Inauguration of 'LAYA' group art show.

It was a lovely evening on the 4th Oct 2013, with 200+ guests gracing the inauguration of our group show called 'LAYA' - Rhythms of Nature and Dance.

The five faced Lamp was lighted by Dr. B L Shankar- President Chitra Kala Parishath, Sri DK Chowta - general secretary Chitra Kala Parishath, Eminent artist Sri Prahalad, Sri Kiran Subraminiam- classical dancer/artistic director of Rasika Arts Foundation and Srimathi Usha P Rai - Kannada writer/artist - respectively.

This was followed by welcoming of the guests and the introduction of the artists by Usha Shantharam (myself) . Our illustrious guests were introduced and honored by Shyamala Ramanand, Asha Sudhakar Shenoy, Usha P Rai and Kavitha Prasanna. All of us are the artists of LAYA - group art show.

The chief guests spoke and encouraged us artists to keep up the good work, and to present more shows. Then they did the round up of all our paintings and had many good words of praise for our works.

This was followed by high Tea and many wonderful appreciation from our guests and a few sales too.

Here are some photos of the inauguration ceremony.

Artists of 'LAYA' group art show

left to right

Usha Rai, Kavitha Prasanna, Usha Shantharam (myself), Asha Sudhakar Shenoy and Shyamala Ramanand. 

'Melange' - art show at the Sublime Gallery Bengaluru - in aid of ISPTD

It is a heart filling experience to help in our own small way in aid of the needy. I did my bit by donating a painting of mine, in aid of ISPTD. ( Indian Society for Performers and Teachers of Dance).

Priced at a very affordable 20K, my painting 'Shadows at Noon' is displayed at 'Melange' group art show at Sublime Gallery which is situated on the 8th floor of UB City on Vittal Malya Road, Bengaluru.

The collector who purchases this painting will not only be enjoying the beautiful 'impressionist' landscape on his/her walls, but will also have the satisfaction of having helped the needy, as the proceeds of the sale of this painting will be utilized for the aid of ISPTD.

The 'Melange' art show started on 13th Sept 2013, and will be on show through 10th Oct 2013.

Shadows at Noon

acrylic painting on canvas

size 24x36 inches

This is an 'impressionist landscape' of the beautiful Mysore University campus done 'en plein air'. 

A Hen - Painting

A Hen

acrylic painting on canvas

size 13x9 inches

Purchase a print  

Painting birds and animals have always been refreshing to my mind. Loved this hen because of her proud and confident stance. Hence she became a painting.  

Have been busy getting prepared for a forthcoming group show to be held in October at Chitra Kala Parishad Bengaluru.  Will give more information in my next post. Until then.  

Thrilled to be on 'BBC World News Hangout' - What makes Art Iconic - discussion with BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz

I was so thrilled on 5th June 2013 afternoon, when I received a call from London - BBC News worldwide - inviting me to take part in a discussion on 'What makes Art iconic' on BBC News Hangout.  I could not believe at first that the famous British Broadcast journalist/producer Benjamin Zand was speaking to me on the phone. I thought at first that someone was playing a prank, but I am really happy now that I had decided to hear him out.

What a lovely topic. 'What makes Art Iconic' was hosted by the famous BBC Art editor Will Gompertz. Five artists from various parts of the world had been chosen, and I was selected from India!!!

I was hoping that my internet connection would not let me down during the Hangout, as it is erratic here sometimes.  At 6.30 pm the hangout had started, and my mic let me down. I could not take part in the first 20 min of the program. Luckily I was heard from the 23rd min onwards.

You can hear my comments on - What makes Art "iconic" at the 23rd min onwards. Also about whether artwork by women artists are valued lesser that their men counterparts was discussed, and you can watch   my views on this at 30min onwards.  The whole program was completed in 38 minutes time.

It was a wonderful experience to be discussing - 'What makes art iconic' with four other illustrious artists from around the world,  and the program hosted by none other than Will Gompertz - BBC Arts Editor, and Benjamin Zand - producer/BJ at BBC World. 

