Lightbringers
16 January 2026
Oil pastels on A4 sized paper (8.3″x11.7″)
Why draw 1 horse when I can draw 7?!
This piece was enjoyably challenging. It had repetition and variation while doing the horses, the dust cloud around their hooves was instructive in color blending, and the Sun itself was tricky. Tricky because while a white and yellow ball in the sky against a backdrop of lighter yellow and blue might suffice for a dawn scene, the early morning Sun in this one required its rays to be more visible. I realized I needed to stroke outwards with the Sun as the center point rather than blend the sky horizontally. Especially so since I was using oil pastels.
Control
6 January 2026
Oil pastels on paper (7″x10″)
One silver lining to modern warfare is that horses are now spared from being bred for and drafted into wars not their own.
For All To See
31 December 2025
Acrylics on canvas (8″x8″)
It disappointed me to observe that people, even after growing into adulthood (and beyond), still gossip about couples in love. The difference being that the innuendos become a bit more sophisticated.
There’s something almost primal about it. Younger me used to chalk this up to jealousy. Perhaps there is an element of that. I now like to think, however, that deep down everyone knows that the next best thing to experiencing true love is witnessing it.
Splash
26 December 2025
Color pencils on A5 size paper (5.8″x8.3″)
While what the Americans call football is the second most boring sport known to man, I suppose there are a few good things about the spectacle.
There’s always that one spot in a piece that causes trouble. No matter how many times it is redone, it either turns out the same as before or worse! Color pencils are quite forgiving though and I think were a perfect match for the idea behind this one.
Searching
12 December 2025
Oil pastels on paper (7″x10″)
It is said that Brahma, the Creator, manifested Saraswati – the Goddess of Knowledge, Art, and Music – through thought and was then so smitten by her beauty that he immediately married her. The story works well as a metaphor for how we can become attached to some (or all) of our creations. I often wonder how artists find the strength to part with their work.
Well, philosophy aside, doing eyes with oil pastels is no joke! But it is an immensely rewarding medium and is great, somewhat unexpectedly, for portraiture.
Umbra
8 December 2025
Charcoal on paper (5.8″x8.3″)
There’s something about charcoal, and really all black and white photography, that strips a subject of all extraneous detail and just lets the viewer focus on the core of the piece.
It’s like the acoustic guitar of the art world.
Spica
6 November 2025
Brush pen on paper (4″x6″)
It is said that Spica is the horn of the Azure Dragon, Qinglong. This star is also associated with Tvashtar, the celestial architect and the deity of Chitra Nakshatra.
I’ve been using brush pens all this time to fill in color on these small pieces but this one made me realize that they’re probably best used for outlines or line art. Because I filled in the dark blue sky first, I was then forced to fill in grey for the clouds to balance the piece.
Orange Soda
31 October 2025
Brush pen on paper (4″x6″)
Sometimes, trying to fix a mistake only makes things worse.
Intertwined
15 October 2025
Brush pen on paper (4″x6″)
I initially intended to do this with charcoal but thought of experimenting with colors instead. Because I play with multiple media, I think half the fun is choosing one that best suits the idea.
At any given time, I have many ideas that I can choose from. But it often feels as if the will to give one form comes from an indescribable place. The spontaneity is fascinating to experience.
Shadow War
14 September 2025
Oil pastels on paper
Oil pastels are always fun however being precise with small details can be challenging.
