Luv Bagh - finished 'en plein air' painting done in Lal Bagh Bangalore

Here is the finished painting of 'Luv Bagh', the outcome of the 'en plein air' camp organised by Bangalore Art Forum at Lal Bagh (park) in Bangalore

Capturing the essence of the scene was my goal. The atmosphere here was so tranquil and peaceful with the sun peeping through the trees here and there and a gentle breeze in the air.

Perhaps this inspired the lovers seated on the bench, as they had become so lost in time.

I was quite unprepared of the fast travelling sun and the shadows caused by it, but managed to finish most of the painting, and later completed it in my studio back home.

This is an acrylic painting on canvas of size 12"x16".

Please click HERE for purchase options.

'Plein Air' Painting camp at Lal Bagh organised by - Bangalore Art Forum

March 27th was a very memorable day for me. Not only because it was our Telugu New Year - Ugadi, but also because I spent most of the day at Lal Bagh - Bangalore, doing what I like most in my life- namely painting.

We, the members of 'Bangalore Art Forum' met at Lal Bagh on this day and completed our first activity namely 'plein air painting' successfully; as scheduled.

It was a very pleasant day, as only Bangalore is blessed with such a wonderful climate; as far as I know. Painting the nature under the shadow of the trees with a gentle breeze blowing against the face, and with six other artiists for company was an exhilerating experience. Artists who painted along with me are senior aritist Jagdish Kadur, Jyothirmoy (founder), Subodh, Sankar and Prabha.

'Plein Air' painting as it is popularly called in French; actually means 'painting nature on location'. It is the ultimate challenge for artiists of the realistic school of art to do this. I am looking forward to many more activities that is going to make our 'Bangalore Art Forum' a grand success.

Paintings of the White Gladiolus flower

These white Gladioli were so beautiful, that I was tempted to capture their beauty on canvas.

Hence a couplet painting originated. These paintings are done in acrylics on canvas of size 8"x13" each.

Write up in 'Enaadu' Telugu newspaper

I am extremely thrilled about this write-up on me, published in the Bangalore edition of the Telugu newspaper 'Enaadu' on 26-02-2009.

Star painting of 'Body Language art show - 'Woman picking rice'

Star painting 'Woman picking rice' which was picked up by a collector within hours of putting up display on the first day.

Click HERE to see all the paintings displayed at the 'Body Language' art exhibition.

Reminiscing about the art show Body Language

Exhibiting artworks in a gallery is a great ecperience for an artist because there is a first hand feed back for the artworks.

I was very happy to see visitors spending tens of minutes on each painting, viewing in silence and peace, or engaged in discussion abt the painting with a partner, while some of them took photographs with permission. But what warmed me was the fact that quite a few of them were profuse in telling me how they were affected by the paintings.

I had set up a guest book at the show and many of the visitors have written their comments on it.
Some favourites of mine ---

---- 'Very nice work. Something different, which common people like us can understand, feel it personally. I felt that each and every piece of work has touched my life somewhere. Its a part of my eveyday life.'

---'Actually I am also an artist, but these paintings are amazing. I am surprized and very happy to see these paintings. Excellent body language is shown here. Hats off to Usha madam. I am ur fan.'

---'One of my sights on paintings led me thru' a 'journey of life' . I never knew that the normal ubiquitous postcards in life can be translated through the brushes, thanks to M/s Usha for giving us such beautiful paintings. I say - simply great.'

----'Very down to earth works. You have done something which most of the artists ignore to do. ie., day to day life events. Really appreciate it'.

----'With all the chaos that modern art brings.... its such a relief , pleasure to see that you have actually captured the essence of India in all its splendour.

----'It is an experience no words can explain.'

Celebrities

Renowned senior fine-artist BKS Varma, and senior wild-life photographer Dr.Harinarayan Salunky gracing my show with blessings.

Painting of 'Reminiscing' - Body Language series

'Reminiscing' is an acrylic painting on canvas of size 20"x16". Popular painting at the 'Body Language' art show.

Painting of School boy - Body Language series

'School boy' is an acrylic painting on canvas of size 20"x20". Popular painting at the 'Body Language' art show.

