Tanush and Tikta

Tanush and Tikta, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

...sometime last year.. Tanush wasn't well that day, I remember. Manu had stayed up for most part of the night, taking care of him. I had been up off and on, but better rested than Manu. Afternoon they both fell asleep with Tanush on Manu's lap. When I finished cooking and cleaning, they were still in the same position - I decided not to wake them up and sketched them instead.

Faces

10 Faces, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Some faces that came to mind, when I was sketching a age for The Sketchbook Project. I took 20 secs on each face. I can recognize each of them - I am not sure you would be able to though LOL.

For I Remember You

New Delhi

New Delhi, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

My memory of my birthplace is like a fresh early morning breeze.. with the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan against a foggy haze standing strong against the pink twilight hues...

As majestic as New Delhi is with its strong history and lovely architecture, there was always this softness and innocence in its air like the crape jasmine that grew outside almost all the houses I knew!
I used to treat it with just as much importance as the fragrant white jasmine. I couldn't understand why mom wouldn't want to place that in front of God, or why the phoolwalas wouldn't sell this flower..

Maybe it was my childhood, but I loved the city and all the small and big things it had with all my heart!

For I Remember You..

Briti - Pre Sketch

Briti, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

HB and 2B Pencil on sketchbook.

This was my Pencil presketch for Briti's final watercolor portrait.. I made it for a value study before I got to painting it.. The face doesn't really match up with the little girl's, but the shades helped me place the colors the way I did.. 

I recorded the next few steps too..

I decided to submit this one for the Sketchbook Project.

I Remember You as Tanush's First Friend

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

.. I Remember You..

I remember the day Amma and Appa took Pras and me to one of Ruskin Bond's Book Signing functions. I had started reading his books since a few months ago.. and I had been talking about it all the while..

I love the way he wrote a scene. It used to feel very real; the scenes were more modern.. Ruskin Bond is of Anglo Indian descent and his stories were set around the post independence India in places where he had grown up.. I still love to think about his stories...

This was from a photograph that appeared in the Indian national daily, The Hindu

This is for the Sketchbook Project

Dwarakesh

Dwarakesh, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

I Remember You as Tanush's Friend..

We would be heading to India, and we would definitely miss you, little guy! I hope we are able to meet up sometime.. Tanush and Dwarakesh were always a treat to watch when they were together.. He'll call Tanush as Tan-anna!

.. for Sketchbook Project

Briti

Briti, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Watercolor on 9 X 12, Cold Press 140 lb.

Briti is Tanush's first friend! And I'll always remember her that way! First friends are always special right!?
They both have been friends from even before they could walk! Maybe even stand!! And thanks to them, we met some real lovely people who'll always stay warm in our thoughts!

Panera Bread

Panera Bread, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Watercolor pencils on Hand.book Journal

Plein Air..

.. Sketched it sitting in my car, for a little more than an hour..
.. Got hungry..
.. Got out of the car, walked across the road, and into Panera..
.. Enjoyed a delicious hot bowl of soup and a sandwich..

Gray

Gray, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

I drew this page sometime in Jan last year..
But it matched the exact scene today.. white snow, pale white roofs, and pale white sky..
But I am glad it snowed finally.. Fresh snow floating and flying in the wind.. I like the night scenery when it snows. Everything looks bright and festive, thanks to the snow, which reflects any light around it!

Snowman

Snowman, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Watercolor inktense pencils in daily journal.

Sometimes moments turn into pleasant memories too soon...

I don't want to give this gift away! I don't want to sell my bed.. I don't want to sell my car.. I don't want to go anywhere! This is my home! This is where I made lot of memories..!

(I also dedicated the above statement to a dear friend of mine, who just lost her most loved one! May God be with her in all her moments.. Give her strength)

Cars on the road

Cars on the road, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

One day I decided that I am going to make use of the 45 min drive to our destination, as time for sketching.. I am glad I did, because we had a traffic jam too and we were stuck on the freeway for about 30 extra mins.. Didn't get a chance to trail different cars, as they hardly moved, but had enough time to sketch a few of them... Hubby was sad that he was behind the wheel!

The Flag

The Flag, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Watercolor pencils on Handbook sketchbook 

This flag was majestically flying near a diner.. It was, but, torn on the top stripe.. and it looked like the storm was being harsh on it.. I drove by it to drop Tanush at his school, but on my way back, the flag against all those nasty gray growling clouds seemed to be asking for a picture! It made me park opposite and capture it in my sketchbook...

A lousy plein air sketch - I had only 5 watercolor pencils.. No amount of touch ups with a bit of watercolor could rescue it...

BTW, they still haven't changed that flag :(

Tanush's Pediatrician

Tanush's Pediatrician, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

An old sketch today.. I have quite a collection of old sketches that I am yet to scan/photograph and upload..

I loved how the raindrops had settled on the windows of the car here.. I was so happy about the 10 mins that we had before the appointment. Tanush didn't mind; he was also happy listening to a favorite song on the radio.. I asked him if I could take some time to draw, and he answered like a grown up - "Go on Amma!"

I (am forced to) Remember You

I (am forced to) Remember You, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Yes, though I would rather just forget that you exist, I am forced to remember you every day because of the latest sensation that you have stirred up with 'Why This Kolaveri'..

But I decided that I will pay my respects for the other song that you created history in Tamil Film industry with.. Manmatha Rasa! That started a whole string of electrifying dance sequences without which, now, no Tamil movie is complete! This started it all!

Now, the songs are sometimes faster than the dancers can handle! So they wear their costumes and dance their usual speeds and the post production fast forwards the scene so that it matches with the tempo of the song...

But Salute you for this one!

Here is adding ONE more for my sketchbook project!! Isn't it a wonderful study of Black and White composition!? Each frame was a 20 sec sketch! :)

Auburn hills Library - Completed

Auburn hills Library - Completed, a photo by teshionx on Flickr.

Plein air, Cold Press 140lb, WN Watercolors

Happy New Year!!!

Today, finally the sun came out.. and I could take a good picture of the painting, which I had completed some time ago.. I had taken a few photographs in good light previously too, but they had all come out slightly shaken.

This time, there was not much bright sunlight this Summer, in Michigan. I had been sketching other places in gloomy settings while this painting remained a work-in-progress for quite some time. I finally got a good sunny day and went to the library for finishing the painting. What was surprising was that, for the entire one hour that I sat there finishing the last session of the painting, there was beautiful bright sunlight. Then I left the painting on the car passenger seat and went to the library to pick up some holds. By the time I checked them out and came out, the weather had turned gloomy and we had our first Winter snow flurries! I was amazed! It was such a beauty! Now, some beautiful things, can NOT be captured by camera or sketch! It has to be felt and enjoyed!

If you were following, the WIP link is here.