Limited Colour Acrylic Ink Illustrations

“Murky marigolds

Wonky streets
Stranger things”

Lately, I have been writing more often than before now that I have not been able to engage in my art regularly. Not only the pandemic but my health has also been affected a bit so taking a little time off. These illustrations below are a collection from inkredible inktober that I missed to share as I could complete it only by mid-March (began in October last year) when the lockdown started; definitely a much-delayed post. I have used Daler & Rowney acrylic inks on Strathmore mixed media sketchbook. 

The only good side (since I am unable to do my art) is that I have been taking part in a couple of writing challenges particularly poetry challenges, thanks to Asian Literary Society for the engagement. They had also hosted an online Art Exhibition, Navras 2020 - a nine days festival of art, culture and literature. You can check my art here on their official blog.

The prompts (of the inkredible inktober challenge) are not in this order though - adding a couple of my haiku too.

Spider gently spinning

Metamorphosis

Forest of Wonders

Berry Picking

Healing Roots

"Night in layers

Silence flows
Stranger things”

Fireborn

Floating house

Foxy tale

The fog awaits

Inner warmth

"Stillness and silence

Go hand in hand, a quick

Drop and rhythm breaks"

What do think? Which one did you like the best? Would you like to tell me the Top 3 or top 5?

Embracing the DISTANT and the PERSONAL - a review

Distance is just a test of how far love can travel. – Unknown (and if I may add that is what makes it personal.)

When four creatives meet through art it’s a journey through the distance to the depth of each one’s soul to invoke what is personal and to grip the experience of belonging. It’s a matter of travelling both inward and outward, alike. Whether we wander in search of exotic locations and/or the mundane to capture what we perceive or whether we delve deep within and stir up an ocean of possibilities; it is at once distant and personal. Distance measures love; yes, love that which meets at every milestone and checks the parameters and squints to see where one has reached under the scorching daylight or the pelting rain tantrums and the most important question is - “Is there something for me to love here? Or maybe someone/something to love me back?” Each one undertakes a journey of one’s own and that’s not a choice. It’s a necessity, devoid of one’s control. One simply can’t choose inertia.

Besides, we are four individuals on our very personal creative journey with four varied mediums, techniques, themes and personalities that are quite distant and yet holding it to our bosom. There were 74 works in this exhibition. Our exhibition was inaugurated by the eminent Poet-Illustrator, Sri. Paul Kallanode. 

(L to R) Devidas Varma, Joby Ravindran, Paul Kallanode, Deepa Gopal, Devan Madangarly

Following in the alphabetical order, my i.e. Deepa Gopal’s protagonists enjoy detachment, solitude but they are rarely lonely. They are in a realm of their own, creating parallel worlds. My interest attempts to capture the burgeoning cosmos on one end to the deepest ocean depths on the other and everything in between and yet that which captivates me the most is perhaps the limitless mind in general and the inner workings of the feminine in particular. Myths, dreams, people and their tales, the emotions and the unbridled feelings kindle my creative juices. They are at once distant and yet personal. I like to couple some of my works with my own Haiku (Japanese poetic style) for the title. Acrylic and gouache with a hint of pen and inktense pencils were the mediums used there. The 35 works I displayed were a mix of series that I had been working on for the past couple of months. Along with the Solo girls (13 works) which were both referenced from my daughter and self, I also had my "Saga of the Nagas" (5 works) based on the myth and legends of the Sarppakkavu or the Sacred Snake Groves, Nocturne series (9 works) and landscapes (8 works) of places in and around Palakkad/Kerala.

Ring od Fireflies - Deepa Gopal 

from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Even in meditation, Devan Madangarly’s protagonists who happen to be teenage boys travel. They do not take a literal road trip though. They move to the core, the center, the essence of their being to invoke where they belong. They kindle doubts; doubts about dhyana (profound meditation) in an attempt to reveal themselves through their personal experiences. His protagonists are always solitary figures. The presence of waterbodies suggests continuum – even when it is static or flowing. Life and death is the main subject in his recent works and he uses the presence of a solitary crow in various stances that attributes to its symbolic representation. It was interesting to note a personal story about a crow that used to visit his ancestral home for a couple of years and would take biscuits only from his mother which it then went on to eat by dipping it in water, piece by piece. Watercolour (10 works), pen and ink (7 works), graphite (5 works) are some of the mediums he has used. There were 22 works of his in the exhibition.

Untitled - Devan Madangarly

from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Devidas Varma colours his wide canvas with the hues of nature seizing the epitome of beauty that nature is and his surroundings are. His journey is to apprehend and encapsulate the past glory of our Motherland while focussing on the magnificence and splendour of Palakkad to be specific. He takes on the role of a detached and distant observer who conceives and employs a personal narrative to a landscape; a setting that is inviting and open to all. The land, the green, the earth has more impact on him than anything else. It was a treat to watch his Attapadi works zooming in from a distance to a single house in three canvas. The viewers were taken back in time to an era before it had made technological advancement, before electricity. He has captured the essence of a bygone era of different factions of the society so well that it is definitely a treasure for future generations to study the lifestyle, architecture, the land and its layout etc.  All his 15 works were in acrylic.

