Daily Drawings (www.dailydrawings.tk) is a whole new blog, where I intend to post my ‘artwork’ on a daily basis.

Before you even think about lifting your brows (“why another damn blog?”), let me justify its existence:

Exploring new mediums is exciting always. Accordingly, I bought a pack of oils containing 12 tubes, a bottle each of linseed oil (medium) and turpentine (thinner), and a sheet of oil paper.
And got painting.

Believe it or not, these unfinished paintings are still wet after days of having done the first layer:

For non-artists, and artists who don’t understand—from left: a rag of cloth, tea cup, box of charcoal-sticks, can for holding water, bottles of linseed and turpentine.

This was actually my very first attempt at oils. Used an old photograph as reference. Really don’t feel like completing it.

Artists’ block (if there is such a thing) is killing me. Lately, I’ve stopped doing even the occasional doodle, let alone finished works. While I’m working on it, I don’t want the blog to remain idle. Which is why I’m leaving you with some stuff from the past—I don’t know what else to call them collectively.

First-- an article I wrote in 9th STD, published by The Hindu (Young World) on 23rd June, 2006. I used to be (and still am) a big Enid Blyton fan, that’s what this article is about (“Unending Blytonmania!”):

Here's an online reply to this article which I found years later!

On this next piece of paper is the oldest drawing alive that I’ve done (when I was 3, thanks to my dad for preserving it). It’s supposed to be a lion:

Yesterday, I visited an exhibition of paintings (at the Lalitakala Academy Art Gallery, Thrissur) by artist Manu Chakravarthy (based in Tumkur, Karnataka). He has had a lot many shows in the past, both solo and group. All of the exhibited paintings were 1’x1’ portraits, acrylic on canvas. He spent a few minutes quickly sketching me(#1), after which, I sketched him back(#2):

#1:

Forgot to mention that I just got through the IPCC Group 2 examination, leaving me with some free time over the next year to draw and paint. It didn't seem foolish to invest in a portable easel-- a camlin sketching easel(0513102) to be exact, made of elmwood and varnished. It's relatively light and portable, and well suited to do plein air paintings.

All that an easel can do is hold the painting still, at the desired height and angle, plus a painting displayed on the easel has a special charm. Getting a painting done still requires some work and commitment.