Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji

Performed on June 23rd 2024, varnished and completed in my home-studio on July 21st 2024

It was an honor and privilege to perform this painting live on stage along with Musical Orchestra, during the celebration of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 350th coronation anniversary at Los Angeles, California.

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He was a great visionary, warrior, charismatic  leader and administrator. Stories from his life inspirational to this day. CLICK HERE for more about Shivaji Maharaj 

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Title: Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji
Size: 48”W x 36”H x 1.5” D
Medium: Acrylic Paints
Painted on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Varnished, Ready to Hang

Code# PK_24_002 
Available - $2000, Text me if interested 949-742-2579

Note: This is special pricing available via my blog only.

All sides are painted dark Brown as seen here.

I wanted to depict the grand personality of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on canvas. Lot of thoughts went into how I should incorporate the design to create a unique painting. And now that the painting is complete, I think I have achieved the “grandeur” successfully. 

Below are some details on the design elements that I think, make the painting successful!

In this painting, my theme and emphasis, was to paint Shivaji Maharaj with Horse, which is painted in cool color. The rest of the background is painted in contrasting warm colors, which help the eye focus on the main subject. Further, the background is unified by wavy patterns of vibrant warm colors that depict the rugged/hilly terrain of the region (Maharashtra). If you look at the painting carefully enough, you will also notice an element of asymmetry that makes a painting look very interesting. Did you already guess what is asymmetrical about this painting? 😊 If so, comment on my post and I will let you know what I had in mind about the asymmetry. 

To make it even more interesting, look at the texture closely in the overall painting. In the bottom part, the texture is due to the tissue paper (that we use for gifting) applied on canvas. The middle and top background is painted using Knife – yes, the disposable plastic knife that is typically used for lunch/dinner. 

Did you also feel a slight wind blowing when you look at the painting? Yeah.. that movement of wind is depicted by the orangish waves in the yellow part of the sky and the light and dark blue of sky as well. Even the Flag shape shows the folds showing slight winds blowing!

Shivaji Maharaj and his horse are painted using brush, but I did so by adding dark and light shades of blue. Some highlights on the horse, but more brush strokes on Shivaji’ outfit to get a feel for garment folds.

In summary: Contrast, Emphasis, Unity, Asymmetry, Pattern, Texture, Movement etc are design elements I have incorporated in this painting.

I am grateful to SMAP (Shivaji Maharaj Antarrashtriya Parivar) for providing me this opportunity.

Below are few pictures from the event.

Krishna

Completed April 7, 2024

I had started this painting last year, but had left it unfinished for quite some time.

I picked up from where I left off and finished this painting.

It is first time I have painted Krishna and it was challenging for me. I set up the still life in the Kitchen window facing east. I was starting a new Pothos plant (aka money plant...) in a cup. The Krishna idol I have is beige in color. I tried different colors of cup I had for background, finally settled with this orange color. I thought the contrast looked good. 

As usual took many pictures and picked one with a proper crop for my painting.

For this painting, I tried 12x16 inch wood panel. So I prepped the wood panel with gesso first. After it was dry, I mounted (glued) watercolor paper on wooden panel using Liquitex professional matt gel.

Once the surface was prepared, I sketched and started watercolor painting as usual.

I really like this process as I will not need to frame the painting behind glass. I feel that glass framed painting has so many reflections and distortions due to glass, that the actual painting has a compromised look. In the image below, I have still not varnished the painting. Will post an updated picture once it is varnished.

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Krishna, 12x16 inches Watercolor on Wood Panel

Code# PK_24_001 
Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Ganesha Sculpture 2023

Completed Sept 16, 2023

As per my yearly tradition, I make my own Ganesha Sculpture for Ganesh Chaturthi. But this year I did not have much time. So I decided to do it very simple. My inspiration was Moreshwar - one of the Ashtavinayak Ganapati. Read more about Ashtavinayak here.

I tried the Mooshak (mouse) a little more detailed than the prior years. I think I like how it came out..

During this time Ganesha stays with us for 10 days. Everyday we light diya and pray in the evening.

When the 10 days stay is complete, we do visarjan - i.e immerse the idol in water. Since this idol is made with eco friendly clay and non toxic tempera paints, it completely dissolves in water overnight. 

We then pour all the water in the plants in our backyard. 

Next year I make a new idol and the cycle continues...

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Ganesha Sculpture 2023, about 7 inches height

Bromeliad

It has been a while I have not updated my blog.. So here is a painting of Bromeliad I did last year - Feb 2023. 

It was after long time I had gone to office (after Covid) and walking through the corridor I saw this plant near the door, shining bright. I had to take pictures. Out of the many photos I clicked, I decided this close-up composition for my painting. 

Completed - Feb 7th, 2023

  

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Bromeliad, 11x15 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper -140lbs coldpress

Code# PK_23_001
Available - contact preranap@hotmail.com

Blueberry Branch

I did a Blueberry painting earlier and wanted to try another one with just the berries. Painting the berries was lot of work. I wanted to try out a different background. My end result for the background is not what I envisioned in my mind. But still pretty happy with the original painting!

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Blueberry Branch, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper, 140lbs Coldpress

Code# PK_22_005 

Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Aloe 2022

On Memorial day weekend, I had a chance to participate in Artist Demos at Chemer's Gallery in Tustin. It is a tradition that after HeART of Orange County juried show ends, artists are invited to do demos on the closing day of the show. I was happy to be juried in and also to participate in Artist Demo. It is a great day to interact with other artists and watch their process of creating art. I chose a simple image of Aloe that I had bookmarked for painting long time back. Below is the final painting that came out! Greens were quite challenging. But I love how the painting came out.

 

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Aloe 2022, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on 140lbs Coldpress Arches paper

Code# PK_22_004 
Available - contact preranap@hotmail.com

Colorful Succulent 2022

This one I had painted last year, but somehow did not like it after the painting was complete. You can see the earlier version at the end under "BEFORE".

So what I did was tore the paper on left and right to create an interesting angle. Also I painted the background darker, so that the leaves of this succulent would show prominently. I definitely like it better this way...

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Colorful Succulent, 15x12 inches, Watercolor on Archespaper 300lbsColdpress

Code# PK_22_003 
Available - Contact - preranap@hotmail.com

BEFORE: