Saturday 9 June 2012

From Pen & Ink Projects and Challenges to Lunchtime Sketches

I was overwhelmed by the comments that I received for my last post and I thank all of you, the ones who appreciated my sketches and the ones who have encouraged me to take to painting and even offered suggestions on how I could get started. I have taken the suggestions to heart and soon I hope to start posting here in colour too. But, before I get to that I would like to finish what I started, which is a short account of how I have progressed to where I am today.







As I mentioned in my last post it was around 2007 or 2008 that I decided to concentrate on pen & ink. I was already a member at one online art community (WetCanvas) and I joined one more (I Draw & Paint) around this time. At both of these I started participating regularly in the monthly pen & ink projects/challenges. The drawings that you see here are some of those that I did between 2008 and early 2012 at these two communities. 



 Although I am fairly good at self motivation, I cannot overstate how much being a part of these two communities has motivated me to draw and has helped me develop my skills.

During this time I also tried my hand at watercolour a few times. These two were done late in 2010 and unfortunately, due to my lack of confidence in wielding a brush and the effort involved in setting up to paint, I have not put in the necessary time and effort since then to take my painting skills any further. Hopefully that will change now because I have drawn up an action plan to which I am publicly committing myself.



During the three months and more since my last post I spent hardly any time painting, drawing or even sketching. Finally, about two weeks ago, I decided to at least do one lunchtime sketch at work each day and post it in a new blog (to track my progress). I am happy to say that I have been fairly regular so far at this. Starting today I also plan to play with colour over the weekends and see where that takes me.

My thanks, once again, for your good wishes and encouragement.

14 comments:

  1. Good to see you back Balaji...I had wondered where you were. Your pen and ink work is wonderful, and I don't know why you are reluctant to use paint. Going on the work you have posted here you are a very good painter. Are you going to share your work in progress on the other blog you mention, you haven't put a link?!:)

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    1. Ann, thank you.
      You are kind to comment so favourably on my paintings, but these are the only decent ones that I have done in a long time.
      Yes, I plan to share my progress at painting, but perhaps initially in my second blog (http://racingagainsttheclock.blogspot.in/). I have now provided the link in my post itself.

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  2. More amazing drawings! They are really wonderful. I like drawings and, you can add colour if you want to, but it seems that straight forward drawing is under appreciated by many viewers nowadays. Your drawings certainly stand on their own!

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  3. wow, some very good work here, you have a talent with graphite and pen definitely. Lovely sketches...

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  4. Great drawings (you should post them in larger format). Love that fish on the rocks.

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  5. Ciao,
    your drawns are really very beatiful! I think that if you use the contrast in paint like in drawn everything it will be very simple!
    Ciao, ciao, Floriana

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  6. Kat, Rene, and Floriana....Thank you.
    Rene...you can click on the images that I have posted to view them in larger format.
    Floriana...Thank you for the useful advice. I will definitely try it out.

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  7. Su trabajo ha sido para mi un grato descubrimiento. El pez bajo el agua es hermoso. La luz y el movimiento es tan sugerente que me ha hecho pensar. Espero que esta lección se refleje en mi propio trabajo.
    Felicitaciones.

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    1. Thank you Ruben for visiting and leaving such a nice comment.

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  8. Replies
    1. Hello,
      First of all, I'd like to congratule you for your beautiful blog and works (sketches and paintings). I will come back very soon on your blog to read posts and admire your drawings.
      Thank you

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    2. Thank you Sindbad, for your very encouraging comment. I have been inactive on this blog for a while but I hope to post more frequently from Apr. 2013 onwards.

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