My try on the VSD Feb 2009. I used watercolors for this one. I loved painting this one, though I think the water didn’t really come out all that well. But this is still just my first month of serious art indulgence!
Thanks to Debbie Later from VSD’s, for her photo of Lake Louise, Canada. I have never been to Canada myself. Someday, I will plan a trip too!!
- Shalini
This would be my entry for this week’s Illustration Friday: Instinct.
It is pretty fascinating how instincts work in the natural world. And probably they define a definite organization in each society. Ants instinctively follow each other by following each other’s scents. That is how they reach food sources, and as a colony help bring food and supply home for their survival during the inactive part of the year..
- Shalini
This is the first time I am trying out a self-portrait. And I made it from a photograph instead of the mirror. Now I am waiting for my biggest critic – my DH – to tell me his views on it. He has always been critical of my drawing (usually cartoons..) of myself. Well, I would have to agree with him, that they never really looked like me either!
- Shalini
Bengal School of Art
I had to draw a human face with the Bengal School eyes. Here is a picture of a Bengali Bride, in the style of Bengal School of Art. I borrowed a picture of a friend in her Bridal Attire, so that I don’t miss out the important colors and ornaments.. I think she should agree with this one..
The headgear is a little off-symmetry and this Art is all about symmetry!! I lose my marks for that 
- Shalini
Bengali Art School style
This week’s challenge is pretty interesting. We are supposed to draw in the style of some great Artist whom we admire. There is no artist I can think of, of whom I am particularly fond of.. But there are all these varieties of Indian Painting schools which come to my mind, which I have always been fond of. So I am thinking of taking this challenge a little further than a week, and a little further than a favourite artist and try out the different schools of painting..
I am starting with the Bengal School of Art, which is a painting form that developed in Bengal., around the pre-independence struggle days. It has a minimalistic design, though the colors used are strong block colors. The art-schools opened in Calcutta in the early 19th century imparted training in only two basic i.e., media oil and water color.
I have drawn here a picture of a Cow and a Calf (I know it looks anything but a calf). I didn’t have string poster colors, to make it look solid. However, I have touched upon the other details like block color (no shading) and minimalistic design. And yes, the eye of the two animals. That’s something I have seen constant in Bengali Art.
I also played with GIMP today. And here is a sample of that too.. (I have a long long way to go with this whole digital thing!)
Digitized Cow and Calf
- Shalini
Hurrah!! I finally inaugurated my moleskine. And I finally did an EDM mission!!! And what a mission theme to start with! When I told my husband that this week’s mission is Underwear, he could not stop laughing!!
I feel babies make such good underwear models. Mainly because they Just-Don’t-Care! What a delight to see a baby cat-crawling (not cat-walking), their little hips swaying, proudly flaunting whatever they wear (or otherwise..)! And they treat the whole world as their ramp! Once in a while, they’ll even turn, look over their shoulders and give you an award winning smile, to brighten up your day!
- Shalini
Moleskine vs Usual Sketchpaper
Yesterday I had been to Barnes and Noble, along with a friend of mine. We spent some royal time looking at all the sketchbooks and supplies that were there in the store. This weekend, Manu and I had been to some more Art Supply stores to check out the different kinds of sketchbooks. Finally yesterday I purchased the small Moleskine pocket sketchbook, to give it a try..
When I brought it home and pulled it out of its plastic packaging, I noticed that the paper inside is slightly more yellowish than I am used to. Maybe it is supposed to be that way.. Well, maybe not!!? The paper thickness is impressive though. I decided that I could wait a couple more days before I start scribbling on it. I took this scan of moleskine vs the usual sketchbook paper, so I can keep the comparison for reference.
Is it really supposed to be slightly yellowish?
