Learning to photograph paintings to look close to what they are in life is something I’m working on.

Take this painting for example. I took a close-up (below) first, less that a foot away and a second one (above) from a distance of around 3 ft. I found that the close-up shot had focused on surface details which you dont see while viewing even if you go up close to peer at it. In the second one the surface details have disappeared almost completely. The actual piece is closer to the image on top - you can see a bit more colour on top than is visible here.

Keeping a distance from the source and later zooming in and cropping give a more faithful copy of the original.

There are a few subjects that never fail to inspire me. Father and child is one of them. This quick drawing made a while ago was based on a photograph in the newspaper but bears little resemblance. The look in their eyes or what I imagine to be there is what continues to draw me to this piece.

5″X7″ on handmade paper in my sketchbook

I don’t normally post incomplete work here but I’m away on a longish holiday (back in Sep) starting today. Posts here might be irregular. Wanted to put up something that I’m excited about in case it is a longer break in between posts than usual. Hoping to finish this and do a few more in this series when I return. Will write more about “Running with the Bulls” with the post on the finished piece.

36″ X 30″ acrylic on canvas. This is based on one of the inspiring photo refs taken by Oochappan. Used with permission.

Everyone is looking for answers to life, its meaning, what lies ahead, who we are and the list goes on and on. Sadhus, Indian holy men, have given up domestic life, its responsibilities and pleasures to search for answers. Hoping to find the key that will unlock the door. Hoping that behind it will be answers to all those questions. Hoping that it will lead to Nirvana. Sadhus lead a very austere existence and even though he is colourfully dressed here and leaning against an equally colourful door that’s not what his life is all about.

20″ X 16″ acrylic on canvas. Photo ref copyright Sanzen used here with permission.

People watching while waiting for a fare.

10″ X 12″ acrylic on canvas.

It’s a fairly common sight, here in Dhaka, to spot people on the road patiently reading newspapers. These have been pasted on walls by good samaritans for those who cant afford to buy them everyday.

“Catching up on news”, 6″ X 10″ acrylic on canvas.

Planning is on for an exhibition with 4 other artists later this year and I’m looking forward to it. You’ll find the details here as soon as it is finalised. This project will have me working towards a deadline and it’s something I’m looking forward to right now. I hope when the pressure mounts I dont regret feeling this way!

Watermelons are one of the best fruits to have in summer. It quenches your thirst in a jiffy. In Dhaka, you find street vendors selling slices of the fruit near bus stops to thirsty travellers.

The Watermelon Boy 2 is digital and made with Art Rage. Based on a photo ref by Anil Advani, used with permission.

Decided to take the day off from the two things that I’m currently working on - singing practice and a painting as yet unnamed. Managed to finish a ball point sketch this morning and then found this ref while looking for something else to sketch.

He was the mike technician at the recent exhibition inauguration at Chitrak. There was something about him and I knew immediately that I’d like to paint him. This is a digital study and I hope to use it for a larger painting in oil/acrylics.

Painted using Art Rage and a wacom tablet.

“Jantra” (tool) is the result of an intense and satisfying printmaking workshop with Shahid Kabir held at UODA on May 30th/31st ( extended later for another 10 days ). Having completed the previous workshop just a week before gave me a headstart and it was exciting to take the learning a step further.

There is an exibition, Kormoshala Chapchitra Pradarshini, of the work produced at the workshop at Gallery Chitrak for a week, starting June 13th, 2008.

Update : July 17th, 2008 : I had been told during the exhibition that a buyer had booked my print but was waiting for a confirmation. Today I met the Gallery owner and he handed me the money from the sale. Thrilling I must admit. It is the first time that I have had money in hand from a sale.  This brings the count of work sold to 3. Starting November this year, I shall begin a concerted effort to sell my work online.

And if you want to know a bit more about 4 printmaking techniques - etching, woodcut, lithography and screen print, check out the excellent step-by-step animated demo provided by MoMA.

Rokeya Sultana, a well known printmaker and a professor at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka invited me to attend a Printmaking workshop, “In search of Beautiful Impressions”. The 7-day workshop started on June 18th and was organized by the art college and sponsored by Bengal Foundation. Two well known Printmakers, Nirmalendu Das and Pinaki Barua from Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan conducted the workshop. There was even a demonstration by Monirul Islam on the first day. Leading printmakers, students and artists from other streams attended. It’s been a hectic and fun week of interacting and learning. Being back at an Art College has been a treat. Selected prints of the participants will be displayed at a special exhibition to be held at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts from 2nd to 4th of June.

This Lithograph of mine “Being an Aunt” will be a part of the display.

And if you want to know a bit more about 4 printmaking techniques - etching, woodcut, lithography and screen print, check out the excellent step-by-step animated demo provided by MoMA.

Update : June 1, 2008 : Exhibition details.

You are cordially invited to the inaugural ceremony of a three-day print exhibition In Search of Beautiful Impressions on Monday, 2 June 2008, at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts. This is a special show of prints produced in a workshop conducted by Prof. Nirmalendu Das and Prof. Pinaki Barua of Viswa Bharati University, Santiniketan. The printmaking workshop, organized jointly by the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka and Bengal Foundation, was held from 18 to 24 May at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka.

Prof. Dr. S M A Faiz, Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, will be present as Chief Guest to inaugurate the exhibition while artist Mahmudul Haque will be present as Special Guest.

* Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka
* Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts

Time and Venue: Monday, June 2, 2008 at 5.30 PM

Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts
Bengal Shilpalaya
House 275/F, Road 27 (old)
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1209
Tel.: 8123115, 9113115, Fax: 9146111

The exhibition will remain open till 4 June 2008, daily from 12 - 8 p.m.

Related Posts : 8 days a week, Masters of Print, Art College walk-about, On the 7th day