Painting of 'Hot deals" body Language series

'Hot deals' is an acrylic painting of size 24"x30". A typical everyday scene of an Indian roadside market-place where all the deals take place in the hot sun (pun) hence the 'hot deals'.

Painting of 'Panche' - Body Language series.

'Panche'/white dhoti is a traditional attire of the South Indians even to day. Most comfortable dress -the men swear! Folding the panche whenever u want is a great advantage.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure. It is certainly one of a kind dress. 'Panche' is an acrylic painting of a South Indian man wearing a white dhoti folded for convenience; in the hot sun represented by the bright orange color, and the direct shadow below in red, indicating that the sun is at noon.

Painting of the 'pensive' man. - Body Language series.

The body language of a man lost in thoughts is a very interesting sight. At such times, he gets oblivious to his surroundings, and sometimes does not even realise that people are talking to him. 'Pensive' is a painting of one such man wearing a transparent shirt, and hands in pockets, his body language showing his pensive mood.

Pensive is an acrylic painting on canvas of size 20"x16" belonging to the 'Body Language' series.

Potrait painting of 'The Golden Lady' - Body language series

I was mesmerized by the 'body languge of this lady in her 'Golden Years'. The smile on her face and the casual attitude of holding a steel tumbler (glass) in her hands made me feel that - here is one lady, who has finished all her duties of life, now settled down enjoying her life with a sip of hot coffee.

'The golden lady - 2' is an acrylic painting of size 20"x16", that will be on display at my art show in Chitra Kala Parishad Bangalore - from 1st to 8th Feb.

Painting of Indian women wearing sarees and flowers

Women in Sarees wearing flowers

I find that the Indian saree coupled with the strand of jasmine flowers worn by the Indian woman is the most unique attire in the world. It can only be carried off by the Indian ladies with such great ease of style.

Such a common sight in India, but how many of us have the time for a second look. It gave me great pleasure doing this painting.

'Indian women in sarees and flowers' is an acrylic painting of size 16"x20".
This painting will be on show from 1st to 8th Feb 2009 at Chitra Kala Parishad - Bangalore.

'The cart vendor' and 'Mason' - 'Body Language' series - The Indian scene

'Out' and 'The tendor coconut vendor' -Body Language series - The Indian scene

Preparing for 'Body Language' art show

For the past few days I have been busy getting ready for my art show 'Body Language' to be held from 1st to 8th Feb 2009, at 'Chitra Kala Parishad' art complex at Bangalore India.

Designing my invitation for the show has been an interesting part of the preparation. I enjoyed it as much like doing a painting. Then came the covers, and then the printing, and then the mailing list, and so on and on. Not to mention the final touches of the paintings, and making sure I have signed on all my paintings.

An interesting part of the show is that I am yet to see how people take to realistic paintings, in this day of abstracts. I decided to test this by putting up the short video of a 'sneak peek' at my paintings on various Indian art sites like the 'Indian Art News', and the new 'Freedom of expression movement' sites, and was pleased to see there has been positive response from fellow arists.

With just ten more days to go for the exhibition, I have decided to upload my newest works on to my blog for the benefit of my email subscribers local and abroad; and for those who will not be able to make it personally to the show.
So my subscribers can expect almost an email a day; of my latest paintings of the 'Body Language' series in the following couple of weeks. Happy viewing, and hope u enjoy the paintings as much as I enjoyed painting them.

GREETINGS 2009

LET US WELCOME THE NEW YEAR WITH A SMILE!

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR 2009

'SMILE PLZ' - oil painting - 12"x16"

Cap on Cap off

T he year 2008 will soon come to an end paving way for the new year 2009.

This is couplet painting of a young boy happily showing off his cap. Acrylics on canvas, size 16"x20".

Cricket painting - the batsman

In India, cricketing is great passion, and almost a way of life for some.

I remember listening to radio commentaries of cricket during my college days, which has greatly contributed to the popularity of cricket in India even to this day. Today there are exclusive TV channels dedicated to the cricket game.

It is only natural that I decided to do a cricket painting to add to my 'Body Language' series.

'The Batsman' is an acrylic painting of size 12"x16"done in fauvist style with vivid colors. Here the focus is on the body language of the batsman who is leaning forward, poised to face the ball. But the batsman's bat is not actually visible except in the shadow, indicating its presence.

