Friday, December 24, 2010

Faith- Old Man Praying

'Faith'series continues...
This was an old sadhu with flowing white beard, with a satin shawl draped over his shoulders; chanting his prayers aloud on the banks of the Ganga.I thought he would make a great subject for a sketch.My husband took a lot of photographs of him. Finally, this was selected for my sketch. It was done in two sittings-about 3 hours each.
Graphic Pencil on paper,
16"x12"

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Faith_ With Folded Hands

Another in my 'Faith' series....A lady devotee I captured in Rishikesh sometime ago.
Pencil on paper, about 26"x19"

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Faith - 4

 I have been busy with so many things lately that art took a back seat for last two or three weeks.This portrait was done in october itself.Trying to play with techniques a bit here.Its another one in my "faith' series.

Pencil on paper, about 16"x 22"

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Autumn- The sketch of mom

This is my mom..the reference photo taken by myself last year.This was started about two weeks ago , then I left for vacation.Completed it last night .
Pencil on paper 30cm X 40 cm

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Shades of Youth

My niece, Diya. At fourteen, she is the oldest of all the kids in our family. Her face is always a delight to sketch, thanks to her delicate features and beautiful smile.The reference image was taken by Manik , my husband sometime last year. I chose it beacuse it had her standing against the light, her face in shadows; which made the image appear somewhat mystical.
14"x 10" graphic pencil on paper

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Faith- Lady in a Temple


My 'faith' series continues...I had photographed this woman in Rishikesh sometime ago. What I added to this composition was the ghanta or the bell that hangs on the entrance of all Hindu Temples.

The size of the sketch is about 20"x28" I am experimenting with paper again, but with little luck! This paper was thick, but the texture was very rough and I could not put much details on her face.It could have been a diffrerent sketch if done on a different paper :)

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Faith- The Old man Praying



Another of my 'Faith' series; its the same old man offering his prayers to Sun God at the banks of River Ganga,in Rishikesh.A big one, this time!

Pencil on paper, 30"x22"

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Sadhu_the Holy Man of India


In Hinduism, "sadhu" is a common term for a mystic,an ascetic, a Yogi,or wandering monks.The Sanskrit term sādhu ("good man") refers to renounce rs who have chosen to live a life apart from or on the edges of society in order to focus on their own spiritual practice.Usually they live by themselves, on the fringes of society, and spend their days in devotion to their chosen deity.
Some perform magical rituals to make contact with the gods, others practise intense forms of yoga and meditation to increase their spiritual powers and acquire mystical knowledge.Certainly, not all sadhus are enlightened. But believers regard them all as holy anyway, if only because of their radical commitment.

This sketch is based on a wonderful photo of such sadhu taken by my husband on the banks of the Ganga river, Rishikesh.I liked the intense expression on this sadhu's face.His eyes were intelligent, the half smile intriguing,the hair matted-- woven into 'dreadlocks'or "jata",as we call them in Hindi.
I have done nothing more than express it in my own way, what was already there.
You can have a look at the original man here, at my husband's photoblog
16"X12" , graphic pencil on paper

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Praying_finished

This is the completed version of 'Praying Old Man'...
12"x16"

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Prayers_WIP

This is a work-in-progress on an old man's portrait. He was praying to the Sun , standing ankle deep in the waters of the Ganga river in my hometown Rishikesh , with hand joined in the gesture of 'namaskar'. I started this portrait some days ago and now I am hopeful of finishing it in this week
pencil on paper, 12"x16"

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The White Rose

I started working on this rose way back in february,but couldn't complete it because it required a lot of time and longer sittings.I did the background in many layers till I got the right shades.It took a lot of self motivation and many  more hours to post it here today!
graphic pencils on cartrige paper 16"x12"

Friday, January 29, 2010

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Prayers_WIP

A sketch in progress...an old lady praying at the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh,India.