Note that Mr. Benjamin Zand has described my painting called 'Mahishaasura Mardini' (in the background behind me) as ' Wonderful piece of Art' at 14.30 min.  

My day was made, and I will remember this day forever. 

Marigold painting - Potted Bounty - in Rebecca Tripp music video.

Amazing Marigold Artwork and Waltz of the Marigolds by Rebecca Tripp

My painting 'Potted Bounty' can be viewed at 2.48 min.

Once again Rebecca Tripp - freelance music composer from British Columbia - Canada has created cheerful and happy 'Flower art music'. The chirping of birds in the background gives the feeling of sitting in a garden chair and enjoying the music of the 'Marigolds'.

This time her inspiration has been 'Marigold paintings' by artists all over the world. It is my pleasure to say that my painting called 'Potted Bounty' contributed to her inspiration ( in its own small way) for producing such peaceful and chirpy music. 

Potted Bounty

Marigold painting

acrylic on canvas

size 12x26 inches

Monkey Swing - monkey painting

Monkey Swing

acrylic painting on canvas

size 16x12 inches

Of late I have taken a fancy to the animalkind I think . I have been unconsciously choosing cows, and cats and now monkeys to paint.  

Their tails especially really fascinate me. I saw this baby monkey swinging on the tails of two other adult monkeys and appreciated this - monkey joint family system. Baby monkey looked so swingingly happy.  :).

Purchase a Print

Rebecca Tripp's Flower Waltz and Gladiolus Paintings -Usha Shantharam

Rebecca Tripp from British Columbia is a composer of wonderfully lilting music that creates a feeling of peace and calm in the mind. In her music project called 'Flower Waltzes' she has featured slide-show presentations of 'Flower paintings' by artists world over who have inspired her. 

I am happy to acknowledge that she has used a flower painting that I had done of 'White Gladiolus flowers', in her wonderfully soothing music video. 

Amazing artwork and

Waltz of the Delphinium Gladiolus and Hollihocks

"White Gladiolus Flowers' painting can be seen at 5.35 min, about the fourth last painting in the video.  

This painting is now in the private collection of an Art Collector from Pune. 

Mother and Child - painting

Mother and Child

acrylic painting on canvas

size:  12x9 inches

indian mother art

I always admire the way an Indian mother carries her child - however big he/she is.  Maybe it is time to walk for this child.

To Shopping with Mom

To Shopping with Mom
acrylic painting on canvas
size: 12x9 inches

indian culture art
The love of the parent for the child, and the trust of the child for the parent is an amazing and natural phenomena.

Amma's Grip Leads

Amma's Grip Leads

acrylic painting on canvas

size: 9x12 inches

india acrylic prints

First  painting on the year 2013. A mother's love and guidance is God's blessing to us. 

Happy New Year 2013 - Yellow daisies - painitng

Yellow Daisies

acrylic painting on paper

size: 12x16 inches

flora greeting cards

Wishing all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year 2013

Sound Sleep

Sound Sleep

acrylic on canvas

size: 12x9 inches

indian canvas prints

Sound sleep in amma's shoulders even in a crowd. 

In Safe Hands - painting

In Safe Hands

acrylic painting on canvas

size: 12x9 inches

people art

Safe in Papa's hands even in a crowd.  A father's loving arms are sure comfort to a child.  Sightings like this always warms my heart and it does not take me long to transform it into a painting. 

The Holy Cow and dung

The Holy Cow and dung

medium: - water color painting

support: -  cartridge paper

size:- 11x15 inches

animal paintings

I watch this cow everyday, grazing on the empty site opposite my house.  Some times when I watch at mid-day, I love to see the shadow she casts forming a beautiful design under her. I somehow felt that I need to do this in water colors, and here is a painting I did in water colors after a very long long time. 

Winners of 'Your 3000 or more viewed artwork' competition in Fine Art America.

