Remover of Obstacles

I was getting in the mood of creating Ganesha Sculpture for the upcoming Ganesha Festival. Casually browsing through Pixabay, I thought of searching keyword "Ganesha". To my surprise, I found a real good image of a Ganesha Sculpture. I could not resist painting it, even though I knew I would be delaying other projects that I should finish... I did crop the original image to just do the head and see if I could get the texture of the stone that I desired in the painting. I am very happy with the results. I will be doing a larger one for sure! Another challenge I overcame in this painting was to get subtle color variations. I just love how this came out!

click on image to view larger 

Remover Of Obstacles, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on 140lbs Coldpress Arches Paper

Code# PK_19_007

SOLD

Full Bloom - Pink Rose - SOLD

I feel like I am going at a snails pace... but I am so happy that I am getting good results with my paintings. The first one was a hit! And this one too! I love love love it!!
This is painted from a picture taken of Roses in my backyard. There are hundreds of pictures from the same flower. This particular one was taken in morning light. I chose this picture because I wanted to paint the left over bud with just one petal. While I was clicking away, I held my breath hoping that this one petal wouldn't fall off... As the rose grows in age the color in its petals fades out and you can see the color completely faded out in the painting too. But it was lighted up so beautifully in the morning light.
The background is pretty much made up. This flower is in the backyard facing a greenbelt. So I thought green background would be appropriate. I love the blue light in the background and the petals, it brings a nice contrast and luminosity to the pink colored petals!!

BTW I wanted to finish this painting on Valentines day but I did the sketch itself a day after valentines :) So I am pretty much half a month or so behind in this painting!!

Pink is becoming my new favorite color!

click on image to view larger

Full Bloom - Pink Rose, 15x22 inches, Watercolor on 300lb Coldpress Archespaper

Code# PK_19_002
SOLD

Prints of this painting are available on my Etsy Website!!

Three Waterlilies - SOLD

My last painting for the year 2018!!
It was a year full of learning experiences and less number of paintings as compared to prior years. But I had fun learning to sketch and sculpting that I tried for the very first time.
My goal for the year 2019 is to consistently populate my online Etsy shop with new paintings - both in Watercolor and Oil.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year !!

click on image to view larger 

Three Waterlilies, 6 x 6 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper

Code# PK_18_007
SOLD

More paintings and Fine art prints are available here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Wake up in Paradise

This is painted from a photograph, I wish I can visit this island in Hawaii and paint plein-air.
I think this is Mokulua Island off the Lanikai beach in Kailua, Hawaii. The sunrise is fabulous and I love the sky.
This painting is not for sale.

click on image to view larger 

Wake Up in Paradise, 16x20 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel, palette knife painting

Code# PK_18_003
Personal Collection, Not for Sale

Waterlily Reflections 2 - SOLD

This is my first post of the year 2018. Feeling quite a bit behind compared to previous years. But this year I took up the fitness challenge rather than painting challenge. So I am finding it challenging to balance the daily routine with good sleep, fitness and painting.
In December, I had painted a pink Waterlily and had several reference pictures, so felt the urge to paint another one with its little baby too.
It was fun to come up with all different shades of greens. The Pink really stands out among all those greens and blue!!

click on image to view larger

Code# PK_18_001
SOLD - preranap@hotmail.com

More paintings and Fine art prints are available here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Beautiful Evening On The Beach 2017 - SOLD

It is interesting how this painting came about... As I was talking with a customer in my booth in Sawdust Art Festival, I got a call which I didn't pick up (since I wanted to attend to people in my booth). I later called back and found out that it was call from Lisa (not giving out the real name). I didn't recognize her but she mentioned she had visited me in Newport beach art fair. She had really liked one of my paintings but it was sold !! Her request was to make another one like it. I looked up which painting she meant, and was really surprised... I had painted in long back. I wasn't sure if I could do a similar one since lately I have been working on my florals.
Anyways I took a plunge and thought to give it a try at least. And that's how this painting came about. I did slight modification on Lisa's request and I was so happy she liked it.
She right away bought this painting and another one too with Christmas theme.
Having quite fun it this season, I think I should revisit my earlier themes I had painted.

click on image to view larger 

Beautiful Evening On The Beach 2017, 9 x 12 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Code# PK_17_018
SOLD

For more available paintings, visit my etsy store HERE.

