Madurai skyline

This is a quick and rough watercolour sketch done in a pocket sketchbook of the view from the 6th floor of Hotel Thangam Grand, Madurai. My wife and I stayed at this hotel during our heritage tour of the region with Mystical Palmyra. Breakfast was served in the rooftop restaurant and this view of the distant Madurai Meenakshi Temple was an added bonus.

Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Madurai

My wife and I visited this place  along with a cultural tour group called Mystical Palmyra. We were part of a very enjoyable heritage tour organised by them of the Madurai region of Tamilnadu in southern India. We got to the palace shortly before sunset and that is why there are no shadows. Even the colours were muted. But the scale, the detailing, and the workmanship were all very impressive. We capped off the visit by taking in a very nice light and sound programme.

Silk Weaver, Kancheepuram

On a recent visit to Kancheepuram we visited a silk weavers' co-operative, where I made this very quick sketch in my pocket sketchbook in ink, and then coloured it later at home. Although I have made it look light and airy the weaver was actually working in a dark confined space and I had difficulty making out many of the details. The weaver had a light attached to the bottom of one of the crosspieces of the loom to light the sari that he was weaving, and he and the loom were mainly in silhouette.

Thappattam Dancers at Lalit Kala Akademi

Recently the Chandra Ilango Art Foundation had arranged for a traditional drummer group to perform at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai and had invited many artists to come and make an artwork on location based on this performance.  The event was very well attended and a huge success.

I had gone to the event only to watch and learn and with no intention of sketching. But once I was there, and after seeing so many artists sketching and painting, I too was tempted. Fortunately I had my pocket sketchbook on me and, although I was overwhelmed by the movement and the spectacle, I managed a small static sketch with my gel pen. I then added the colours at home.

Abandoned

A narrow bridge was built in 1967 to connect two fishing communities on either side of the Adyar River in Chennai. The bridge collapsed in 1977 and was never re-built. It is referred to as the Broken Bridge. On a recent visit to this location I noticed this boat dry docked under the bridge. I made a quick sketch in ink in my pocket sketchbook and added the colour at home.

Mandapam Within Chitrakulam

Mylapore, in Chennai, is a very ancient settlement. The old and the new jostle for space here. Chitrakulam is a small temple tank adjacent to the more famous Kapaleeswarar Temple and my sketch shows a mandapam or small pavilion within this tank. Under ideal conditions this tank would be brimming with water and the mandapam would stand like an island in the centre. But the rains have failed so far and the tank is dry. I sketched this with a gel pen in my pocket sketchbook and added the watercolour at home.

Besant Nagar Beach, Chennai

I went to Besant Nagar Beach to meet a friend but he was not on time. Waiting would have been a pain if I had not been carrying my Brahma Book (an Indian version of a moleskin) in my pocket. I made this quick sketch of the view in front of me with a gel pen and added the colours at home.

The Cross On Top Of St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount is a small hill near the Chennai Airport. There is a small church called the Church of Our Lady of Expectations on top of this hill. But it is more popularly known as Mount St. Thomas Church. It was built in 1523 A.D. by the Portuguese over the spot where St. Thomas was believed to have been killed in 72 A. D. My sketch shows a tall pillar with a cross mounted over it which is a relatively recent feature of many South Indian churches. 

Atop St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount is a small hill close to the Chennai Airport. it takes it's name from St. Thomas who is belived to have been killed on top of the hill in 72 AD (or CE as it is now referred to). A church was built by the Portuguese at that spot in 1523 AD. it is known as the Church of Our Lady of Expectations but is more popularly known as Mount St. Thomas Church. I was there with my sketching group a few weeks ago and sketched this on location with a gel pen and then added the colour at home.

Entrance Steps to the Universal Temple

This is last of the three sketches from my visit to Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, in Chennai. It shows the entrance steps leading to the Sri Ramakrishna Math/Mutt Universal Temple. I sketched this in my pocket sketchbook with a ball point pen and added the colour washes a week later. The sketch is 5.5" x 7".

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