Congratulations to the winners of the competition called ' Your 3000 or more viewed artwork' .  This is a competition I created on   Fine Art America,   which is a wonderful place for artists the world over to display their artworks.  Artists who display on this site receive views for their artworks, and the number of times they have been viewed is displayed on each one of the artworks.

This competition was a challenge to talented artists the world over, who had created wonderful artwork and are already winners, as they had received more than 3000 visits to their artworks.

I did have my doubt as to how many of them could be out there who had received that many visits for their artworks, but I was pleasantly surprised as more than 35 artists took part, with some of them submitting even 5 entries.

The competition went through a period of 2 weeks, and attracted 95 entries by very talented artists, some of them having received even more than 10000 views.

We members of the FAA voted for the best of the best and finally saw 3 winning entries by the following extremely talented artists of FAA. 

The first place was won by artist Jeanne Newton Schoborg for her artwork called ‘Work in progress V ‘. This painting has received a whopping 11,031 visits and not surprisingly she has won the first spot in this competition.   Known for her horse paintings, she is a widely travelled artist who lives and teaches art in Eldora IA United States.  Click HERE  to view the winning artwork entry. 

The second place was won by artist Karen Wiles   from Hampstead NC United States for her artwork called ‘ Tranquility This painting has received   visits.  Karen’s artworks are like a breath of fresh air and calming to the mind in a world of glamour, noise and stress.  Click HERE to view the winning entry.  

The third spot was won by Michael Durst   from Cape Town – South Africa, for his artwork called ‘Lavender Fields’.  This painting has been viewed more than 7000 times on FAA.  A Doctor by profession, he is a psychologist, and not surprisingly he certainly knows how to capture the viewer's hearts through his artworks.  His artworks are relaxing and healing to the heart and are called ‘Heartscapes’.  Click HERE to view the winning entry.  


The following were my own submissions for the contest called' Your 3000 or more viewed artworks on FAA'.

Women in Sarees

3653 views

Woman in Saree

Inspired by Raja Ravi Varma's painting

5164 views

The Indian Genneri Flowers

Pretty flowers   

3315 views

Portrait of a Jasmine

3166 views

 

The beautiful Heliconia Plant painting

Heliconia

medium:  acrylic painting on canvas

size: 6x10 inches

The beautiful curves of the Heliconia plant never ceases to inspire me into painting them.  The orange flowers and the curvy-long leaves urge me to take on the brush with pleasure.  Probably that is the reason that I have done so many paintings of this beautiful plant, and continue to do so even now.    This painting I did using the glazing technique and is a fav of mine. 

Click HERE to view or purchase a print of this painting available in various sizes.  

Click HERE to view or purchase some of my paintings and prints that are available on ebay.in for the next 8 days only.  

Painting of SriDevi - Indian actor par excellence

SriDevi in Mr India

acrylic painting on canvas

size 16x12 inches 

figurative paintings

Indian actor Sridevi has been my favourite ever since her first appearance as a child artist in the Tamil movie 'Kandan Karunai'. I have since then followed her journey in the field of cinema firstly in the Tamil film industry, then the Telugu film industry, and then the Hindi film industry. I truely missed her during the past 15 years when she disappeared to fulfill her duties of being born a woman.  But now I am so happy that she has come back with a bang to entertain us all with her amazing performances.  It was a pleasure painting this phenomenal woman whose screen presence has always left me in awe.  Having performed wonderfully in all the major languages of Indian cinema, she can truly be called - an 'Indian actor par excellence'. 

This painting is an imaginary scene from the film 'Mr India'. In this movie, Sridevi is in love with an invisible man called Mr India (played by actor Anil Kapoor), performs a scintillating dance even as she is being watched in the background by the invisible Mr India.  

A small tribute to her in the form of a painting. 

PAINTING OF GANESHA

Ganesha

acrylic painting on wooden panel

size: 8x12 inches

It was a pleasure to lift the brush in my hands and apply the strokes of paint after a long break of almost 6 months. Naturally I started with Lord Ganesha. I painted this from a real still- life setting of a wooden sculpture of Lord Ganesha which has resulted in a 3D effect in the painting.   