Untitled - Devidas Varma (Attappadi landscape)

from DISTANT and PERSONAL

Joby Ravindran travels far and wide into his past and his surroundings whether that’s real and/or imaginary – into his childhood, history and dreams, etc. He is inspired by different things and themes and it’s his subject matter that determines the use of his medium which varies from watercolour and acrylic to gouache, charcoal and soft pastels. His recent works are inspired by his immediate surroundings as he is lucky enough to ogle the groovy landscape of coconuts where they mend and blend with the folks of the place like the fronds that synthesis into the braided hair of the women. There’s emotion at play when his women are often meditative and reflective, when he ventures into modes of relaxation through the odd windows peering into their ordinary lives and when he walks the quiet and distraught lanes of Bidding Street. There's a raw and rustic feel to his works which seems to emanate folklore of sorts. 12 works in charcoal and soft pastels were exhibited in the show. 

Let them relax - Joby Ravindran

from DISTANT and PERSONAL

A note about the audience:

All four of us were unanimous in our choice of Kozhikode for our exhibition. We wanted to try a new city and most importantly we wanted to experience the aesthetic hospitality that Kozhikode was so famous for. We were definitely not let down and they truly fulfilled their part of being the wonderful-kind-of-host. Each and every person who entered the Akademi had something to offer. They were not in a rush, they slowly approached each work, spent a handful of time observing, gathering, acknowledging, even rummaging at times, having conversations with us, interacting and finally leaving a mark of their own on our minds. It includes the Akademi staff as well. 
Thanks to the City! Gratitude!

Thanks to the fabulous media - print, visual and audio for supporting us and loving us the way you did. Again, Gratitude!

Poster of DISTANT and PERSONAL

Please Note:
In case anyone is interested in purchasing the works, please email at mail.huesnshades@gmail.com for the catalogue and the price.

21 Days in my Art World #3

Continuing Tara Leaver's challenge...

If you have missed out on the first and second, read Post1 and Post2 here.

Day 10 - Artist Hands 

When one creates its like holding hands with God - I read that somewhere. I can’t agree more. Not just art but in every small things that we do in our daily life. Learn and practice to polish the skills...keep on creating! One of the greatest gifts is that we’re able to express ourselves (though not totally as I would want to...still learning) through paints and brushes or pen and paper or in some creative form that we would want to.

Day 11 - Turning Point

I had to think a lot over this as I do have lot of turning points... most of which was a leap of faith!!!! Right from my first major group exhibit in Dubai to moving back to India...my move to Kochi and finding my tribe there...to my first curated-coordinated show to “Repercussions”...getting an invite to the National Conclave to getting selected in the Annual Kerala State Exhibition... there’s so much for gratitude...particularly to all those who believed in me! I am amazed by each milestone that I’ve crossed - God, family, friends and well-wishers!! Love you all! And again, I do have miles to go before I sleep!!!😊

 “Blue” (detail), “Eye of the Soul” (detail) 

Invitation of the show

Article that appeared in the local newspaper, 'Mathrubhumi'

Day 12 - Current motif

Current motifs! It’s tough to answer!After some serious thought, I must say I don’t have a motif that I adhere to all along...unable to pin-point on one. But Eyes! Yes, that’s one aspect that I like to work on... the joyous glint, the gleam and the flicker, the unsaid stories of love, loss and longing, the unexpressed narratives all find its way there... they are the windows to the Soul!

Day 13 - Process Insight

My process insight varies with each medium. I wish to share about acrylics for now- a couple of things that arrest my mind right now when I think of process insight. I love working in layers varying between washes and undiluted acrylics (a kind of impasto feel). Washes go mostly in the background as under-painting, Sometimes even in the last layer depending on my subject. I like the feel of the gooey-mushy acrylics on my hands...the warmth, the texture, the lusciousness of it!!! I like the raw, unrefined and unpolished edges of the forms that gives a rustic look. 

 Detail

Song of the glow-worms 

Chameleon

Day 14 - Sold

For a full-time artist selling ones artwork is as essential as air to breathe! Else you are a dependent artist! It is these sales that boost the morale of each artist and urges us to create more and keeps us going!! To think that someone loves your work and would like to have it in their cozy space is such an awesome feeling. It makes the art of creating all the more meaningful! .
Sharing a couple of sold works...some customized-commission and gallery ones.
.
I don’t yet have an online shop. Most of my sales happen either through this blog or Facebook. Yet to make a sale through Instagram. 😊

The first two are glass paintings

the third and fourth are commission works

the fourth is a triptych and is a really large one

These were a couple of gallery sales...

Eye of the Soul series study

Day 15 - How I name my paintings

I love to write poetry. So most of my paintings have my own micro poems as its title. Sometimes I just feel the titles while doing the work. Else I resort to poems, lyrics of songs or even movie titles, though I haven’t taken the last two yet. But while curating I choose a theme/title first as in “Eye of the Soul” & “Repercussions”. 

