Shrine at Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore, Chennai

The Sri Ramakrishna Mutt is a monastic order started in the 19th century by Saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The Chennai (or Madras) branch was started in 1887 and it moved to the present premises in 1907. What I I have sketched is a small shrine honouring the saint. I sketched this very quickly with a ball point pen on location and added the colour washes later at home. The sketch is approximately 5.5" x 7".

View From Siva Temple, Senji

This is the last of the five sketches that I did on my recent visit to Senji. The hill in the background is about 800 feet (249 metres) tall with a fort on top. It is known as Rajagiri and is one of the three hill forts that make up the Senji fort complex. I have sketched Rajagiri from within a temple a short distance from the foot of the hill.

Kalyana Mahal, Rajagiri, Senji

I did five sketches on my sketching group's visit to Senji (Gingee) Fort last month (Feb '14).   While on the road to this venue I had made up my mind to move out of my comfort zone (i.e. pen and ink) and do at least a few sketches in colour wielding a brush. But old habits die hard and my first sketch was once again with pen and ink. Before my next sketch I had to remind myself of the resolution I had made and even then I was reluctant to give up my pen. So, although I did use a brush and produce three sketches during this visit in colour, I started each of them with line sketches using a ball point pen.

This one is a sketch of Kalyana Mahal, a several centuries old seven storeyed building within the Rajagiri Precinct of Senji Fort.

Rajagiri, Senji

From this point onwards I shall be posting current work. This one was done a few weeks ago when I visited Senji along with my wife, daughter and many friends from the Chennai Weeknd Artists.

Rajagiri Fort at Senji (also referred to as Gingee) is approached through a roofed stone entranceway, and then through an arched pavilion. Once past the pavilion there is a fairly large area with many interesting buildings and of course, the 800 feet (240 metre) tall Rajagiri hill on which the fort itself is located. My sketch shows the view that you see as you come through the first entranceway. I sketched this in ink and then added some watercolour, both on location.

A few from 2013

Here are a few that I did in 2013. All of these are small sketches that I did in a small sketchbook called a Brahma Book. This is an Indian version of a Moleskin. It measures 9cm x 14cm (3.5" x 5.5") when shut. I generally open it out and use both pages together to get a 18cm x 14cm sketch (7" x 5.5"). I used a reference photo, which I took, for the first one.  I sketched the other three on location directly in ink and then added the watercolour washes.

Cleaning the Lawn

Egmore Station as seen from Buahari's Hotel

Valluvar Kottam Chariot

Semmozhi Poonga Ticketing Booth

Why a third blog?

For quite some time now I have wanted to paint. But somehow I end up drawing with pen, pencil or charcoal most of the time since I am more comfortable drawing rather than painting. But having retired recently I have more time on my hands for my hobbies. I have therefore finally decided to take the plunge and commit myself to doing at least a few watercolour sketches every week in addition to my dry media sketches. I intend using this blog to maintain a record of my progress. Hopefully I will see improvement and that will motivate me to paint on a regular basis.

I am now posting some of the colour work, in watercolour, watercolour pencils, colourpencils, and ink & colour,that I have done over the last few years, to show where I am at right now. In my next couple of posts I shall share what I have done recently and after that hopefully it will be a few new paintings or colour sketches every week.