Navn Again

Navin, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

One more portrait sketch of my friend Navin from life, this time in charcoal. This time I feel its a much closer likeness. 
Thanks for stopping by.

Charcoal Triptych

Charcoal Triptych, Charcoal on Paper, (9.5" X 21") (9.5" X 7" each) 

I love doing these charcoal studies. They are not very time consuming, an hour for each and are a great exercise in values. I mostly use pictures I find on the internet that are not copyrighted. 
All comments are most welcome.

Charcoal Sketches

The Gaze, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Happy Girl, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Tried out some new, advanced techniques in charcoal here that are bolder and riskier to what I am used to. (These techniques are new to me although they are well established for ages). No doubt I need more practice until I can make my drawings look convincing. :)
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Balu

Balu, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11" 

Meet Balu, a construction worker from Hyderabad. He does one of the most difficult jobs around, especially considering the Indian climate. The heavily tanned skin is evidence enough that he has to brave the harsh sun all day long. I find great spirit and depth of character in such faces. 

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Rangaiah

Rangaiah, Charcoal on Paper, 15" X 11"

Another charcoal sketch :)

A Still Life and Some Good News

Indian Bells and Japanese Fan, Oil on Canvas, (18" X 14") 

 Although my wife had bought these lovely bells with the embossing of Lord Ganesh about a couple of years ago,  I finally gathered enough courage to paint something so complicated only last week. It took me about 12 hrs to complete this. All comments and critiques are most welcome. :)

Something else I wanted to share with you all is that y drawing "Worker Woman" won the "M/s. Hindustan Pencils Ltd. Award for Charcoal on Paper" at the recently concluded 122nd Annual All India Art Exhibition of the Bombay Art Society. 

Thank you so much all my dear friends for your support and encouragement! :)

Worker Woman, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11") 

The Year That Was... 2013

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and have begun the new year in high spirits and great aspirations. 
2013 was a particularly happy and fulfilling year for me as an artist and art student, even though I sold only two paintings :). My paintings were selected in three juried shows, out of which two were my first time selections. :). I also won my first award ever at professional level in this year :)

Hyderabad Art Society Annual National Exhibition:

Tribal Boy, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" X 16.5")

This drawing, Tribal Boy received Highly Commendable certificate at the Hyderabad Art Society's Annual National Exhibition 2013.

 SCZCC Nagpur Annual National Exhibition:

Woman from Ladakh, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.5")

My first time selection at South Central Zone Cultural Centre's National Exhibition 2013.

Camlin South Zone Exhibition:

"Evening Light", Oil on Primed Paper, (22" X 15")

This painting and the next were my first time selections for the Camlin South Zone Annual Exhibition.

Evening's Glow, Watercolour on Paper, (20" X 14")

This painting won best entry award at the regional level. My first ever award at the professional level! :)

Thank you so much for reading this far. I thank all my readers and friends for their support and encouragement throughout the last year. I hope I will receive the same in the coming days too. :)

I pray everyone of us has a wonderfully fulfilling new year as artists and as human beings.

Best wishes .....

Seasons Greetings and Hungry Child

Hungry Child, Charcoal on Paper, (19" X 25") 

First of all, wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year. I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. I did this from a reference photo I actually took hoping to make a landscape out of it. But later when I saw the photo on my computer I felt the gesture of this poor child as he drank something from the vessel very touching. Hence this drawing!
All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Shantaram

Shantaram, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11")

This is a portrait of a roadside fruit vendor near my place in Hyderabad. I tried a bit of abstraction here with the forehead merging in the background on the left side. I find charcoal a very flexible medium and quite amenable to such experimentation.
Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about this piece.
Thanks for visiting my blog.

Worker Woman

Tribal Woman, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11") 

This was done from a photograph of a group of ceramic workers who toil at various factories on the outskirts of our city, Hyderabad. I thought the sunlight on her face created a nice contrast which added to the drama of her dark skin against the white white scarf.

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Woman from Ladakh

Woman from Ladakh, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.5")
Photo reference Courtesy: Shabbir Ferdaus

A portrait of a woman from Ladakh.  People who have lived difficult lives have such expressive faces. I hope I have been able to do some justice. I am glad the exceptionally talented photographer Shabbir Ferdaus allowed me to use one of his photos for this.

Please feel free to give your comments and critiques.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Tibetan Child

Tibetan Child, Charcoal on Paper, (15" x 11.75) 

Last week I happened to watch "Seven years in Tibet". I was amazed by the beauty of the place and people. 

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Female in Profile III

Female in Profile III, Charcoal on Paper, (8" X 11.75") 

This is a small sketch I did last night. In my limited experience I feel that side faces look easier to draw but it often gets tricky because one has to communicate so much and there is so little to do it with. :)

Thanks for visiting my blog. All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Side lit

Side lit, Charcoal on Paper, (15" X 11.75") 

Firstly, wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2013. 

Here's a portrait drawing I did today. All comments are most welcome.

Small Portrait Study

A Small Portrait Study, Charcoal on Paper, (11.75" X 8") 

Wish you all a very merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Here is a small portrait study in charcoal. 

Please feel free to leave your comments and critiques. Thanks for visiting my blog. :)

Portrait Study and Our First Child

Portrait Study, Charcoal on Paper, (8" X 11.75") 

This is a study for a portrait I hope to do sometime soon. 

Our first child, a lovely boy, was born last Saturday in  my hometown, Nagpur. It was one busy week and perhaps the happiest time of my life. :) Its difficult to explain my feelings. Its a sense of fulfillment and a sense of responsibility all at the same time. Perhaps these things cannot be explained, only experienced :)

Finally it was only yesterday that I got the chance to do some drawing. All critiques and comments are most welcome.

The youngest Deshmukh yet! :) 

Tribal Boy .... Again!

Tribal Boy, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" X 16.5") 

Added a little more definition to the ear using an oil pastel. Hopefully that makes the drawing look more complete.

All comments are most welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

Tribal Boy

Tribal Boy, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" X 16.5") 

This boy belongs to the Bhil community of Maharashtra. Historically they were tribals but now they speak the local languages and participate in all walks of life. Nevertheless, they make great subjects for paintings. :)

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Attentive

Attentive, Charcoal on Paper, (11.75" x 8")  

The handsome, intelligent face of this female got me interested in drawing her. My effort was towards capturing the attentive gaze she has cast here as she listens to someone over her shoulder.

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

Stark Sun

Stark Sun, Charcoal on Paper, (11.7" x 16.5")  

I was gifted a brand new Daler Rowney Drawing Pad by a friend and couldn't wait to try it out. This drawing is based on a photograph on Deviant Art by Crysta James, who is a fabulous photographer. Thank you so much Crysta. :)

All comments and critiques are most welcome.

P.S. I wanted to titled this pice "Girl with the pearl earring"! But wont that be too presumptious !?! ;)