Portrait Study completed in Uday Bhan Workshop

Back in Feb 2024, I took a workshop from a popular Artist in India - Uday Bhan.

His portraits are superb and I had been watching his instagram handle for quite some time.

I am glad I enrolled in this workshop as he taught Still Life, Monochrome value study Portrait and a full Color portrait.

Below is the Portrait I completed in this workshop.

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Portrait Study, 11x15 inches, watercolor on 140 lbs coldpress Arches paper

Code# PK_24_005 
Not for Sale

Monochrome Value study completed in Uday Bhan Workshop

Back in Feb 2024, I took a workshop from a popular Artist in India - Uday Bhan.

His portraits are superb and I had been watching his instagram handle for quite some time.

I am glad I enrolled in this workshop as he taught Still Life, Monochrome value study Portrait and a full Color portrait.

Below is the Monochrome Value study I completed in this workshop.

click on image to view larger 

Nutan - Monochrome value study, 11x15 inches, Watercolor on 140lbs Cold press arches paper

Code# PK_24_004
Not for Sale

Still Life completed in Uday Bhan Workshop

Back in Feb 2024, I took a workshop from a popular Artist in India - Uday Bhan.

His portraits are superb and I had been watching his instagram handle for quite some time.

I am glad I enrolled in this workshop as he taught Still Life, Monochrome value study Portrait and a full Color portrait.

Below is the Still Life I completed in this workshop.

click on image to view larger 

Still Life, 11x15 inches, Watercolor on 140 lbs Arches paper

Code# PK_24_003
Not for Sale

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

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:

Colorful Marbles

This is a different subject for me to paint, so a bit challenging. But I had fun doing it. Watercolor paper is mounted on masonite board. So I will be varnishing this painting, that way I can frame it without glass.

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Colorful Marbles, 4x8 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper (140lbs Coldpress) 

Code# PK_22_002 
Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Sunflower 2022

I was hoping that I could finish up this painting as last painting of the year 2021. But I am glad it became the first painting of 2022 !!

I love the warmth this painting projects and it is the perfect color to brighten up and hope for a sparkling year 2022!

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Sunflower 2022, 8x4 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper, 140lbsColdPress

Code# PK_22_001
Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Wishing all the Art Lovers, Family and Friends a Miraculous New Year!!

Magnificent Rose

Painted on 11/28/2021

Roses are my favorite subject to paint. I am trying to get my rose to glow. I think I achieved it somewhat. 

Will try better next time.

I mounted the watercolor paper on masonite first. Then drew and painted the Rose.

It is not varnished yet. But once I varnish it, the paining can be framed without glass.

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Magnificent Rose

Code# PK_21_008 
Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Camille Pissarro Rose

This was my experimental piece where I wanted to try out painting outside of the box. Below in the picture, I placed a red matt behind the painting to see how it looks. The paper itself is 8x10 inches.

I am not quite happy with the background, I may tweak it a bit later.

The rose is from my own reference picture and this grows in my front yard. I will definitely paint this Rose again when it blooms in spring time.

Painting completed 8/15/2021

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Camille Pissarro Rose, 10x8 inches, Watercolor on Arches paper 140lbsColdpress

Code# PK_21_005
Available - Contact preranap@hotmail.com

Ashe - Focused

This little kitty visited us and it was such a character! Although she was only 6 weeks and only the size of my palm, she was not afraid of our dog, who is 6 year old !! It was so much fun to play with Ashe. She was focused on playing with the toy, which was above her. I took bunch of pictures and here is one of them realized as a painting.

Date of painting: 11/29/2020

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Ashe - Focused, 6x6 inches, Watercolor on 140 lbs Coldpress Arches paper

Code# PK_20_011 
Available - contact preranap@hotmail.com

Grateful Heart - Squirrel

Grateful Heart - Squirrel - Created 11/5/2020

Now this one is very special for me - inspired by squirrels in our backyard!! It is a favorite pass time to see how the squirrel entices our pet dog - Lily, who is barking inside because we have closed the door :) The squirrel knows it for sure that our Lily cannot do anything as long as she is inside. 

I saw this photo as free reference images for artists on Facebook and right away decided to paint it!

I cropped the reference picture to 4x8 inches. This specific size was required by the Randy Higbee show - "The Huge Show Small Art". Its an online show to be published on Nov 7th 2020.

I chose a Taos Mini Frame (Taos Black Mini floater frame), which was on sale.

