Ever Changing Nature

Nature has its own mysterious ways to offer drama, amusement, and sense of immediacy for us to enjoy and interpret in our own words and capacity. Most times, a gorgeous view humbles and delights in the manner nothing else can - leaving me speechless in awe and wonder.

In moments like this, not knowing what better can I do, I try to put my ever-ready hd-camera to some use. In this post, I would like to share the recent captures the fleeting scenes of clouds floating in the vast spread of blue skies. Here are some humble attempts to catch those moments.

I took this picture from the middle of the street. I had to make an pico-second emergency stop to appreciate the Van Gogh painting created in the sky.

In the week of Halloween, setting sun put up an immense show to attract the attention from the human festivities.

 Sky as seen after a rainy day, as it started to clear off. limitless screens of clouds set a grand stage.

Mission San Jose skyscape

When the clouds settle in the rearview.

 A cloud parade

An early morning sky in this Fall

Summer Sky

Clouds rest on the cross-street, while a horse jumps at the top

Clouds on the loose

A down-quilt of clouds enveloping the sky

A heart on horizon

Are you a nature lover? Do you like to watch sky? It would be nice to see what you have to share.

Portraits of National Parks - # 7 "Joshua Tree National Park, CA"

Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It’s characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley. (Source: Wikipedia)

Oil

2016

About the Artwork

This painting is signature landscape artwork I create. I chose sunlight as my guiding tool for the relative positioning of the planes and the rocky background. The colors are often dramatized as seen, not as are with some minor omissions in the selected frame.

The defining brush strokes are bold, loaded with paints, and very pleasing to art connoisseurs. Not sure if you can tell that from the photo, but I invite you to take a closer look when you can!

Portraits of National Parks - # 6 Grand Canyon National Park, Wy

Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Here is my humble attempt to paint something immensely grand.

This painting is impressionistic landscape artwork similar to other ones in the series. I choose orange yellow sunlight as my guiding tool for the relative positioning of the mountain planes and the shadowed areas caused by them. The colors are dramatized as seen, not as are.

This artwork and similar pieces are available in small, medium (up to 24″), and larger sizes.  The painting is unframed.

I am excited to share that it is also available in high quality canvas wrap with sides in black. For larger sizes’ prices and customized artwork, feel free to contact me at bhavna.misra@gmail.com.

The price range is based on the painted sq inch area. Being an independent artist, I am open for the reasonable offers. But if you like this one, I can assure you, you will love it manyfolds when you see it in person.

Portraits of National Parks - #5 Grand Teton National Park, Wy

Simple shapes and a perception of depth, these are the two key points I kept in mind while painting for this one. I laid out the basic drawing with the thinned paint in the hues of burnt sienna. Once satisfied with the layout, I painted the entire surface with only three values, both bookends and a middle tone. This helped me make the color decisions for the different areas and planes.

Rest is pretty much right here. Using thick layers of paint it was a delightful exercise to enjoy and recreate a nature-scape. Hope you'd enjoy it.

 Grand Teton

Oil

2016

Grand Teton National Park is in the state of Wyoming. It encompasses the Teton mountain range, the 4,000-meter Grand Teton peak, and the valley known as Jackson Hole.

It’s a popular destination in summer for mountaineering, hiking, backcountry camping and fishing, linked to nearby Yellowstone National Park by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

Portraits of National Parks - #4 Yosemite Falls, CA

                               

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

"Yosemite Falls"

Oil

2016

About 3.8 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend the majority of their time in the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, glaciers, and biological diversity. (Wikipedia)

 Details

  Details

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Portraits of National Parks - #3 Big Sur, CA

Big Sur is not a national park. Not even a national monument, it's a stretch of land of California’s central coast between Carmel and San Simeon. I still included it in this series for its beauty and the emotional attachment that I feel towards this lovely seascape.

Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, it’s traversed by narrow, 2-lane State Route 1, known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline. The sparsely populated region has numerous state parks for hiking, camping and beachcombing. 

I visited this area some 17 years ago, for the first time. I found the view very peaceful and inviting. It is now that I finally got a chance to paint what I saw then.

"Big Sur" Seascape

Oil

2016

Here are the details of the oil painting. 

Blobs of fresh paint, delight to painter

Light against dark, perspective through colors

A view of the palette

The painting is sitting to dry. Once it does, I will varnish it and possibly, frame it. Its been added to my website and soon will be updated on my online gallery and storefront.

What is your favorite nature destination? I would love to hear about it.

 

Upcoming Series : Portraits of National Parks

Art has given wings to my imagination and opened up the windows of limitless possibilities! Without art and creative outlet, I had never known the beauty and intrigue a simple piece of nature can hold. I feel very fortunate to have a life surrounded by the natural beauty and a gift to be able to express it into my way of interpretation.

