Be yourself. Be original.
I have always believed artwork should be original. It should be the expression of an individual’s ideas, personality and believes, and that particular individual’s only.
You are what you paint.
I paint primarily with transparent watercolors, with occasional touches of gouache for highlights. I love watercolor since it’s the most free form of expressing oneself, with the help of water. My heart would be the happiest if I can make colors flow in water on paper and commingle with each other, to achieve the effect I want to achieve.
When I need to do a quick sketch, I would also use graphite pencils and watercolor pencils. They help me to capture the moment and practice my hand and brain.
Most of my paintings start from real life observations. I would go into nature to do plein air in pencils/watercolors and convert them to finished watercolors back in my studio.
I copy from masters too, only to study and learn their technics. I have studied works from two masters so far, Mr. Joseph Zbukvic and Mr. Milind Mulick. Both are the best living watercolorists, with different styles and preference of colors. The more I study their magnificent works, the more I realize I need to learn.
I have started taking portrait classes from renowned artist Ms. Sherry Camhy in NYC since 2021. I am hoping I will learn enough about portraiture to add portraits to my watercolor works.
Thanks to the boom of zoom class during covid-19 pandemic, I am able to start attending Mr. Amit Kapoor’s watercolor workshops online since 2022. I am learning to be suggestive and giving illusion of details in watercolor.
Life is a learning process. It never stops.
Go paint.