GANESHA - A SIMPLE WALL HANGING

Here is a simple and attractive mural  which is made with easily available things  and it needs very little effort too...

You need...

• A square hard board/plywood of desired size.(mine is 8"x8")
• A POP moulded Ganesha
• A bangle
• Some tanjore painting stones
• Tassles
• Gold chord
• 3-D liner/gold
• Paints
• Gold paint/dust
• Glue

How to make it....

• Make a hole in the board to attach the chord for hanging it.
• Paint the board with in the desired color.Dry.
• Stick the bangle in the centre of the board with glue.
• Stick the moulded Ganesha inside the bangle.Dry.
• Now stick the stones as per your design (use your creativity)
• Line it with 3-D gold liner.Dry.
• Now ,touch up the Ganesha and bangle with gold paint/dust.Dry.
• Stick tassles as per your wish.
• Dry . 
• Your simple and easy mural is now ready for display.

TIE AND DYE - THE MYRAID MAGIC OF COLORS

The magic of transforming a length of white cotton cloth into a bright myraid magic of colours is this art called TIE and DYE.

This is the method used in our traditional Bandhini work of Gujarat and the Madurai Sungidi sarees of Tamil Nadu.

I will try to explain this process which may seem complicated but is relatively easy .

We use resistance technique to preserve colors in areas where the design requires ,using "tying " technique and then "Dyeing "the fabric.

Hence the name -TIE and DYE.

Once you master the basics,you can create umpteen number of patterns .

You need ...

• White cotton fabric -destarched.
• Threads,ropes ,stones,lentils of various sizes and shapes.

• Direct dyes of desired colors
• Salt
• Fixing agent
• A Large basin to boil water and to be used as your dye bath

Method

• Take a well ironed cotton cloth of required size.
• Keep  a tiny round dhal in the center.Tie the dhal with a fine thread firmly.
• The basic circle is fixed in your cloth now.
• Now,gather the cloth and tie in equal distances where you want the white color to be fixed.
• Now , add a few liters of water in a metal vessel ,and mix some yellow color to a paste with hot water and add to the bath.Add a handful of salt to the dye bath.
• When it is fully dissolved,add the cloth and boil well,stirring now and then for 5 minutes.
• Remove from the dye bath and soak in cold water to which a teaspoon of fixing agent is added.Let it stay for a few hours.Dry without opening the ties.
• Now,the whole cloth will be yellow.
• Tie up areas where ever you want yellow to be preserved.
• Now use a similar method and dye the cloth in red color.
• Next,preserve the red areas and dye it in dark brown.
• Soak your cloth in fixing agent for a day and rinse well in plain water  .
• Dry the cloth.
• Open up the knots patiently taking care not to tear the cloth.
• Now you will see various hues and patterns coming alive in this fabric right before you....
• Press the cloth and use it as your duppata,cushion cover,table cloth etc.

Some more Tie and Dye posts to follow soon...

3-D MURAL-BALAJI

Here is my 3-D mural of Lord Balaji/Venkatachalapathi,Sreenivasa...

The base is wood and I have used uncut stones

(Tanjore painting stones) to embellish the crown,jewels etc.

 and add to its richness...

FLORALS- A DIFFERENT THREAD WORK

Here is a simple yet strikingly attractive thread work done by me ....

Anyone who sees it for the first time will think it is a piece of simple embroidery.

No.

This is a simple thread work which is done without a stitch!

I drew the outline of the design on a felt cloth fixed on a hardboard...

Took a few skeins of embroidery thread ...cut the thread into pieces of desired sizes to fill up the designs...and the pieces were neatly stuck to fill up the design with fabric glue...

What you need to master this work is just loads of patience...

A VILLAGE SCENE -MY BATIK PAINTING

Here is a strikingly simple yet vibrantly eye catching batik painting...

The farmer tilling his land with the bullocks and wooden plough...

The lady nursing the baby...

The plaintain trees and the thatched hut...

All add to the charm of the theme...

HAND MADE BONSAI

To grow a bonsai tree takes years and years of painstaking ,patient work....

This Handmade Bonsai is an imitation of the real one...

And it just takes a few hours' of imaginative,creative effort....

You need....

