Nets in Cochin

Practicing my paintings and working towards the exhibition. I did a pencil sketch as a first step towards completing this painting. It helped me get my values sorted! Then I have done a small version of the picture 11"x7 1/2". Now I am ready to do the final version, which will probably be on a half size sheet! I have fiddled with the colours and have chosen the ones I will use. I think this a good way forward really! It gives me space to think through what I want to convey in the picture and  experiment!
The reference pictures are from our trip to Cochin where we saw the Chinese fishing nets! They are only called Chinese fishing nets because they were originally brought from China by the Portuguese who first introduced them to this part of India and now they have become indigenous to the fishermen on this coast!

Out for the day!

I was driving through rural Gujarat! We stopped at a level crossing, it seemed we were waiting forever,  as the train took its own time to amble by!  It was mid day, hot and very dusty and I was definitely feeling a little cross, so I got out of the car to walk around. It was a typical railway crossing, out in the middle of nowhere, with hardly any shade anywhere, miles of barren fields baking in the hot sun. Suddenly I noticed this group of women, who had obviously climbed out of broken down jeep (the only other vehicle there), sitting together, laughing and chatting, dressed in   brightly coloured clothes, bangles jingling, enjoying a wonderful moment. The  heat or dust didn't seem to bother them at all, and seeing their sheer enjoyment of the moment my mood lifted! Thank goodness I carry a sketch pad and paints, so  I did a quick sketch...hoping to capture a moment that was special. I have taken a few reference pictures and am sure will definitely lead to a much larger painting!