Comfort Squat - digital painting

Comfort Squat

figurative painting

medium - digital

size 13x16

I have noticed this common squat posture among village people and found that they can sit like this for hours because they find it very comfortable.  Probably it is a healthy posture too. How long can you sit like this. 

The Taj Mahal

It has been some time since I posted on my blog. One reason being that I did not have an internet connection for a long time.  I hope to start posting regularly now, and paint a lot too.

The Taj Mahal may be the most photographed architectural wonder of India.  Unfortunately I still have not had the opportunity to visit Agra and see this absolutely wonderful marble construction in true life.  I have seen many wonderful photographs of the 'Taj Mahal' and wondered how it would look in real life.   Even more beautiful I am sure.

Nevertheless, it did not stop me from painting this wonder of the world, using photographic reference clicked by my daughter for me to paint.

Taj Mahal

acrylic painting on canvas paper

size:  9x13 inches

Abstract Landscape - digital media -Ranganthittu Bird Park

'Ranganthittu Bird Park' - Digital painting - Abstract Landscape

Ranganthittu Bird Park near Mysore - Landscape as viewed during a boat ride on the lake.  The Pelicans, Ducks, Herons and even the bats where a treat to watch.  

Virajpet Town - Telgur Street - Coorg painting

Virajpet Town

Telgur Street

acrylic on acrylic primed paper

size 12x16 inches

I was pleasantly surprised and happy when a facebook friend informed me that this painting reminded him of his happy childhood days spent at Telgur Street- Virajpet Town in Coorg. He even mentioned that his house was visible in the painting.  Click here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=319208354796746&set=fp.1545216918.720666542&type=1&theater to view the thread on facebook.  If you are a Virajpet Lover you could even consider becoming a fan of his page on facebook called - 'Virajpet The Soul of Coorg'.  

The Shore Temple

Digital Painting

size 7x10 inches

print on canvas

Thicket - digital painting

The digital media can never stop to amaze me.  The opportunities for an artist to try out ideas is limitless.  Here is one of my favorite subjects - nature at its glory - just a clip of branches and leaves.

'Thicket'

digital art

size: 12x9 inches

Digital Painting of a 'Ther' - Temple Car

Ther

Digital Painting

size: 6x8

Meylum - drumming for auspicious occasions - digital painting

Meylum

digital painting

size 9x12 inches

The Meylum is a wonderful drum instrument played squatting on the ground comfortably- legs crossed. Having its roots in South India, this instrument is still played during weddings and auspicious occasions and in Temples along with the Naadaswaram (pipe instrument).  I decided to paint this digitally when I still have the chance to portray it, hoping that this fast dying art will live on forever. 

ARTWAVE group art show by 35 contemporary artists from Bengaluru

ArtWave has organized a group show at Chitra Kala Parishad - Kumara Krupa road, Bengaluru -- which starts 23rd March through 27th March 2012.  Timings 10am to 7pm.  

Plz visit this art show to feast your eyes and enjoy the creations of 35 different contemporary artists of Bengaluru.  I feel honored to be one of them. 

Inauguration by Artist Vijayan

On Display at Chitra Kala Parishad

Following are 5 of my paintings - from the 'Body Language' series that are on display at the 'Art Wave' group show.  

'Hot Deals'

framed

24x30 inches (measurement excluding frame)

acrylic on canvas 

'Boy on Bike'

framed

24x24 inches (measurement excluding frame)

acrylic on canvas 

'Reminiscing'

framed

16x20 inches (measurement excluding frame)

acrylic on canvas 

'White Collared'

framed

12x16 inches (measurement excluding frame)

acrylic on canvas 

'Woman washing Clothes'

framed

12x16 inches (measurement excluding frame)

acrylic on canvas 

For purchase enquiries, plz contact me by email at usetty@gmail.com or call 9343796153. 

Veil Woman - digital painting

'Veil Woman'

digital painting

Inkjet print on canvas

size: 10"x13"