•  Pliable steel wire bits
• Tissue paper
• Flower making wire with green gum tape wrapped on them
• Glue
• Plaster of paris
• Acrylic paints in brown and yellow ocher shades
• Flower making wires wrapped with green colored gum tape.
• A suitable base/holder (I used anartistically shaped  coconut shell which was sold in an exhibition for just Rs.5)
• Thread

Method

• Cut steel wires into 3 -4 inch bits to shape the branches.
• Cut a few longer bits to shape the trunk of the tree.
• Cut the green wires into 1 1/2 to2 inch bits. Tie 8-10 bits aroun the tip of a steel wire 
• Wrap tissue paper soaked in diluted glue around the wires  and shape the branches.
• Run a thread around each bit and fasten it well.
• Similarly use more tissue papers and make a thicker trunk.
• Let them dry for a day.
• Bend them to your desired shapes.
• Shape the green wires to resemble some spiky tree leaves.
• Arrange the branches on the trunk and secure them with thread and glue.
• Mix the Plaster of paris with enough water .
• Pour some into the base and set the trunk in it .Let the Plaster of Paris harden well.
• Mix more plaster of paris and  apply it on the trunk ,base and branches roughly so it resembles a tree.
• Let it dry well.
• Paint it with acrylic colors .

The Bonsai is ready for display!

VILLAGE - MY 3-D MURAL

I have tried to capture a village in my 3-D mural...

A beautiful village...

complete with a hut with a pretty kolam at it's doorstep...

A Ganesha under a tree...flanked by Nagars  on his sides...

the scorching  sun on an Indian summer day...

and a bullock cart laden with hay

going to the nearest farm...

I have used a plywood for the base and worked with

glue and ceramic powder to give the raised effect

and finally gave the dried piece a metallic finish....

AUTUMN SHADES -OIL ON CANVAS

The season is autumn...

the woods are a riot of colors...

the fast brook is muddy ...

the fallen leaves have painted the earth

with their many splendored hues...

reds,browns,yellows and ochre...

A virtual feast to your eyes....

GANESHA ON A MAT

Somethings stand the test of time....

This Ganesha painted on a mat 

is one such things...

Would you believe it,if I tell you 

He is nearly forty years old !

Yes ! This  painting was done by me

when I was still in school!

 in the early seventies...

It had decorated many walls 

 He moved houses along with me many a times...

It has been quite some years since 

He has been neatly rolled up and sent to the loft...

and in spite of decluttering my house periodically

I never had the heart to see Him off....

Maybe,because  I felt 

it was wit Him ,I made my foray into creativity

in which He helps me till date...

I know ,this is just a traced outline on a mat

dutifully filled with the various color paints

available in my box...But still,

He is someone Special to me!

GANESHA WITH ALUMINIUM FOIL-ART FROM WASTE

One reason why Lord Ganesha is an artist's favorite

is because he lends himself to any art form 

and He is crafted with almost any material 

available under the sun...

This Ganesha is made with 

Aluminium foil which is used to wrap up

foodstuff and the like!

The pieces of Ganesha's form

is cut out in cardboard and wrapped up

with crushed aluminium foil

and then they are given antique staining 

with anti rust paints and let to dry for a day.

Then the pieces are stuck on 

a cloth mounted board ...

Voila,a highly attractive and creative

wall hanging is all yours...

and it is ridiculously  inexpensive too!

FLOWER BASKET- WATER COLORS

Here is my new painting-

A basket full of colorful  flowers...

in water colors, accentuated with

touches of transparent inks...

done on handmade paper 

on a hot and lazy afternoon...

Could not think of a better way to relax!

VILLAGE LIFE - AN OIL PAINTING

A scene from a Rajastani village-

The bejewelled  womenfolk are busy grinding the grains

for their daily meal as they sit before

their mud huts and the old man

happily entertains them as well as the passers by

with the music from his stringed instrument...

That is what I have tried to depict in this oil painting...

DECORATED LOG WORK

Here is a small part of a log

on which some are some flowers and leaves....

"Fine- so what is special about it?"

You may wonder...

What makes it special is 

not only the are flowers and leaves 

 the artificial ones but so is the log...

Guess what all has gone into the making of the log?

