Ceramic Mermaid and Peacock Murals with Glass Finish

Here comes my first trial on ceramic mural (3D). I learned the techniques in a workshop from invited artists from Jaipur. It was an amazing experience starting from using the M-seal to the finishing touch.

Here is the one which I learned and made during the workshop, a big, almost 16X 20 sized oval 3D mural, with an antique glass finishing. Obviously to mention that the face is done by the “Karigar” himself and to get into that perfection really needs a skill and lot of practice.

As I do always, once the workshops are done, is to go and buy the materials and keep it in store. With that, I started on my first trial, a solo trial, on an A4 sized MDF board. I chose a simple picture of a “Peacock” and traced it on the MDF board. The materials used were:

·         White M-Seal (for the sculpting work)

·         Different tools for the patterns (simple tools like wooden knife, toothpick, backside of a pen, different patterned objects etc)

·         Powder (to smoothen down the surface)

·         White acrylic paint

·         For rest of the shading and coloring part “Oil colors” are used (base was turpentine)

And this is how it looks as I was done with the M-seal work, and the initial part of white coat and oil color shading of yellow and green are done.

The final finishing was done by "BOSNY" acrylic spray (glossy one) followed by a glass finishing using epoxy resin coat. After drying it for 4-5 hours, the final piece was done and here is the picture:

Initial M-seal work is a little tedious and time consuming and can get a little messy too!! After that, the coloring part was really enjoyable and yes, once the finishing is done the product really looked amazing to me. I made my first 3D ceramic mural :)

Lady in Red

Well, my first trial on paper quilling on figures. The picture is taken from an old greeting card and then quilled with the black strip to get the outline. Beehive technique is used to make the RED gown of the Lady, along with acrylic paintings in some parts.I loved making the Roses and the Malaysian flower in the middle. :) The leaves are made with simple combing technique.

Anirban specifically told me to make the gown RED and this is dedicated especially to him. That's all ......a simple way to convert any picture that you like to a beautiful quilled piece and also to convey something special to your special ones through your own creation :)

The complete picture....here it goes:

to you with LOVE :)

NATARAJA AND LADY WITH A FLUTE

After a long thought process, I finally started with my first blog. Past 6-8 months were full of excitements for me as I realized a new "Me" in myself through the learning phases of different arts and crafts. Science and Art have no conflict. I am a devoted Scientist at work, but I do feel that there was always an "Artist" inside me, waiting to introduce herself in the mesmerizing world of infinite creativity. I can also leave some mark through my work, although still at the amateur phase.

 Even though spending most of my weekly time on research and household activities, when it comes to giving some time and space for yourself, I have decided to choose arts and crafts. I realized it late, but better late than never!

I started learning paper quilling (a beautiful Italian craftwork), since November 2012, and that's when I slowly started to accomplish the "passionate me". I learned different forms of paper quilling, glass paintings, mural paintings, ceramic work, jewelry making and still the list goes on. Learning has no end. And if it is something related to art and creativity its just infinite.

So, after this big introduction I would like to start with my experiences and different steps of learning a Kerala style canvas Mural painting. I am not a professional painter, but yeah, I did have some training during my school days when along with other kids I also used to go to a painting school. I got my basic training on sketches and colors then, but after that a long break of 20 years to get re-started with painting again, and also first time on a canvas and I was super-excited.

I went to a hobby class near my home in Bangalore and learned two different types of mural art. The word "Mural" originally signifies any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. This was not in a wall, though, but a miniature mural painting on canvas. The canvas size was 16 X 20 inches and the colour used was "Artist Grade Acrylic Colours" (instead of the original vegetable colour that are used for mural paintings,largely seen on the temples in Kerala).

The learning phase was brilliant, starting from tracing technique, giving multiple coats of color "wash" to the canvas to the final finishing touch using waterproof drawing ink. I learned how to use acrylic colors on canvas, how to be patient while applying the several coats of washes (dilute colors) to it.!! Here are the steps as I understood:

1. Tracing the complete picture on canvas using pencil carbon (one needs to learn what to trace and what to not!)
2. Giving an orange outline to it and then giving an initial wash to the canvas to clean it up
3. Start with the yellow (yellow ochre) wash first. (multiple times, 4 coats look ok)
4. Then start with the orange washes and shadings (I learned what should be the ideal brushing technique for shading)
5. Then washes and shadings with other colors (mostly green and Prussian blue).
6. Drawing different patterns like "Ra-Ra-Ra" (mostly seen in the borders and the jewelry)
7. And finally applying the final outlining with the black ink, and the finishing touches that give it that "mesmerizing" look.

I felt that the patience and time that went for a single painting is worth doing, especially out of the reward one gets after the painting is complete !!

So here's come my NATARAJA ....that I learned in the class.

I felt so much overwhelmed that I kept looking into the picture again and again and started collecting different mural pictures from the internet to make my own library.
I started soon with my second attempt and here is a step by step progress with my next creation of mural painting (12 X 16 inches) on canvas, which I named as "LADY WITH A FLUTE"

 1. Yellow washes were done

 2. Orange washes and shadings are done

3. Greenwashes and shadings

4. The black outlining and making the "ra-ra-ra's"

 And the FINAL one :)

Hope you enjoy this and there's more to come :)

With love
Rakhi