Color mixing chart for little artists

Sunny boy likes to paint so he is always asking which color is formed by mixing x and y colors!! So I did an activity to make a color chart. This activity helps in understanding combinations and permutations , how the value/ shade of the color changes when either white or black OR lighter or darker shades of colors are mixed...different quantity of colors can result in different shades. 

I believe the easiest way for a child to understand and learn something is through practical example/experiment or demonstration. If the activity is fun filled then even better!!

 I started by telling him that it is like a science experiment ..We will add colors and find out what the resulting color is. Then we will note it down in a chart ..This way we will know and remember the combinations.. 

This made him very excited.. I gave him the colors one by one, he mixed and we noted it down.. I have taped this chart in his room ...He remembers all the combinations and if he does not then it is always on the wall to check!!

Pencil sketch

When I saw a photo of this Rajasthani old man , there was something intriguing about him. His eyes, his wrinkles, his turban or his mustache.. Something which compelled to draw his sketch that very moment. I haven't sketch much recently so I just had to challenge myself to sketch him. I was surprised at the result- it felt like ' wow! I can still sketch well. I thought I had completely lost touch'. 

I am happy I challenged myself to do this. 

laughter therapy - Illustration with watercolors and ink

I did this illustration of the smile or laughter technique since I see so many grumpy faces around:)

I have met/seen many moms who are so stressed out by their daily life or work. They frown and yell at their kids even toddlers. I know toddlers in their terrible two mode can be too much to handle for some. But then if children will not be naughty, throw things around, run around like whirlwind or typhoon who will. I get stressed too and when I do I just fake a smile not letting him know that I am stressed. I think a Mom should always be happy around her kids so that they would learn to be happy, jolly, less stressed. After all parents are their role models. 

We all fake smiles, don't we at work or while meeting some friend or stranger. So why not in this situation.. why burden their growing minds with stress. When you start smiling that itself starts easing the stress, making you feel better and better. This idea is also used in laughter clubs which were originated in Japan and later spread all around. I never laugh heartily alone( that's crazy) but a giggle or chuckle also helps..Just smile and just expand it till you relaxed. There are other benefits too!!

For more fun ideas to keep laughing read this wikihow articles: Laugh

So keep smiling and be happy!!

Joing party at PPT and IF!

How to make a drum with recycled container/cans

The idea of making the drum came to my mind days back when I saw Avaneesh drumming on a can. The can looked perfect for a drum for my little drummer boy. I do daily creative afternoon activities with him and this seemed to be perfect activity to be done with a 2 year old. I used a empty container which is of perfect size for little drummer hands. 

Avaneesh was very excited when I told him that we are going to make a drum today. I cut shapes out of paper for the top part and the designs on the sides of the drum. I do all the cutting work in front of Avaneesh so that he understand the entire process of making it as well. His creativity will increase more this way. I asked him which colors he want to paint the triangular pattern with to which he said red. So he painted it red , the top part with blue and the border strips with orange. Then are all the pieces drying in the balcony. I take this opportunity to talk with him about the sun's heat and how the painting dries up so fast outside instead of inside.

We glued two white papers around the can.  My son enjoyed spreading the glue on the paper and the can. Then he helped me glue the designs around the can. We glued some paper to the dowels. This is how it looks like and..

There he is my little drummer. It is a big hit with him. 

In case you want to try making this drum with your little one, the only things you will need are a can to be recycled, dowels/ chopsticks, water/poster color paints, paper, glue and scissors.

Joining party at crafty catz, crafty allie !

Spring Art

Inspired by spring I made these illustrations on small notebooks. They are done with ink and pen. These are spiral notebooks with handmade paper covers. Looking at these notebooks lightens up my day, especially on a gloomy dull day. It makes making a list of mundane chores much easier:)

I painted a book cover with Madhubani art sometime back. You can see that here.

Do you hate making a list of banal chores then either buy or decorate your little book with something that cheers you up!!!

Feather- Ink on watercolor paper

 I had shared the progress of this painting months back on Facebook .. If you have liked it you have already seen it. What not yet?!! You should.. ;; Haha!! For those who haven't yet I will share with you today. 