Acrylics on canvas, 91.44x60.96cms

“We carry death, die

Thousand deaths fallen dummies

Ready to be dressed.”

#deepagopalsunil 

21 Days in my Art World - #1

21 days in my art world, a challenge that Tara Leaver called for - when I saw it in Connie Solera's post I was amused. I loved the idea of sharing it as I had never done anything like it before! Though I saw the post 2 or 3 days after the challenge had started I thought of giving it a try. So here I am posting it in my blog as well...after 9 posts in my Instagram feed.

Day 1: Favourite painting 

This is one of my favourite paintings from the series “Repercussions” which I had curated-co-ordinated in October 2016. Currently picking this one as it is this series that brought some serious attention to my work. .

It’s quite difficult to pick a favourite since there’s some reason or the other that decides that favourite factor- it could be the story that led to the concept, the way it turned out, the learning process, the mediums used, the technique and that accidental ‘Aha’ moment!!!...so on!! 

“I see me in you 
Apparition that broke through 
I make alter truth.”

Acrylics 91.44X60.96 cms

Day 2 - Lesson Learned! 

Being a self-educated artist, everything I try is a learning process, trial and error and full on experimentation! But I do enjoy every single step! Observation, contemplation and application are the key words! Enjoy every bit of it!!
These faces were the attempts of ideas that were lingering in my mind while I was preparing for a series in 2016. 

Learn, learn and learn 

- faces, skin tones, features, dappled light!

Day 3 - Work in Progress

Just like many of the artists’ there will always be more than one work on the table, at the least 2!! It’s fun when you juggle between one to the other! Then there’s this piece where the leftover paints go which in itself becomes another work of art! Enjoy it all!
Currently engaged in a new series of 6 paintings.

Detail of a painting - new series

Day 4 - Art Book

Books!! That’s something I hoard just like art materials! Tsundoku, I believe is the word for books!!! Since I am at my home I have just these 2 at hand right now. All my books rest in Kochi!
“Paula Rego” by Fiona Bradley is one of my faves as Rego is one of my favourite artists and the book really shook me from the core for so many reasons and particularly the way she painted the minutest of details!!!
Love “The Little Van Gogh Museum” for its pictures! Invigorating!! “Sonabai- Another Way of Seeing” by Stephen P Huyler says “The art of Sonabai Rajawar is entirely unique. It has no precedent. Her story expresses the capacity of human beings everywhere to meet their challenges head-on, and to draw from deep within their inner resources the strength and insight to change their lives. She was not daunted by oppression; she found ways to transform it into expressions of courage, beauty and joy in living.”
There’s a collection of essays in Edward Hopper(forgot the name!!!), read that a couple of years back which again is an interesting one. He’s one of my faves too!

Rest to be continued in my next post...do let me know your thoughts on the same - favourite painting, favourite books. the lesson you learnt etc.

Linking it to PPF & its Amazing ladies!

Girl with the Owl

Recently I was part of two exhibitions - 'Visions: Prosperity' held in Indriyam Art Gallery, Mattanchery and the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi's Annual State exhibition held in Durbar Hall Art Center, Ernakulam. There is an upcoming show, FineXT Award and National Exhibition of Mini-Artwork-2017 which is to be held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in October. I am deeply touched by the Universe's conspiracy in helping me out...as they say. Since I had been busy with exhibitions, travelling between Palakkad and Kochi, writing, creating, managing homely affairs and everything in between that takes up an awful lot of time, I couldn't post last week.

Female forms, feminine psyche, our issues and our alter world is something I am totally interested in. Somehow I reach a zone I hadn't been looking for...it just comes naturally but gradually. It's a subject I can't shake myself off for now anyway. Every woman carries a world within her and that is something her own whether that be one of happiness or otherwise. Sometimes one doesn't even know that it exists until a situation arises. Sometimes it doesn't make sense while at times that is all what is left. To explain such nuances and subtler emotions is also highly dissatisfying probably that's why we end up painting. There are some feelings where words lack. Mostly it is the news from different channels or newspapers regarding women and their condition that hurts me...it leaves a gash somewhere and subconsciously starts invoking it. For this, I did have a reference photograph to draw from.

'Visions: Prosperity' had 21 artists; all women..so it was basically about female perspective and it was quite fascinating to see them all. How our collective psyche works! There's this invisible thread that links us all...knowingly or unknowingly. And that's the beauty of such getting together. Thanks to Narayanan Mohanan,  Sreekanth Nettoor and Onyx Poulose, the bearers of Indriyam Art Gallery for this memorable opportunity. It was also wonderful as I made some new friends and strengthened some old bonds. Women prowess!

My work from 'Visions:Prosperity' (Indriyam Art Gallery)

Acrylics, 34x28in

In the quiet and

Still, my mind kept whispering

Hoot-a-hoot, all night.

(my haiku as title)

I will be publishing a really interesting interview of an absolutely wonderful artist soon. So stay tuned.