Lotus Pond 2 - Indian digital painting

Lotus Pond

9x12 inches

digital painting

india digital art

Indian Digital Art - Lotus Pond - digital painting

Lotus Pond 

digital painting

size 9x12 inches

indian digital art

Iron Gate - Digital Painting

Iron Gate

digital painting 

size 10x7

Digital Painting - Flower Bouquet

7"x12" digital artwork

7"x12" digital artwork

I tried my hand on the new digital media, and came up with two paintings of a flower bouquet.  It is a wonderful experience to learn this new media called 'digital painting'.  This media is a vast ocean by itself, and may take more than a few life times to master it - I think.  Marvelous experience. 

  I would really appreciate comments on these studies.  

A little bit scared that this media may manipulate me away from the 'real thing'. -- Or should I go with the times.  

Impressions of Ooty Lake 2 - Indian Impressionist landscape painting

Impressions of Ooty Lake 2

size: 9"x13" inches

medium: acrylic on hand-made paper.  

A wonderful 3 month break has really pumped up the creative juices, and I cannot wait to put them all on canvas.  The US visit has made me hook on to a new media called the 'digital media'.  I am at present working on them and hope to post some of them very soon on my blog.       

Impressions of the Ooty Lake 1 Abstracted style in Indian Landscape paintings

I introduced a little bit of abstraction in this landscape painting, which is a view of the banks of the Ooty Lake.  This is one of a series of   indian paintings of landscapes of Ootachamand  (Ooty)  - the popular hill station town of South India.



Impressions of the Ooty Lake painting
size:  9x13 inches
medium: acrylic on hand-made paper

Abstraction in this realistic painting is achieved by keeping details to the minimum, and by creating visible brush strokes. 

THANKS

The last couple of months have been over whelming for me, as acknowledgement have been coming in from various branches of the art world, including bloggers, site owners, online magazines, and fellow artists as well.  As an artist, I feel blessed, and wish to thank all of them for their kindness.

Bridal Wear

'SPARK' is a non-commercial online magazine which featured my artwork in their July issue.  Two paintings namely ''Bridal Wear' and 'Portrait of a bride' made way into their pages under the caption of 'Tying the Knot'.

Click  HERE to read the article.
Click on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spark/240605447679?sk=wall to become a fan of  'Spark' on facebook.

Smile Plz

   Scarlet canvas is an online art community that helps artists to pursue their passions without the tensions of finding potential buyers for their artwork.  I feel honored to be chosen by them and even allotted a webpage dedicated to my artworks.

Click on http://www.scarletcanvas.com/usha-shantaram.html to view the page.  
Click on  http://www.facebook.com/scarletcanvas  to become a fan of Scarlet canvas on facebook.  

Creative Blogger Award

Thanks to Anandi Rajan a wonderful arts and crafts specialist who has kindly presented me with a 'Kreative Blogger' award.  Her creativitly shines through in her artworks that range from murals to jewellery, paintings, pencil shading, e-cards, and gardening ideas.  Click on http://www.anandhirajansartsncrafts.blogspot.com/ to view her creativity in all these fields.




As this is a rolling trophy, it is my pleasure to pass the award on to artist Prabha Narayan.  Prabha Narayan a  self-taught artist based in Bangalore, India. Her fascination towards illustrations started in school while nurturing a passion in art. In the past decade, she did graphic designing in Mumbai & Bangalore. She has been actively painting for two years.  Click on http://prabhanarayanan.blogspot.com/ to view her blog, and on http://www.prabhanarayanan.com/index.htm to view her website.


Lastly but not the least, thanks to Prince Freakasso who awarded me with a 'Super Creative' award on facebook.  He is a fine artist himself, and you can click on http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000332917180  to view his profile and artworks on facebook.

Bamboo Grove - Indian Contemporary Impressionism - landscape painting

Bamboo Grove

en plein air painting done at Lal Bagh - Bengaluru

36"x24" inch

acrylic on canvas

Framed view of 'Bamboo Grove' - as displayed at 'The Drawing Room Musings' - group art show held at Chitra Kala Parishad from 16th to 25th May 2011.

Painting of Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary - contemporary impressionism - usha shanthraram

'Siesta' - a view of  Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary. 

acrylic painting on canvas -

size 32x24 inch

white frame

I had a clear idea of what colors to use, what format to adopt, and how to create the illusion of moving waters - much before I started on this painting. But, it was the serene atmosphere, tranquility and a sense of peace that I wanted to project - because that is what I felt that afternoon, when I was really there - at the Ranganthittu Bird Sancturay.  

It took me just 2 days to finish this painting, and I never felt the need to retouch it even for minor changes - after that.  

View of 'Siesta' painting, framed in white and displayed at Chitra Kala Parishad  at  the group art show called 'The Drawing Room Musings'.  