The speciality about this watercolor painting is that it can be framed without glass. The painting is varnished using archival varnish and looks beautiful in this frame.

click on image to view larger 

Grateful Heart - Squirrel, 8x4 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs coldpress

Grateful Heart - Squirrel, 8x4 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs coldpress,

Taos Black Mini floater frame (bought from Randy Higbee Gallery)

Code# PK_20_010 

Available - Info coming soon...

For other Original Oil Paintings, Original Watercolor Paintings, Fine art Prints and more, please visit my Etsy Website here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Count your Blessings - Poinsettia

Count your Blessings - Poinsettia - Created 11/5/2020

What is a festive winter without a Poinsettia!? I had clicked the reference picture near Sawdust Winter Fantasy, Laguna Beach last year. I cropped the reference picture, since I had to create 4x8 inches painting. This specific size was required by the Randy Higbee show - "The Huge Show Small Art". Its an online show to be published on Nov 7th 2020.

I chose a Taos Mini Frame (Taos Black Mini floater frame), which was on sale.

The speciality about this watercolor painting is that it can be framed without glass. The painting is varnished using archival varnish and looks beautiful in this frame.

click on image to view larger 

Count your Blessings - Poinsettia, 4x8 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs coldpress

Count your Blessings - Poinsettia, 4x8 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs coldpress,

Taos Black Mini floater frame (bought from Randy Higbee Gallery)

Code# PK_20_009 

Available - Info coming soon...

For other Original Oil Paintings, Original Watercolor Paintings, Fine art Prints and more, please visit my Etsy Website here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Yin Yang - Calla Lily

Yin Yang - Calla Lily - Created 9/13/2020

I was in search of painting something white in watercolors. Not sure if you know but painting white in watercolor can be challenging. This is because actual white color is not used. The white that you see in the painting is the white surface of the paper. So its mostly the negative painting technique used for painting the flower itself. The Calla Lily was perfect to paint and I found plants in our neighborhood - awesome reference pictures!!

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Yin Yang - Calla Lily, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs Coldpress

Code# PK_20_007 

Available - Click Here

Find Original Oil Paintings, Original Watercolor Paintings, Fine art Prints and more on my Etsy Website here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

Inner Glow - Bird of Paradise

Inner Glow - Bird of Paradise - Created 7/26/2020

Bird of Paradise is growing all around our neighborhood and in my office complex. I have clicked hundreds of photos of this plant and flower at different times of the day. Looking for inspiration, I found one such click and decided to paint it. Here is the outcome:

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Inner Glow - Bird of Paradise, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on Arches 140 lbs Coldpress

Code# PK_15_050 
Available - Click Here

Find Original Oil Paintings, Original Watercolor Paintings, Fine art Prints and more on my Etsy Website here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/preranap

New Life

Red Rose from my back yard. I was inspired to paint this after getting the good news and seeing the photo of a good friend who delivered a baby boy! The Read Rose is for a vibrant new mom and the bud is the new baby.

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New Life - 8x10 inches, watercolor on 140 lbs coldpress Arches Paper

Code# PK_20_004
Available - contact - preranap@hotmail.com

Blueberry Bliss

This is my new favorite painting, it was difficult to stay focused on it due to complexity. I am feeling so accomplished! This is a plant - shrub, in my front yard. Everyone that suggested the title on Facebook thought that these are blueberries. But these berries are not edible. This is an evergreen, drought tolerant shrub, very common in southern California. In my neighborhood, I see this plant as shrub or hedges, very common in parks, street dividers, homes etc. Around Easter time, these berries turn into beautiful start shaped small pink or white flowers. For long time I did not find the name of this plant. Its called Indian Hawthorne. Below, I have some pictures of the plant with berries and flowers.
I used my own picture as a reference. The morning or evening light is very dramatic and that's usually I take pictures for painting.

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Blueberry Bliss - 22x30 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper, 300 lbs coldpress

Code# PK_20_003 Available - contact preranap@hotmail.com\

Indian Hawthorne in full bloom around Easter time

Indian Hawthorne in Fall with berries. These are not edible

Golden Heart

I had fun painting the wood, had been long that I tried a different texture..
The landscape inside the Heart shape was too good, had to paint it!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Completed Feb 12th, 2020

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Golden Heart, 8x10 inches, Watercolor on Arches Paper 140lb Coldpress

Code# PK_20_002 Available - Click Here