Summer zest

While Bangalore is recording highest summer temperatures in 25 years , I have recorded my fastest painting this year (ever actually). I started this mural in Feb and finished it by mid-March. Even for the simplest of paintings, I take my own sweet time ranging from 2-4 months on an average. Definitely a record of sorts!

I figured it may be a good idea to share how murals are done (for those interested of course)

1. Start with a small & colourful picture. Canvas boards are available anywhere.

2. Draw your picture.

3. To get an uplifting image, I used M-Seal (yeah the one used to fix leaky taps) everywhere except the faces, hands & legs. You can use clay too. If it seems too cumbersome, simply paint & omit M-seal/clay. It won't really matter as it is used to enhance the painting (a la cosmetics).

4. M-seal (if used) has to be rolled evenly and stuck with fevicol.

5. Paint with fevicryl colours.

6. Apply varnish evenly (1 coat) and you're done! 

It isn't as complex I can assure you. If you are used to dabbling with colours, you can try this yourself. If you are not, then it is better to take classes. Not because it is difficult, but only because you wouldn't know to correct your mistakes. That's the most important thing I have learnt when I went for classes. Shading, painting, tapping et al you would be able to manage fine. Its when you botch up the painting that you are put to test. I have done camels and goats that looked like dogs always and well, ummm ... they still do ;-) 

I'm done with large paintings for this year. I literally put my 'sweat & toil' into this one. Fevicryl paints dry in seconds and there is a lot of shading work to do, so I couldn't work with the fan switched ON. I regretted doing this in summer. Thankfully there are not too many mosquitoes where I live. Had they been there, I'm sure my board would've had a few dead ones here and there!! Whether you like my painting or not, don't leave this page without a mention about my windows. I had to take measurements & fit in equal number of grills in each window. First in pencil, then paint. Needless to say, by the time I completed one window I was ready to do 8 more ladies in place of the remaining 3 windows. Observe closely and you will notice varying thickness of the window grills - signs of my impatience. I know I will never get a job as a civil engineer or interior designer :-)

I plan to do more of phool-pata (landscapes) for the rest of this year. I have done 2 but I want to be able to paint just about anything that is front of me someday. It is my view that talent such as this is inborn in a lucky few. In my case however, it is just an interest that I developed over the years. Hopefully, I will continue to do so. 

I came across this quote I liked; I can't give due credits to the author as it was anonymous. 

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"

** In case anyone in Blr wants to learn, leave your e-mail id in my comment box & I will send details of where I learnt!