This inspiration came to me one night after my little one went to sleep. I had to draw it otherwise I couldn't sleep.I eventually   finished it. It is colorful feather- ink on watercolor paper. 

Image taken by@home. Subject to copyright. If you like it so much you can buy it from me. 

A perfect gift for a 2 year old- a handmade gift from Mom

It was my Son's 2nd Birthday last month. I was so busy preparing for his party and celebrations that I even forgot to update the blog. I will share the pictures with you later. It will take several posts to cover all the things I did- gift to decorations, from food to party venue. 

My son is big fan ( read obsessed) by vehicles- from racing car to siren cars to construction vehicles. Just few weeks before his birthday his love for fire engines surpassed other vehicles:) so I decided that his 2nd Birthday will be Fire engine themed. So along with the decoration started the preparation for his gift. Daddy had planned to give him a big Scania fire truck. I decided on  making something that I am good at- painting. ( honestly if I didn't paint myself I would have bought it from someone else for sure. Because that's a perfect gift for any little boy especially mine)

I added a sweet note on the sides which he will love to read when he is older and remember me. I intend to keep up this tradition of making something handmade for him every birthday- something that will last for years and maybe generations. 

Oh almost forgot to tell you that he loves it!!!!

Next I am working on Cement mixer!
Images taken by me @ home. Subject to copyright. If you are interested in print or similar painting just drop me a note. 

Our family portrait !!

Hellllloooo.. Anyone reading this blog anymore.. Hahaha.. I myself have not read it in long time honestly.. You know sometimes i just get this writers block..I just cannot find appropriate words..anyways.. I am sure it happens to all!! So please bear with me as I try to get my mojo back :)

So the other day I was doodling in my book.. I doodled my husband's face.. That gave an idea why not make a family portrait of us.. So I did a illustration of us with pencil..

Can you believe me if I told you that I had  to look in the mirror to see how I really looked like?!! I drew my son and husband  easily but I just couldn't draw my face properly.. I was a bit shocked and that time I realized how busy I am running around my little one and doing household chores that I don't have time to look in the mirror.. :( ok .. So I got over it and then starting painting with watercolors..

And then slowly slowly I finished it with the details of our features .. and it is finally done..There it is.. Funnily I do think we look cute as cartoons :))

What do you think guys ?? Would you like to cartoonify yourself :)))

New painting: Story telling

Hello beautiful readers..How are you? I hope you are enjoying the summer days .. a few last weeks I suppose.. Summer always seems to be short right?

I finished another painting after burning the midnight oil for several weeks..I don't know if it is summer or my son who is keeping me more occupied:) It is acrylics on canvas. I have named it story telling.

One of the cherished moments between a mother and child is story telling. It is that time when both of them forget the world and lose themselves in the beautiful world of imagination, fairies, kings and queens..far far way lands where the everyday worries and thoughts don't bother them..

I am sort of falling in love with transparent glitter paint.. I used it in my other painting' Daddy and baby lion' and in this one I have used it quite generously.. The puff cloud of imagination  is coated with glitter paint..Thus showing how they are surrounded by an aura of the bubble- like and dream-like thoughts.

Hoping to reopen my etsy shop soon ..it seems to be taking forever:)

Joining the party@colorsdekor, PPF!!

New painting: Daddy Lion and Baby Lion

After a sabbatical of nearly 6 months I have started painting again..It feels so good as if I got my wings back..

So readers, Sharing with you my new painting" Daddy I luv you" ..

 

I started working on this one in the middle of the night when suddenly I had an inspiration to draw and paint..

I worked on it slowly whenever my son slept.. Now he does not sleep longer hours in the afternoon as he did when he was a baby and also at night he makes sure that we both sleep and then only he sleeps....so you know the work goes on slowly..

These pictures I took at night when I got the idea to make these glittery bubbles on the paintings.. 

Another picture I took that night ..oh they look so pretty in real !!! After it was done completely to my satisfaction I showed it to him.. He just loved it.. I clicked some pics while he was admiring Daddy lion and baby lion..