BIRD HAVEN - Indian Impressionist Landscapes - usha shantharam

BIRD HAVEN - acrylic on canvas - 24"x32"

A visit to the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway was like visiting the 'Bird World' on planet earth.  A different experience altogether.  One could spend hours on the banks of the Cauvery River watching all kinds of birds from the pure white pelicans, to the jet black bats hanging upside down on the trees. 

One particular spot was very much like a bird haven crowned with the lighted edges of the tall bushes, and a large area of shadow on the river where the birds rested on tiny islands of rocks.  So the painting 'Bird Haven' came into being.  

I used umpteen varieties of blues and greens to achieve the effects of cast shadows and form shadows in this painting.  The result is a shimmering blue-green painting which has caught many a viewer to spend more than ten minutes watching it - during our recently concluded group art show - The Drawing Room Musings. 

A view of 'Bird Haven' framed  and displayed during the recently concluded group art show  

 'The Drawing Room Musings'.

Impressionist Landscapes - Indian - SUNRISE ON THE NILGIRIS

Sunrise on the Nilgiris

24"x32"

acrylic on canvas

framed 

This painting is a result of layering a number of blues and greens painted using the 'glazing' technique. 

Just tried to capture the beauty of the Nilgiri Hills from atop 'Fernhill' at Ooty, as no words could have explained the beauty of the moment. 

A view of the painting 'Sunrise on the Nilgiris' in a white frame, as displayed during the group show 'The Drawing Room Musings'.

M F Husain lives on - A painting tribute

He was a man who had lived life to the fullest, and has passed away today to live on forever. A painting tribute to him.  I did this portrait of him just now, even as I was watching about the news on TV

Two Paintings of views across Lal Bagh Lake - usha shantharam

Standing at any point on the radius of the Lal Bagh Lake gives a breathtaking view of the opposite side of the Lake's bank.  

Two such views are the paintings of  'Jogger's Pathway' and ' The Lakeview Reflections' done in a panoramic format. 

Jogger's  Pathway

oil on canvas

12"x24" 

framed

The jogger's path with a border of orange Jacuaranda trees in full blossom, and a fencing that is barely visible, throws a colorful reflection on the almost still waters of the Lal Bagh Lake - disturbed only by a gentle breeze that blew delicate ripples on its surface.  Irresistable for any plein air painting aritst like me, this view soon became a painting .  

Lakeview Reflections

acrylic on canvas

12"x24" 

framed

The interesting design formed by the jogger's path on the left, the bridge, the S shaped curves of the palm tree and the huge crowns of the trees on the island -  all these combined with its ditto reflection on the almost still waters of the Lal Bagh Lake inspired me into painting this breathtaking view 'en plein air'.  

A view of both these paintings - now framed; as displayed during the recently concluded group art show 'The Drawing Room Musings'.    

Invitation to 'THE DRAWING ROOM MUSINGS' group art show

You are invited 

Click on 'THE DRAWING ROOM MUSINGS'  to view the paintings displayed at the show. 

Usha's Fine Art Creations - blog features in about.com

I am very pleased to annouce that my response to about.com's call for readers submissions  in their -   Online business/hosting section, has been selected and published in their site about.com  .    Click  HERE  to read the article. 

Recently about.com had called for readers submissions regarding blogging for business, where they asked to write about how I got to setup a blog and what topics I cover in it and also the lessons I have learnt through blogging till now.  All these topics are covered in this article.  You can read about my experience as a blogger HERE . 



In the meantime, my students and I are busy getting ready for our upcoming show in Chitra Kala Parishad starting 16th May 2011 to 255h May 2011.  

From now onwards my future  posts will be dedicated to featuring each one of my art students - (all soft ware proffesssionals :)-  ), who will be taking part in the forthcoming show.  It is a great way to get knowing these budding young artists who are amazingly creative and talented.  


Here is one for the road - below is one of my paintings which will be exhibited at our May 2011 group show.  -

       'Sunlight Peeping' 30"x24" inches - oil painting on canvas.

My next Exhibition scheduled for a mid May release.

                                 'Shadows at Noon'  - size- 24x30 inch

In reply to the many mails I have received regarding my recent break in blogging - here is great news and I am very very excited about it.    Dates for my next exhibition has been scheduled for a mid May release.  Starting 16th of May 2011, through 25th May 2011 at the 'Chitra Kala Parishad' Bangalore.

It is going to be a group show which will showcase fine artworks of my students of art.  All of my students happen to be software proffesionals which makes it even more exciting. Obviously they are all extrememly talented in more ways than one.

A few of my paintings too will be finding their place here and there I think.  My students are all so excited about the exhibition  -  just like I am!  You can look forward to more soon. 

Displayed above is a sample teaser painting for you.  - An Indian Landscape  ( Lal Bagh of Bangalore - a plein air painting )  done in  Impressionist style.