BFBM : Portrait of A

Portrait of a friend painted with watercolour on smooth grained handmade paper. Reference was a mediocre quality photograph taken with flash. It is difficult in such a context to define clear cut light and shade. However, to achieve her radiant expresion I had to eliminate a lot of middle tones and the result is something that made me happy. It is always an excellent experience to paint portraits in monochrome using the traditional wash technique. Wash technique involves painting in layers or placing various transparent tones of the colour layer upon layer. It is the first time I painted on this paper and I am impressed with the result.

The Great Banyan Tree

The grand old banyan tree of my native village has caught my attention again. It is hundreds of years old, say the local natives. The legends and folklore of the area, believed to be hundreds of years, speaks of this tree. This Banyan is situated on the banks of a river “Chittoor Puzha”. To reach the spot one has to travel by foot for about 2kms. I make it a point to visit this spot each time I visit the pace, once or twice every year. I go there alone so that I can spend hours, sitting on its roots, absorbing the unpolluted air and the serene atmosphere with all the pores of my skin, into every cell of my body. It is an exhilarating experience. An experience where one feels one with nature. The ultimate Nirvana of body and soul.

Title : The Great Banyan Tree

Medium: Watercolours on cold pressed paper

(little bit of airbrushing done for the background)

Vinod Laxman

My Beautiful Friend

The Definition of Beauty is
That Definition is none --
Of Heaven, easing Analysis,
Since Heaven and She are one.

~Emily Dickinson~

Title: My Beautiful Friend
Medium: Watercolours on coldpressed paper
Model: Puja

Vinod Laxman