Painting of The Cart Vendor

This is a painting of an Indian Cart Vendor pushing his cart with his wares. He is wearing the usual head dress that protects him from the hot sun, and is in a folded lungi and a white shirt.

The background of this painting is abstracted and done with the 'glazing' technique to give the wonderful rich green color. Whereas the turban and shirt is done with the 'impasto' technique.

This is an acrylic painting on canvas of size 12"x16" readied for the 'Body Lanuage' show.

Painting of a woman in a saree selling pooja plates

In India, most temples sell pooja plates in front of the main entrance to facilitate pilgrims to do pooja inside the temple. Many men and women line the entrance selling pooja plates early morning, as pilgrims start coming even by 6 am.

This is an acrylic painting of a woman selling pooja plates, of size 16"x18"

Close up of the Indian tender coconut vendor

My fascination for the Indian tender coconut vendor continues. I chose to paint a close up this time, hoping to capture the interesting contours on the face caused by the 12 o clock sun.
I also hope to have captured the body language showing his style and the self confidence in his work.
This is an acrylic painting of size 12"x16". Please click HERE to see how this painting will look if it is framed.

Home Makers

I have been busy lately painting and getting prepared for my upcoming show in February. Hence the long intervals between posts. Just once a month nowadays.

Here is a glimpse of what you can expect at my upcoming show. It is all about Indian people and their body language that I see everyday around me. This show will also give everybody a glimpse today's India.

'Home Makers' is a painting of three Indian women literally building homes. You can see in this painting, two women in sarees and a young girl wearing a lehenga and blouse carrying bricks. It happens only in India, as they say. This is an acrylic painting of size 18.5"x15".

For a framed view of this painting, click HERE.

Painting of an Indian woman in a saree, picking rice.

This is a painting of an Indian woman clad in the traditional saree, seated on the floor - cleaning rice, by picking at the tiny stones that sometimes is found in the rice. She has chosen a sunlit corner of her house to do this comman household work.

'Woman picking rice' is an acrylic painting of size 12"x16". Click HERE to have a framed look of this painting.

Painting of the Indian tendor-coconut vendor selling coconuts

I have been rather busy for the past month (painting of course). I have a show coming up in February 2009, and I have been working on it. But I intend to find time to add to my blog now and then, some of the paintings that I plan show at the exhibition.

Here is the painting of 'The tender coconut vendor'. In India, during summer, at 12 noon when the sun is right above our heads, the tender-coconut vendors appear like magic on cycles to quench our thirst.

The vendors neatly tie the tender coconuts in bunches, load it on their bicycles and deliver it at our door steps, even if you live in the remotest streets of India. Not to worry as to how to break open the coconuts. It is a pleasure to watch the vendors shave off the edge of the tender coconuts with a specially designed knife, punch a hole, insert a drinking straw, and serve it with such finesse. Indeed we are blessed with such service.

The tender-coconut vendor is a painting done in acrylics on canvas of size 12"x16".

Click HERE to see a framed view of this painting.

Painting of CROTON plants Foliage series

My fascination for the croton plant continues. Here is another one for the 'Foliage series'. This time I did whole plants instead of just the leaves.

Croton plants - is an original acrylic painting of size 9.5"x7.5".

Click HERE for a framed view of this painting.

Portrait of my Mother

In memory of my mother who had loved and lived well. Painting one's own family involves a lot of feelings. I just hoped to capture the radiance and love she always spread when she entered a room with her million dollar smile.

Painting of the Hampi Pillars-a traditional Indian scene

'Pillars of Hampi' is an oil painting of the pillars of the traditional great Hampi Temple. The size of this painting is 12"x16".

This painting is a part of the series called the 'Essence of India', in which I am painting the various typical traditional scenes of India.

In this painting the evening sun lights up the pillars of Hampi and also the coconut trees that border the pillars above them like a crown.

click HERE for a framed view of this painting.

New blog called 'Buy Usha's original paintings'

Hi all

Due to requests from my well wishers, I decided to start this new blog called 'Buy Usha's Original Paintings'. You may have to subscribe again to this blog to receive emails of paintings that I will be listing for sale.

Have a nice day!