Play with colors !

Once when I was into it, every thing started looking as if a painting by that great artist above. Colors started yelling in my head to give them escape on the canvas. And I painted painted and painted.

Dusk always brings not only mixed bag of emotions but plethora of colors on the canvas of western skies. I was longing to express that warmth from within on board. But it did not turn out to be that simple as was seen within. I was new to the medium, Acrylic, and it posed many unforeseen problems for me. Though they get dry much faster than the oils, mixing of colors to get the right, rather exact shade becomes too difficult. By the time you are ready to mix, the first  coat  has already gone dry and you are left high and dry ! And mixing with the dried coat is  impossible ! So the balance of time is extremely important. As soon as the first layer of color is about to get dry you have to be ready with another shade, in ample amounts, to start mixing. Here the strokes of the brush are very important. Once you start having another hue, you can not go back to adjust the previous tone otherwise everything gets mixed up and you get a totally different shade you never wanted ! 

Sky posed one, waters posed another problem.All the shades if  not done properly ,look flat .So for the reflections, the waves , the play of colors on the waters I had to use different techniques, thanks to my young teacher, and then it showed what I wanted to. Stormy sea in the background with golden hue, a stretch of sands in between with reflection of setting sun in its all regalia, full with warm colors.! The ghats and the canopies I drew and painted but looked static. To add the play of light and shades to them, made my enthusiasm take a back seat. But temporarily ! After lot of thinking and mixing of the colors I got the correct effect I wanted, but my hands took a toll as I had to keep them steady for a long, long time. After adding the small details I was happy with myself and felt, yes, it does give you inner peace !

The same place , same ghats at different times. I saw it on the frame of my mind and felt I must do it. This was bit easier, as by this time the use of brushes was easier in hands, had got the feel of colors and some more technique. And I was happy with myself. Is it not what you really want ? To be happy with yourself ?

The folds of the cloth worn around the head gave me much headache.Rather than working on it as whole, I went on painting in pieces and got the results I wanted.The old lady is sick so the bluish lips. The eye which is visible shows life, while one may get the feel of other behind the semi transparent cloth of headgear, tried hard to get the effect. Deliberately left to paint the eye of other lady to keep the feel of 'Painting' which I never wanted to be realistic !

Famous sculptor Late B.Vitthal once had taught me that'The colors in the back ground have to come from colors you use to paint the main figures.' I used the tip and the figures stood out. I do not want to go into details of the last one, How is it ? You tell me.

My tryst with colors will definitely continue but what the hell to do with the life around you that's trying to engulf you all the time , how to deal with that journey ?