His appreciation is the biggest compliment to me!

Here are the pictures of the finished painting..

                                  

Some more angels..

 

It took a few weeks to complete!! I am happy with it!!

Koi fish

Koi fish painting of 2 koi fish playing in pond with a lotus. 

A watercolors painting by me. Koi fish(also known as carp)is a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. Also good fortune or luck.

Available here!!

New painting: The Horse with flowers

Have you ever been inspired by pinterest. In recent days I have totally gone nuts over pinterest. The reason why I am not blogging so often..I have been pinning!!!The other day I saw a pin of a beautiful photograph by Dave wright of a Icelandic horse on run. I was so inspired and instantly decided to sketch it.. since the baby was sleeping I went ahead and started painting it.. 

                                                                                                                            Source: 500px.com via Lucchese on Pinterest

I have painted in it in two styles.. I enjoyed doing both the styles..In traditional ( I mean water, paint and brush:))style , I have painted it with watercolors, acrylics and porcelain colors.. I finished this on in two days when the baby slept..

In the other style I had scanned the sketch and then painted it digitally..It was more fun as I could do it while my baby was awake and playing.. I painted while singing nursery rhythms to him..In traditional style with paints I can never paint when he is awake as I am afraid that he might put colors in his mouth..

I need your valuable feedback.. so please tell me which style do you like more? 

Have a nice week ahead!!!!

Available here!!

Niharika

Today is a special day for my little baby.. Today is Raksha bhandan which is to celebrate the relationship of brothers and sisters.. And he got his first Rakhi from his lovely cousin(my sister's daughter)- Niharika. 

Aww I was so touched..so thoughtful!!! Sweet little moments of joys...:) 

So my dear Niharika..As a thank you gift I drew a sketch of you..

So friends..let me introduce you to Niharika!!! She is a brilliant student and a voracious reader, who also likes to paint and loves to take loads of pictures of flowers ...That's why I gave her a book to read and a flower in her hand in her sketch..Bubbles represent her dreamy self!!!!

Beautiful big eyes and long hair are a trademark of our family which she has also inherited ..Lol..I would have shown you her picture but her mom is very particular about not sharing pictures online not even on FB:) So I will share with you all this budding artist's blog and deviant art site!!!!

I hope to finish this one soon and send it to her!!!

Art for kitchen

I found some pictures of my kitchen in the Singapore home on my laptop.. When we moved to that home I didn't like the kitchen..It was a big comprise compared to our fancy and very modern kitchen in the Switzerland home..This one had tiles from top to bottom..you know the white square ones..I call them bathroom tiles. Since I love to cook and didn't have a helper till I got pregnant I wanted the kitchen to look pretty..somewhere I can work and cook..So decided to beautify it a bit. 

I had made these Chai paintings some time back..each painting has a different cup style and on the background are words for tea around the world..some 20 different languages I think..like tea, tey,chai, cha, caj,tee etc

I bought wall decals with cherry blossoms print on it. It worked like magic. These are very durable, easy to clean and remove. I fixed a huge flowering branch with flowers dropping from it over the sink, some near the kitchen back door and one over the hob. I also put some near the switch board and the paintings.


Wall decals are easy way to beautify the walls without any damage to the walls. There are some awesome kitchen decals available in the market which will add instant spark to the room. 

I fixed some wooden birds I had bought in Madrid , cheese board from Amsterdam, some vintage tins I collect in Europe and a money plant in a recycled bottle..etc ..

After going through all this trouble to make it look better I have decided that  I will not compromise on the kitchen in the new home here in Hong Kong:))

New painting: Gajrewali(girl with flower garland)

Hello from Hong Kong!!!  We have finally moved here..With my 4 month old it was a milestone just to move the furniture and take the flight. We are yet to find a apartment, arrange the furniture, make friends, get to know the city etc etc...hmmm long way to go!! 

Anyway today I am sharing with you the finished version of the girl with flower garland(Gajrewali).

Just like the earlier lady with a parrot painting I painted this one with acrylics, watercolors,gel pen and porcelain colors..

