quite difficult to distinguish between a sunrise and a 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 of the sky reflecting on the endless sea. The true magical colors of warm scarlet and dreamy purple and indigo hues bring out the beauty of mother nature. 

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

People most associate 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 is at its best when it paints the sky with warm and vibrant tones to reflect 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 a highly 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 create.

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 are painted and ready to hang. 

Most likely 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. 

The idea of the subject comes while working. The mental notes taken along with imagination procreate 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 a painting knife, and a regular comb to get the wooden grainy effect.

Examine the varied colors, forms, materials, surfaces, 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 yourself to be taken in by the painting. See what emotions, sensations, or memories emerge. Allow your eyes to 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 are all you need to understand 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 at 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 are form, color, line, texture, pattern, size, scale, composition, and process. These are the basis of art because they describe the subject of the art what it looks like and most importantly how it is created. A good abstract art is a compilation of layers. There is typically an underpainting, in this case, the grey gesso (primer) and the brown hue. These layers often create the basis 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 it's layered on the surface. An oil painting with a painting knife is a challenging but rewarding approach to the paint application. 

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

A 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. 

A 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 a 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 it's 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 have been used abundantly in this design. Started the canvas with a grey gesso as a primer/undercolor. The neutral tones of brown represent 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 give the shimmering effect that stands out from the glossy oil paint.

Perspective

The vision and visual perception is the way in which the subject appears to your eyes, based on the dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the artwork. 

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 artwork. This art piece can be displayed either vertically or horizontally, hence I endorsed it 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 grow 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 hides 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?

The 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, 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 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 plants and birds 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. 

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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", 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. The female's plumage is more muted with an 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 was on a wooden Birdhouse. All 5 sides including the roof of the birdhouse are 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 require any guidance. Sorry, I couldn't do justice with this birdhouse picture, just found these casual photos as the birdhouse is no more with me.

The most challenging of all bird paintings was The Bluebird on the Window sill. Songwriters have 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 go first. Had to take notes of the necessary steps ahead of time to proceed gradually from the last to the first step.  Most importantly I had to guess the proportion and the right placement of each detail.

This short and brightly colored Bluebird is elegant with its royal blue upper body and head, along with beige breast and white belly slender beaks with short legs. The 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 in and used in 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 trying the free hand painting method as always. I'm happy it was the right decision as the outcome is a lot more natural than I thought. 

The focal point is 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 side of the pathway make me feel heavenly.