Peekaboo

Poised

This was a piece I had made long back because of a forwarded mail that had the picture of the head of a peacock. It suddenly dawned on me that all this while, I had rarely paid attention to the expressiveeyes of the bird. I couldn't conjure up a picture of the expressions of a peacock in my mind. I guess it's true - tagsstay. I've only known of the plume of the peacock that marks the celebration of rain. Oh the cliche of an image, the harangue of a reference!

What would a picture of a peacock be that introduces the bird - sans the burden of the cliche? How would the peacock feel if I stripped it off the cliche? Coy with gratitude? Is there anything else that my mind associates the bird with? What would be the sum of my thoughts about that one emotions or expression that only a peacock can be the epitome of? Umm... let me think... Dignity - poised with dignity.

I'm so proud of this picture from my mind's antics... I could hug it everytimeI see it! But do I feel possessive about it? Let me get back to you after once I've gifted it to the friend who wants it worse than I do. See you with this same thread of thought in a month,then! :)

The Newly Marrieds

I've been wondering what would be an ideal gift for two of our very close newly married friends. I needed it to be in the groom's favourite colour - red, with a tough of the bride's tenderness (oh, she's sugar!) and sealed with our wish for a wonderful lifetime of togetherness ahead for them. This picture, from my mind, seemed to say it all.

I really wish they like it. I know it's not amazing, but I also know, I worked all night working at it. And for that reason alone, it's special to me!

The Coy Missus

This was a delight to work on! Without augmenting the colour-contrast, this picture tells you the colours the way they are in my painting - the red are really that radiant and yellows really yell that loud! I wanted to have a softer background to the more in-your-face colours here and there was nothing that matched a cloudy sky to a sunny painting. Doesn't this remind you a typical old-fashioned English couple where the Missus is coy at her introduction to a roomful of guests and the Mister's grinning with pride at his damsel's daintiness?

Having said that, I do realise that I got a little carried away with my strokes as I moved the painting all around on my desk. This isn't a study in light and shadow that would have made this painting all mosre luminiscent. It's really a rot of glaring colours - just something I need to pep myself up for the upcoming weekend!!!

Sunny tulips - an experiment

I wanted to make two huge tulips with all the floral colours possible when the sun seeps through the petals. It didn't turn out the way I had intended, but that's the real reason for putting it up here - I promise to make another attempt at it and ensure it looks less like a disaster and an experiment.

With this painting, I've learnt the importance of:

• A detailed under-drawing
• A ready reference picture to keep track of your brushstrokes
• The quality of paper in watercolour painting - it seems to me the single biggest factor in ensuring a good result!