The base is a PVC pipe over which

ropes are bound...

then I applied a mixture of glue and chalk powder

and made marks with a knife to resemble  the barks...

Then the work was dried for a few days

and then painted with shades of browns....

and a drift wood/log is ready...

Some artificial flowers adorn it 

to make a picture perfect corner piece...

FROZEN WAVES - MY OIL PAINTING

The mercury dips and the earth chills fast

and so does the water 

and the waves of the lake too....

The cold winter night is depicted 

in the cool ,deep blue and dark hues of

 this painting  and the frost laden conifers 

add to the effect...

GREEN WOODS -MY ACRYLIC PAINTING

A muddy road through the green woods...

where does it take you?

Maybe to a calm and peaceful

piece of this earth which is 

totally disconnected from

the concrete jungle that we live in...

SERENE WOODS -MY OIL PAINTING

A calm and serene night

in the woods ...

a quaint and cosy log cabin...

my own Zen place....

a perfect setting for a getaway 

from the hustle and bustle our concrete jungles...

The conifers glistening on a moonlit night adds 

to the charm of this beautiful hideout ...

I swear  you cannot find a match to this place

in the best of luxury hotels or swanky resorts...

FLOWERS AND LEAVES - A 3-D RELIEF PAINTING

Here is a 3-D relief painting...

On a dark background 

I have arranged a set of 

flowers,buds and leaves

made of ceramic powder and glue...

after they dried, I painted and shaded

them with acrylic colors and 

gave the piece a final coat of clear varnish...

It is indeed a pleasure to watch these

3-d flowers pop out of the canvas!

GEETOPADESHA - A 3-D MURAL

"

"YADHAA YADHAA HI DHARMASYA...

GYAANIR BHAVATHI BHAARATHA...

ABYUTHAANAM ADHARMASYA...

THADHAATHMAANAM SRIJAAMYAHAM...

PARITHRAANAAYA SAADHOONAAM...

VINAASAAYACHA DUSHKRUTHAAM...

DHARMA SAMSTHAABANAARTHAAYA...

SAMBHAVAAMI YUGHE YUGHE..."

MEANING...

"Whenever there is a fall in Dharma(Justice)

and a rise in Adharma(Injustice/The wrong)

I shall come here...

When there is a dance of destruction 

and the principles of sustenance weaken...

I ,who am omnipresent and watching everything...

shall take control of the situation

and set things in balance...

to protect the devout /good...

raze out the evil which vandalises the Earth...

and re-establish Dharma...

I shall manifest 

in every Yugha(Era/period)...."

Thus spake Lord Krishna

in the battle fields of Kurukshetra...

to Arjuna...

who was blessed to get 

the Geetopadesha...

"Do your duty...do not expect the rewards..."

says Krishna...

Doesn't it apply 

not only to the Pandavas but to you and me too?

This is the scene that I have depicted

in my Tanjore Painting

"Geetopadesham"

Where you see Lord Krishna

delivering the divine message

to Arjuna when he hesitates to 

lift his bow and arrow against 

the Kauravas...his kith and kin 

-and also his wrong doers...

The whole piece is given a metallic finish 

and figures of Sri Krishna and Arjuna 

are painted with acrylic colors...

The base of this mural is wood...

GOLDEN DUSK - WATER COLORS

The surrealistic dusk...

 the fishing boats have just returned home

folks are returning home after a long day's haul at sea...

the waters are calm and tranquil

and the twilight sky is a riot of colors

heralding the happy night and happier days to come...

What a makeover!

Spring cleaning time...

I was on the job of mercilessly disposing off

the clutter that manages to creep into my cupboards

and make it their homes for eternity...

But this old box which was there for decades in my house

(Shhhh....part of my grandma's dowry,I suppose!)

somehow was adamant about not leaving my place...

I looked worn out ,dull and was past superannuation age

but I felt it was a permanent fixture in my house...

So , just decided to give it a new look...

A coat of  brown paint with a few streaks of

darker grains gave it a woody finish...

Then I dug out a stencil and

dabbed some dark brown and red with a piece of sponge...

I found it a bit too bright....

so I dabbed some metallic Bronze here and there...

And Wow!

What a makeover,indeed....