Another 20 minute challenge. I tried to do a complete picture, and it was hard as I kept wanting to add all the details! The light was coming from the right, but I didn't have enough time to complete the shadows! Anyway it is a really fun experience!

This is my first posting to a blog called the 20 minute challenge, where a picture needs to be painted in 20 mins. The red aednium flowered for the first time this week and it is such a lovely colour. I realised that 20mins is actually adequate time to create a picture. I have a tendency to want to paint every single detail in any picture I want to create and have been trying to develop the ability to look at only what is most needed in a picture and not get confused by too much detail in any scene. Attempting this challenge helped me do this! Will try and do one everyday!!!

I have been practicing my sketching skills...again a WC challenge. Its good fun. I am happy that I was able to get the perspective in the drawing of the stables. I dont draw animals often, but drawing this calf was enjoyable too. I am beginning to see the value of sketch a picture first, before painting it as it allows me to get a clearer idea of the darks and lights of a scene, where the shadows should be, where the light is coming from!

Have been planning to do some cameos of Kolkata...just a way to capture bits of Cal life and also practice my watercolour painting on a regular basis! This is a vegetable guy on Panditya road, who we stop at to buy bananas on the way back from our morning walk. I used water colour pencils for the firat time...under direction from Nafisa! Not a bad experience for small sketches...also in a way I had better control of the colour.

I haven't been able to paint this week, there has been a lot of work and then there has been a house guest...but I have certainly taken pictures in my mind. This is a great time as all the trees are flowering and the walk at RCGC today reinforced all the reasons why I do need to live near greenery when Viveck retires!

Its been a frustrating week in terms of my painting...haven't been able to wet my brushes at all this week or participate in any of the WC challenges! House guest and official parties, Sandhya and Inky in town...so much happening!!! But Viveck and I did manage an early morning visit to Tolly to see the trees...Its spring and all the trees are giving out new leaves...even my little ficus bonsoi! The course was empty as it was a Monday...so we had the club to ourselves. The mango trees are full of blossoms and as you walk around there is a strong smell of raw mangoes!
Not sure what the other tree is, but the leaves were so wonderful...almost on fire!

Drawing elephants!

Using charcoal is a great medium when I want to do a quick sketch! The right tusk hasn't come out too well...but on the whole I like it!