 Color Study for the Upcoming Series - Portraits of National Parks

As I move along my new series here is the tentative plan. I would choose some of the national parks and a few other landscapes that I admire. There is no particular order but some of the shortlisted landscapes will include:

1. Big Horn Mountain, Wy
2. Glacier National Park, Mt
3. Big Sur, Ca
4. Echo National Park, Ut
5. Joshua Tree National Park, Ca
6. Grand Teton National Park, Wy
7. Denali National Park, Ak
8. Yosemite National Park, Ca
9. Grand Canyon National Park, Az
10. Acadia National Park, Me

Portraits of National Parks - #2 Glacier National Park, Mt

 

Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears. (Source: Wikipedia)

Its amazing beauty, colorfulness, and grace is impossible to miss among the landscape of national parks. I used a limited palette of colors as the vibrant natural contrasts capture the eye and bring a sense of calm.

"Glacier National Park"

Oil

12 x 16 approx

2016

I would love to know what's your favorite national park, here in US or anywhere else in the World?

Portraits of National Parks - #1 Bighorn Mountains, Wy

 The Summer has an elixiric effect on the creatives. Bleaching sun, longer days, and overload of inspiration - makes a perfect recipe to get outdoors and paint. This summer is especially generous and I could devote myself to some of the most beautiful national parks.

Growing up in the mountainous region, I have special bond and affinity for the beauty of grandeur and enormity that mountains offer us.

"Bighorn Mountains" - Portrait of National Park #1

Oil

12 x 16 unframed

2016 

This is a landscape of Bighorn Mountain range in northern Wyoming and southern Montana, forming a northwest-trending spur from the Rocky Mountains extending approximately 200 miles northward on the Great Plains.

Conveniently located halfway between Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, the Bighorns are a great vacation destination in themselves. No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape - from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, from crystal-clear lakes to glacially-carved valleys, from rolling hills to sheer mountain walls.

 Lush brushstrokes of cad yellow, cerulean blue and a mix of violets

Purple, pinks, and sienna in different proportions

Crimson, Rose accented on sienna and lemon yellow

I took artistic liberty to paint the scene with the colors that I saw, not the ones that were there. Painting nature made the heart sing, go wild, and be one with the nature. 

Oscar Inspired Portrait of a Baby Chimpanzee

Oil

24 x 24 approx

2016

"Proud as a Peacock"

 Any art portfolio seems incomplete without the painting of a peacock. So, here is my humble attempt to paint one.

 "Proud as a Peacock"

Oil

2016

The title of the artwork has been inspired by the following story -

In 1956, John J. Graham created an abstraction of an 11-feathered peacock logo for American broadcaster NBC. This brightly hued peacock was adopted due to the increase in color programming. NBC's first color broadcasts showed a still frame of the colorful peacock. The emblem made its first on-air appearance in 1956. NBC later adopted the slogan "We're proud as a peacock!" The current version of the logo debuted in 1986 and has six feather colors (yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green).  

Fearless Peacock in Ardenwood Farm

There are two Asiatic bird species Indian and African peafowl. Among the Asiatic species, his extravagant eye-spotted tail covert feathers which he displays as part of a courtship ritual. The term peacock is properly reserved for the male; the female is known as a peahen, and the immature offspring are called peachicks.

As with many birds, vibrant iridescent plumage colors are not primarily pigments, but structural coloration.

 
Indian peacock has iridescent coloration and large "train" of feathers that according to Darwin served to attract females, and the showy features of the males had evolved by the preferential selection.

In many cultures, peacock is often associated with wealth, good luck, and marital bliss.

Catholics adopted the symbol of the peacock to represent resurrection, renewal and immortality. This came from the ancient legend that the flesh of the peacock did not decay. In Hindu culture, the peacock is the vehicle of Lord Kartikeya, the god of war. Peacock feathers symbolize the fine taste, beauty, and perfection.




Kartikeya as painted by iconic painter Raja Ravi Varma

It is thus common to decorate with the imagery of peacock and/or peacock feathers. For more pictures and progress log on this artwork is wip. I hope to share it soon.

Staying Motivated: Thoughts on Creative Process

For those who are not in the creative fields, its somewhat hard to understand how each day affects the lives of the artists. As is, the creative process and the results both are examined and labeled based on the visual appeal and individual taste; in either case making the artist vulnerable.

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"It's somewhat hard to understand how each day affects the lives of the artists."
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At the top of it, the emotional state of the artists color the thought-process, creation, and  implementation which would eventually comes out as a product for everyone to judge. So, when it is one of those 'down' days an artist is going through, the results can be unpredictable.
It could be anywhere on the scale of okay to great! Its just unpredictable. But the problem arises when its so strong that it throws the creatives out of their zone and leaves them extremely unmotivated.  It can be damaging for anyone but its especially so in case of an artist. So when I was hit by one of those, I too felt very confused and downright sad.

