The process of painting is beautiful. I really like how my mind is constantly thinking of the painting until it is complete. There's always some debate or discussion going on in my head during this time. As mentioned earlier, our team was spinning off from our parent company and forming a new organisation. While parting, I was leaving back a few good friends I had at work. Amongst them, is Chandra, whom I have known for a long time. Our common interests and a similar sense of humour connects us almost immediately in spite of the long gaps between our reunions. So I did want to give him something special. Since he loves painting, adores Ganesha and is a passionate dancer, I choose this sketch of a dancing Ganesha created by my Guru.
Sketching seems to be the easiest task for me. In half an hour I had my draft.
Once the sketch was done, I began debating on what colours I should be using and how I could include some of my own changes to this sketch. As always my favourite colour scheme took the front stage. But I wanted to decide its placing on the sketch. One thing I have noticed is that a light background converges attention to a darker central subject. After giving it a thought my three main colours were decided.
I had to use a blend for the background as using a plain colour would have made it less creative. And while blending, I realised how a round brush can blend colours much better than a flat brush that always leaves back rough strokes.
Next big task is to give this colours some shade, some effect of light; which happens to be my favourite part - The detailing. Shading the colours to form features is something that no artist would ignore.
Finally the minute details such as the eyes, the ornaments, the folds, intricate designs. This is where I really get stressed. The more I observe the more I could detail it and at a point, I simply have to give up and say - "I am done" because this is one process that never seems to end with a satisfaction. There is always something that could have been improved.
So with around a total of 8 hours spread across in 3 days, I completed this work for a good friend.
The name "Natya" was almost obvious!
So as I mentioned in my previous post, I tried to relax a full day (Nov3rd) at home clicking pictures and eating good food. These are the impressions.
Sometimes along the way we get so busy with work and family that we almost forget what it is to party. What it is to enjoy an evening with friends, what it is to just live a day totally unplanned, as it comes.
The month of october was a treat to me. With a trip to the vineyard, trekking and a quick trip to meet family at Surathkal, the month started off with loads of fun. But what arrived unexpected was an evening at Arbour brewing company to meet fellow couch surfers.
However the evening was nothing like my idea of socialising. I wouldn't want to meet 40 people on an evening and never get to know even one a little better. So even though the evening was fun chatting with travellers from around the world, i don't think i would return there every week.
Thanks to a French band playing at Opus and then an unplanned get-together at AFB and cloud bar, it was nice to meet up with French class friends and enjoy the moment with some tequila and good talk.
The party mood continued at office too. With our team spinning off to form a new company several parties were arranged and as a team we danced to the DJ music! Party with CAB mates, party with "The UB group" (Team of 15 engineers who have been together since almost 8 years) and another party as an entire team.
We were to leave our Bidadi office to setup a new one in the city. Being a small team, we did most of the setting up work. I was mainly involved with the interiors of the office and every visit to the site was fun and knowledgeable.
But then after a lot of party, you realise that it is time to settle down and get back to serious stuff. however once in a while a break such as this seems the most wanted. So for me a trip with family was awaiting. I was planning a three day trip to north canara and Mangalore. I eagerly looked forward for that to balance my emotions.
From the trek, I travelled eagerly to Surathkal to meet my Niece and nephew (Oct 14th). Having left Nittoor at around 10:00 AM, I reached Surathkal at around 2:00PM. After a delicious lunch prepared by my mother, I took a good nap until my naughty little nephew arrived at 5pm and woke me up. It was good to meet sis and the kids after a year. Vibhav and Varsha were fun to talk to. We finished Vibhav's story that he had started the previous year and i volunteered to make an illustrated version of it. I read Varsha's story and she sketched a beautiful flower for me.
After dinner, we decided to watch the Sharada pooja march. I was able to capture some interesting images.
Next day, we left home at around 8:45AM and went to Mangalore to watch the film "Gravity". The film is amazing and could be easily called a work of art. For the first time, I actually liked a 3D film and was happy to see that the 3D effect was effectively utilised.
I returned to Bangalore the same night. They were leaving to Mumbai the next day and then to LA. I enjoyed every bit of my stay in Surathkal. It was great fun and a good conclusion to my long weekend.