Pink Waterlily Reflections - SOLD

Now this project had been on my list since very long... Its a small 6x6 inches, but could not start it...
Nowadays every weekend I am on my booth in Sawdust Art Festival. And one of the requirement is to either do demo in the both OR volunteer to teach an art class OR a mix of both. So I am teaching 1 watercolor class every weekend and rest of the time doing demo in my booth.
And guess what... for the demo in my booth, I picked this waterlily back again which was already sketched long back and waiting to be painted!!
I worked 3 days on and off to finish this painting between talking to the people coming in the booth and having a chat with my neighbor booth friends!!
Now 3 more weekends left for the Sawdust to finish, so I can take up couple more small projects I think..

 click on image to view larger 

Pink Waterlily Reflections, 6x6 inches, Watercolor on 140 lbs Arches paper

Code# PK_17_017
SOLD

More paintings and Fine art prints are available here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Cacti Sundance - SOLD

This painting is from a photo that I clicked at Laguna Beach. It was afternoon sun and the light and shadow patterns were so interesting that I could not resist painting it.
However just as I was drawing it on paper, I realized this one is going to take me long to complete. Towards the end I was running out of patience, it felt like a never ending painting. I could not start a new one until I finished this one.
It feels a great relief and accomplishment to get this one behind me.
I must admit that I fall in love with every painting I finish and this one is really very special for me.

click on image to view larger 

Cacti Sundance, 22x30 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper

Code# PK_17_016

SOLD

Fine art prints available Click HERE

Fixing My Bells - SOLD

After about half a year I arrived back on Oil Painting and had so much fun with my palette knife, the wonderful smell of oils is in my studio again, yay!! I took up my other passionate subject - Kathak dance to paint. Last year i.e in Dec 2016 I did my first Kathak dance recital in Irvine with Sundar Kala Kendra Kathak Dance School. Completed one year of training with Guru Smt. Anjani Ambegaokar. At the time of recital, I took lots of pictures with the intention of possibly doing a painting from one of them. That's excatly what I did in here. This was the costume of our "Women's Group", a beginner level group and I loved it. The picture was taken in the dressing room where my friend was fixing her Ghungroos (Bells) before we hit the backstage for our cue.

click on image to view larger 

Fixing My Bells, 11x14 inches, Oil on Canvas Panel

Code# PK_17_008

SOLD

Pink Plumeria Addiction - SOLD

Phew... this took much longer than I had expected. After having painted a 6x6 inches, I so loved this pink color, I decided to drop off the wagon from doing 30 in 30 challenge. I took up the same reference photo and bought full sheet of 300 lbs cold press Arches Paper. I still wanted to do it in square format, so I cut the paper so as to create a deckled edge by tearing paper. First had to get through the greens, which took so long.. I was itching to do the pink color!! Finally after I arrived at Pinks, the flowers were looking quite dull, so had to rework each petal. Then realised that greens are not as good as I wanted, so back to greens. It took a while to go back and forth between the greens and pinks. Until finally I called it done!!
Now I am done with this Pink for a while and started another watercolor floral. Stay tuned, hoping to finish it this weekend.

click on image to view larger

Pink Plumeria Addiction, 22 x 22 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper (300lb coldpress)

Code# PK_17_006
SOLD 

(Original painting is sold, but I have Fine Art Prints available on my ETSY store: Click Here)

30in30_Jan2017_Day18 Pristine White - Plumeria - SOLD

Now this was a challenging one I thought, white on white paper! I pushed the darks more darker and for the light, gave a thin wash of yellow. At some places I left the white of the paper to show through. The flower looked quite ugly in the beginning stages. But after I started doing the background, it all started to make sense.
White is the color that represents purity in many cultures. But did you know that white flowers have a much more stronger fragrance than the bright and colored flowers?

click on image to view larger

Pristine White - Plumeria, 6x6 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper

Code# PK_17_005

SOLD
A fine art print can be made available on request - contact me - preranap@hotmail.com

Check out my etsy website for more paintings - https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

My First Poinsettia - SOLD

I haven't posted since August!! Didn't realize that it was so long.. For a while I was busy sharpening my sketching skills. Then for about a month, I was training for the Century miles bicycly ride to San Diego. Then after that, just about a month focused more on the Kathak Dance recital coming up.

Now finally back to my studio and in the spirit of Christmas, pulled out a Poinsettia photo reference to paint. The first couple days I found it hard to sit, but quickly got into the flow as I was about half way there. Loved doing the light effects and how each leaf unfolded. I feel each leaf has its own dance and yet they all stand together as if in a dance pose !!

click on image to view larger 

My First Poinsettia, 8x10 inches. Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_022 

SOLD 

An Art print can be made available on request, 

contact me - preranap@hotmail.com

Joy of Kathak - SOLD

Painting is my passion and Kathak is my favorite dance form!! So it was a double pleasure doing this painting.
This is a commission Portrait painting of a young dancer - Anushka, doing Kathak Dance.
Kathak is an Indian Classical dance form - more about it - click here.
The painting is done from a picture of Anushka performing in Anaheim Convention Center during BMM 2015 marathi convention. In the painting I loved doing her costume. I must say that most challenging for me was to get a good likeness to her. After about 3 passes, I finalized the painting and her parents are very happy with it too.
So its a SUCCESS !!

