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.

Barn & Farmhouse

This is my first effort after attending Dhruba Mazumder's watercolour workshop. It is based on a reference photograph of the same name by Irv made available on WetCanvas to participants in the Monthly Pen & Ink Project - May 2014.

I used a Khyati watercolour A4 pad for this. This was the first time that I was using this paper and I found it very different to what I had used during the later stages of the workshop. I found the difference very disconcerting but managed to complete the painting.  

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.

The Hero of the Park

This is a sketch of a very lovely tree that dominates the Nageswara Rao Park at Luz, in Mylapore, Chennai. I sketched this with a black ink gel pen on location and added the watercolour washes at home.

Portrait Sketching at Nageswara Rao Park

My friends and I decided to meet at Nageswara Rao Park, in Mylapore, Chennai to sketch at an open air morning concert in the park. But we were disappointed to learn that the event was not on that morning. My friends decided to do portrait sketches of some of the park regulars and persuaded some of the to sit for them. I decided to do a sketch of this activity and made an initial sketch in ink and then added the watercolours 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.