My little one is attempting to roll over.. Loves to look at my paintings.. I am thinking of making some for his nursery/room!!

Available here!!

Happy Birthday

Today I am sharing with you one of the pending art work post..You will recognize when this picture was taken from the slice of cake..heehhee..I know:)  Honestly this painting is not a recent one..I finished it a year ago ..but don't know why and how it got left over..I think that time I was into table decor and didn't post about my artwork so much..Now with my little baby and the move I find painting much easier than cooking and table decor..

You know my love for baking and cakes..This painting is the outcome of that..The idea came to me when we were living in Zurich,CH ..One early morning I was standing at the Paradeplaz to catch a tram ..there is a famous Sprüngli shop right in front where all their employees where getting the shop ready to open .. I saw one petite women carrying a lovely cake in this pose... I really wished I had her job and I would love to decorate cakes for a living..Sigh..

The painting is in acrylics... Though I painted the lady 2 years back but I did the background and touch-ups for the cake a year back..I painted her eyes in different style then compared to how I paint today..It is always fun to see older paintings..You notice the change in style!!

 For the roses on the cake I had checked out some 'how -to' videos on the You tube!!

I am busy packing and sorting my things as we move in 2 weeks time..!!

Available here!!

WIP: Girl with flower garland

  Working on a sketch I did last year..You can see it here.. It was in a small sketch book.. I enlarged it. So far I have only finished her hair..hoping to finish her before we move to HK..will share whenever it is done:) You can see the finished version of this painting here:)

Spring doodle and some news...

I have been staying awake late these days..no not because of the baby..he is very sweet and sleeps at night and gets up only for his feeding in between..I am burning the midnight oil because we are relocating to yet another country!! I admit I love travelling and living in different countries and experiencing their cultures and learning something new every time..I started this blog when I was in Switerland..now in Singpore and end of this month we move to Hong Kong!!

But I must say that after I became a mother 3 months back, my nesting instincts have kicked in big time.. I dream of setting down in one place..making some permanant structural changes to the house (which I cannot do in a rented place) like changing the tiles, knocking off or building a wall in a room, have a false ceiling, wardrobes of my choice etc etc...Sigh I will dream on till little A starts going to mid school!

Doodling at mid night...It relieves me of stress..I will share with you some of the work finished and some in progress in next post!!

New painting: Lady with a parrot

Finally I am able to share with you my new painting.. the finished version of the work-in-progress I had shared in the last post..

For the lady and bird in this painting I used watercolors, acrylics, gel pens.. For the background I used porcelain color and watercolor.. The red porcelain color gives it a nice glaze while the watercolor gives it a lovely texture and shading..

My little one is keeping me busy which is making sharing the updates of my paintings a little harder ..taking pics , re-sizing them and watermarking them takes more effort than the actual time to paint :).. I have completed 2 more paintings which I will share with you soon..

Available here!

WIP: lady with a parrot..

My baby is now 6 weeks old. I am adjusting to the new role of Mom smoothly. With the baby every day I learn something new, something new happens and I do something for the first time..unlike earlier when it was like same day every day:)) I have realized that finding time and energy to paint and be creative is not as difficult as I had thought earlier. I find it very relaxing!! So one evening when the baby was sleeping I enlarged this small sketch I had made in 2010...

 I am painting it with water colors.. mainly because water colors are easy to work with as I have limited time on my hands..

 

It is fun to play with the baby , to see him make bubbles, when he coos and the precious smiles..Even when he is sleeping I feel like looking at him for hours..Thats the reason why I haven't being able to finish this painting..

In 6 weeks I have become expert in swaddling and he has become a expert in successfully coming out of the swaddle in a minute or less:)

Now I bathe the baby alone without any help and it is fun bonding time for both of us. 

My baby loves to look for hours of his playtime(which is at midnight:)) at my great Buddha painting which is hanging over our bed .. I think is big compliment:))

 His interest in my painting makes me dream and make plans to teach him painting and creative things in a year or two:)

will share the finished version of this sketch soon..

Till then..