click on image to view larger 

Joy of Kathak - 16x20 inches, Oil on canvas panel

Code# PK_16_020
SOLD

I would love to do a custom painting from your photo - your favorite vacation spot, or your home or your pet, or portrait - contact me - preranap@hotmail.com

After presenting few framing choices for this painting, we all loved the Cherry colored frame with carving on it. Here it is framed - 

Joy of Kathak - 16x20 inches, Oil on Canvas. Framed size ~ 24x28 inches

Meal Preparations - SOLD

Thank God it is Leap Year and I managed to do at least one post on the last day of Feb. 2016!!
I have been working on this for sometime on and off.. This is a custom painting requested by a client. She gave me few pictures to select from. I picked one and talked to her about the changes/color scheme she wants in the actual painting. At the end of our discussion on the painting, we decided to split the picture to 2 paintings. I showed it to her in the initial stages and towards the end. Incorporated couple more changes and made it final today!! I am happy that she likes it! This is called a dyptich painting - it can be hung together the way below or hung separate.

click on image to view larger 

Meal Preparations 1 and 2 - each canvas is 10x8 inches, Oil on Canvas

Code# PK_16_016 & PK_16_017

SOLD

Here are the individual paintings:

Meal Preparations 1 - 10x8 inches, Oil on Canvas

Meal Preparations 2 - 10x8 inches, Oil on Canvas

Day 30 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Bird Of Paradise - SOLD

This is my last one from the 30 in 30 challenge! I love flowers and this one is one of my favorite. It is a blessing to see this flower bloom in abundance all around us in Southern California region!! I always always stop by to look at each flower planted all around my office building! What a blessing to see beauty all around!

 click on image to view larger

Bird Of Paradise - 5x7 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_015 
Original SOLD 
9x12 inches size print can be made available on request - $30.00 - preranap@hotmail.com

Day 26 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Cana Lily - SOLD

This painting is an orange delight!! Once again played around with light and shadow on the Cana flowers. I love the bright blooms of Cana and of course I have these planted in my backyard!

click on image to view larger 

Cana Lily, 7x5 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_014 

Original SOLD
9x12 size print can be made available upon request for $30.00 - preranap@hotmail.com

Day 21 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Red n Pink Rose - SOLD

I am so very happy to have completed this one! I know I haven't been able to do one painting a day, but I am painting everyday. I am myself amazed at the results of my watercolor floral series. Loving it everyday!! This one will for sure brighten you up!
click on image to view larger

Pink n Red Rose, 5x7 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_013 
SOLD

Fine Art Print Available - Click Here

Day 18 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Magenta Bougainvillea - SOLD

In my childhood we had 2 different colored Bougainvilleas. Magenta was on one side of the pillar of the open veranda and I loved this color. Last year I planted one in our front yard too and is getting beautiful blooms. And now I have a painted version of Bougainvillea too!! It had been on my list of reference pictures for a long time.
If you are wondering - opera pink is the name of the watercolor tube I bought, and it is Winsor and Newton professional brand.

click on image to view larger

Magenta Bougainvillea - 7x5 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper

Code# PK_16_012 

Original SOLD
9x12 inches size print can be made available on request for $30 + shipping

Day 9 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Tropical Beauty Heliconia - SOLD

There are so many beautiful flowers to paint! I have a huge collection of reference pictures - from Wetcanvas library, from photos that my friends shared with me and many of my own photos. This bloom looks like a finely braided hair to me - its may be a weird thought but I always imagined so right from the first time I saw it blooming. Again the light and shadows along with the interesting lines on the leaves inspired me to paint this flower.

click on image to view larger

Tropical Beauty Heliconia - 5x7 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_007 

SOLD

A larger sized print can be made available on request - preranap@hotmail.com

Day 8 - 30 in 30 Challenge Jan 2016 - Magnificent Magnolia - SOLD

We have lot of Magnolia trees around town and the flowers are unusually big - at least in the early years of my stay here I used to be very curious about this huge flower. It has a very sweet scent too! If you have ever noticed - most white flowers have a very intense sweet scent that attracts you - just my observation...
As I started to paint and specially these floral I have been doing, I looked for a picture of Magnolia on Wetcanvas.com and found a really good photo reference. Here's my painted version, hope you like it!
If you are liking my paintings, do follow me using the "Join this site" button on lower right hand side. This is my new blog and would love for you to follow my painting experiences and experiments!
Also I would like to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter for free Art - see the "Subscribe" button on top right hand on my blog.

click on image to view larger

Magnificent Magnolia - 5x7 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper

Code# PK_16_006
SOLD

Print and other paintings at:- Click Here
A larger sized print can be made available on request - preranap@hotmail.com