Here's to Being Spontaneous!

So, after months of being away I've finally been able to paint again, so here's something I threw together. Basically, I tried my hand at something more abstract (I think I had some Pollock on my mind) and this came out.

Bathing Elephant Calf

Acrylic on canvas. The background is a mixture of pthalo blue, ultramarine, cobalt blue, and cerulean blue, with a hint of black. I wanted to get a dark velvety look for the base, and then i splattered it with gold paint. Over that is just a few simple brushstrokes to indicate the elephant. I chose this electric blue simply because, well, I love blue! The squirting water effect was achieved by putting a drip of very watery paint and then blowing so it spreads out (thank you Sanatan for your help with that). Very skilled technique, I know. A few more blue splatters, a bit of white for the eye, and voila! A fun painting completed :D

Enjoy.

New Painting!

After about a year I finally started painting again. It seems I took a break for a while to work on my drawing and sketching skills, producing artworks on paper using pencils and inks. I decided it was time to get back to paint on canvas and borrowed an easel from my future mother-in-law (who happens to be a wonderful artist!).

I began work on this miniature painting a few weeks ago and took photos of my progress as I went along. This is really fun because I get to see the development of my painting afterwards.

I started by applying a wash of reddish-brown acrylic paint on the canvas, to give the painting a warm undertone. Then I drew a rough outline with paint of what I wanted the painting to look like, as shown below.


After that, I began blocking in the background colours. I find it is best to begin with the background and then work towards the foreground of your painting, that way you give a good amount of attention to the background without dismissing it. I painted the sky, outlined some clouds, made a reflection on the river,and used a toothbrush to spray some paint on the ground to create "sand".


I then started working on the foliage, using blobs of grey-green for leaves. I also developed the sky and sun, using orange, yellow, and red to create a sunset. And I created my horizon on the other side of the river bank.


After I was satisfied with my sky I developed the trees and plants a bit more, and got to work on the under painting of the figures. I used this method of working from "back to front" in order to establish depth. The sky is behind the trees, which are behind the figures, everything is overlapping.


Then I got to work on the details of their faces and skin, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create depth. All the while working to enhance the background as well.


Then I began working on giving depth and detail to their clothes and jewellery, still working on their skin and the background all the time. For the flowers I paint white underneath before adding the pink, this helps the colours pop out from the background.


Finally I added detail to their clothes and jewellery, painted the finishing touches on the flowers and leaves, and signed my name. Here is the completed painting.

Radha-Shyamasundar
by Radhika Bianchi, 2009

A Poem and a Painting

This is a poem I wrote describing Krishna. It is written from the perspective of his mother, Yasoda. Dusk has fallen and Krishna still has not returned from the pastures, so Yasoda becomes anxious and begins to ask of Krishna's whereabouts, describing Him to everyone including the plants and animals.

Krishna

I’m looking for a little boy.
Have you seen him today?
His eyes are bright and filled with joy,
They look just like a summer’s day.

His skin is blackish, tinged with blue,
A monsoon cloud up in the sky.
Soft lips display a reddish hue
And on his bamboo flute they lie.


With peacock feathers in his bun,
And pearls adorn his long black curls.
His smile is brighter than the sun,
It steals the hearts of all the girls.

A garland swings around his neck
With flowers fragrant and sweet.
With gold and jewels he is bedecked,
And tinkling bells around his feet.


His cheeks are pinkish, soft and round
Like roses blooming in the spring.
With lotus eyes so deep and brown
He makes the hearts of Vraja sing.

His face is bright like the full moon,
Framed by earrings that glisten.
When on his flute he plays a tune
Even the birds sit still and listen.