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"If we don't have 'down' days, how would we appreciate the 'up' days."
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But I am grateful that I have a support system that helped me remind that it is not the end but one more challenge  towards the artistic journey. Things happen for a reason, it may not be so obvious at first but its a reminder that it has a purpose.
We have to face it, accept it, and possibly appreciate it for what it is. It is a matter of putting it into perspective - there is no dark without light. There would be no appreciation of light is there is no dark.

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"Face it, accept it, and possibly appreciate it."
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I am learning to focus on the fact that a casual, usual day is a blessing. The positive in the negative has a purpose - it helps us to be more thankful for what we have and how much more needs to be accomplished. Try to figure out ways to help those in need.
No matter what keep doing it, doing it anyway!

Staying Fluid

My work is on display at my studio, my site, shows, and through online outlets. Making my artwork available for everyone to view, is the process of sustaining and creating better art, an enjoyable and meaningful one.

Morning Fog

Oil

20" square

2016

Its been very hard to part with my work, but slowly, I have started to learn to respect letting go. Once an artwork is ready, it develops a life and personality of its own.  The artist needs to step back and allow it to chalk out its own journey from this point on.

Pink Floral

10 x 14 Approx

Oil on Board

2016

The artwork is then priced and put on a display.  The exhibit is an indicator that the artwork is now ready to be taken. I invite the viewers to choose the price they are most comfortable with and oftentimes, let them pick the best offer they can make. All they have to do is, contact me. I also offer the prints on canvas and similar work in different sizes or make a custom piece on commission.

Wild Flowers Summer Garden IV

10 x 14 Approx

Oil on Board

2016

Its a win win for all of us. To see a painting go to a happy home is a very gratifying part of the day. Sometimes, people send me back the picture of the displayed art that they had purchased. It makes my heart sing! 

Life seems meaningful and so does my role in it. It helps me create with more enthusiasm, more love, and more of everything nice!

Kitty Bouquet

Oil

2016

 

From every painting, I learn something new - it invariably gives me a sense of growth. This happy vibe keeps me moving, and I am very grateful for everyone who becomes part of this creative and meaningful journey. 

"Let it flow..."

Are we there yet - defining your own destination

Once I figured out that I was ready to give up on a nine to six job, the journey actually began. It was not a pre-planned move to quit and start my own studio, but it was not an accident either. It was always in the back of my mind that one day I will paint full-time.

I would not pay much of my time or resources to this dream of mine due to one thing or another. But like they say, you cannot stop the force of an idea whose time has come. Just like that, one day, when the time came - I knew I had to work on it. As I let myself follow on this dream, I have to admit, it seemed so natural as if I had been swimming against the flow all along. It was right there but I had not opened my eyes to see it. But once I did, things started to fall in proverbial alignment.

I received help from left and right, heard encouraging word, and kept going. In the past years that have been dedicated to arts was one of the most relished and grateful time of my life. It gave me opportunity to meet with amazing people around me, learn new things on everyday basis, and above all rediscovering myself all over again.

I hope to contribute in a meaning way, share whatever little I know, and be part of the amazing gift we call life with a purpose in heart. I was recently interviewed by Professional Artist magazine as a part of their 30th anniversary issue. I found it a moment of honor that I am viewed as a part of the artist community and my humble opinion is worthy of being published by this prestigious publication.

Professional Artist Jun/Jul 2016 Issue

I know may of us have those moments that can be a game changer. If its one for you and you are looking for a sign, here it is - take the plunge. We only have one life to live, don't live it with regret of not trying!

Once we are exposed to the pleasures of the journey, we do not long for the destination. The journey becomes the destination!

Eight Years and Counting...

Yesterday I celebrated the eighth anniversary of my blog-writing. Once the initial excitement settled and I got a chance to do a bit of self-reflection, it brought me to think how fast the time has started to fly. or is it a part of the process of growing older that it appears to do so, even faster!

Either way, I am content that I could commit to writing on a regular basis, overcoming the fear of making mistakes and putting it out there consistently. Making your goal, accomplishments as well as failures public makes it all more celebratory or bearable, whichever the case may be.

So, here is to many more to come. Through my posts, I hope the reader can relate and share and together we can make a difference.

Spring Poem

Sharing a poem with you all -  

Nothing is so beautiful as spring

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; 

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush 
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring 

The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing; 
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush 
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush 
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.   

What is all this juice and all this joy? 
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning 

Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844 - 1889