A glass and a lemon - still life painting done on grey paper using charcoal and soft pastel

Created a simple composition using metallic glass and a lime placed on its side. Then using charoal pencil and white pastel pencil created the still life painting , capturing the light and shadow and the reflection of the lime on the glass. The grey colour of the paper acts as a midtone in this simple art work.

Glass with lemon.

Charcoal and pastel painting on grey paper

Size 5" X 7" ( Excluding the mountboard )

Mini water colour paintings - two different landscapes

The 12th and 13th Mini water colour painting in my water colour sktetch book.

I created a small sketch book some time back using Indian hand made paper. You can know more about it in from one of my earlier posts. It has about forty small pages sized approx 4.5" X5" and as and when I get a little time free from my other work I create small water colour works, be it still life or landscapes. Each of these paintings takes about forty to forty five minutes.

The painting with mountains has been done from a reference photograph. For the lower painting I have used my imagination. I let the painting develop as I kept adding the colours. Initially I had planned a curved road but later as the painting progressed I created a simple river and in the end I added a few bushes on both sides.

I have used wet on wet technique in both the small paintings. Paints used are CAMEL artists colour tubes.

Two small water colour paintings

of landscapes

A still life painting of wine glass on red paper using charcoal and white pastel pencil

After having created a pomengranate and a capsicum on red FABRIANO paper, wanted to try out a transparent glass as subject on CANSON paper. Hence sketched out an empty wine glass. The symmetry is not too perfect but I was more keen on getting the highlights and the dark tones right. The red colour of the paper acts as the mid tone.

Empty wine glass

Conte charcoal and cretacolour pastel pencil work

on Canson mi tentes paper.

Still life paintings and sketches are a great way of enhancing one's drawing and sketching skills.

Next, I am working on still life paintings on grey paper. I have done couple of black and white works on grey paper and the effects are amazing. Especially with metallic objects where apart from shadows there are plenty of reflections too.

Charcoal painting of Niagara Falls in progress by Manju Panchal

The charcoal painting as shown below is yet to complete. It got started in last September or so and then due to several unavoidable factors has been progressing further in intervals. When I started it, I used 

KOH-I-NOOR and CAMEL charcoal pencil BUT now in the subsequent layers I am adding CONTE and PRIMA charcoal pencil. I am using several photographs for reference and trying to develop my own technique to get the layers of shadows as the water falls below with a magnificent force.

The size of the painting below after framing will be around 22" X 22" . Amongst all the mediums that I do, my charcoal works take maximum number of hours. It is a little tedious process BUT the end result is so very satisfying. I love the black and white effect on the textured paper. The paper being used to create this work is FAVINI paper. It is best to use a good quality paper which is acid free so that the work remains preserved and is durable. Poor quality papers tend to yellow over a period of time.

Niagara Falls

( Still to complete )

Charcoal painting on FAVINI paper.

Trying to spend a few hours everyday on this work so as to complete it as soon as possible.

Will be posting the completed image soon.

Charcoal sketchings on coloured paper by Manju Panchal

For long I had been thinking about doing a few charcoal sketches on RED coloured paper. Finally did it yesterday. The best thing about sketching is 

• You do not require too many tools
• You can do it in a small space and you do not require a studio set up
• It gets done in a short period of time
• It increases your observational skills
• Drawing subjects are easily available at home.

For the charcoal sketches of still life subjects below I have used RED coloured FABRIANO Elle Erre- paper. The red colour of the paper acts as the middle tone. To get lighter tones I have used GENERAL's soft white pastel pencil and for the dark tones I have used CONTE charcoal pencil. 

Charcoal sketches of a Pomengranate and Capsicum

on red coloured Fabriano paper.

Cloves of garlic - still life painting done using charcoal

Another charcoal day. This time I used cloves of garlic. Placed them in a way so as to get the composition that I wanted. Then using CONTE charcoal pencil and blending tools blocked in the dark areas. Later added strokes of pencil to get the tones right. The light and shadow play, particularly interested me. In addition, I decided to add a two droplets of water.

Garlic is being used all the time in the kitchen and of late it has become a great study subject for me. I am also planning on doing few charcoal sketchings of different objects on coloured paper. Will be posting images soon.

Cloves of garlic

charcoal painting on Fabriano Academia paper

Size 5" X 7" ( Excluding mountboard )

I have recently purchased PRIMO charcoal pencil by GENERAL. It seems to be very dark and good but I have not yet used it. One of these days I will create a charcoal painting using purely PRIMO pencil and will then be able to decide regarding its usage in my future sketches.

Other pencils that I have used in my journey of art are

• Ambassador ( Not available any more in the market )
• Camel Charcoal pencil ( I still use it at times to do the basic layer )
• KOH-I-NOOR charcoal pencil
• General's soft charcoal pencil ( Very dark and good )
• CONTE A PARIS charcoal pencil ( Presently in use in most of my sketchings )

All pencils are good and it is one's personal opinion as to which one is best suited to him/her for creating charcoal sketches. Through this blog I am only putting forward my likes and dislikes as I continue my journey forward with an intention to get better every day.

Soft Pastel and colour pencil painting done in the past by Manju Panchal

Two mini still life paintings

There are times when I come across my old art works and I relive the memory of how and when I did it. As a matter of fact it is a pleasure to analyse, evaluate and then visualise as to how it could have been much better. I remember keeping the orange near my living room window, so that the light could fall on it and I could capture the shadows. More than the orange, I was keen on doing the folds of the cloth. Looking back I also realise that I have added the three water drops and it makes me happy.

The Pear too was similarly done by placing it near my kitchen window, where I get the evening light. I had placed it on my white acrylic chopping board. The background windows were replaced by dark colours as I wanted to focus just on the pear with the water drop.

The apple has been done using DERWENT water colour soluble pencils. The pear has been created using KOH-I-NOOR soft pastels. Both the above paintings are sized 4" X 5". It's a little difficult to get the details on a small paper but with practise added with lots of patience it does get better everytime.

I am conducting a ONE day Charcoal painting workshop on 16th of August 2014.

For people who are passionate about black and white works, and have

a day to themselves where they can indulge in their creative skills.

Contact me on 91-9820683983 for further details.

Thanks a lot for visiting my blog and to view my other artworks

you can visit my INSTAGRAM page.

Charcoal drawing of a landscape using a reference photograph

Charcoal drawing from a reference photograph

Found a photograph in my old collection ( as shown above ) where the road that we were travelling was beautifully lined up on both sides by trees with dense foliage. It was taken during our road trip to Goa. I loved the trees and the road but somehow wanted to change the composition. Hence I decided to do a little editing and covered up the foreground a bit and the sides too ( using opaque paper ). This way I could create a charcoal painting of the landscape with the focus on the road disappearing at the distance and the trees around it.

The final composition and the charcoal painting took shape as shown below. I have once again used Canson C a Grain ( 180gsm ) paper for the same.

The road in shadow

Charcoal painting on canson paper

Size 5" X 7" ( excluding mountboard )

I have plans. To do more landscapes with great number of trees. In fact I even want to do a cityscape soon. Then there is a very long list of " To Do" things. When I get up in the morning I just have one day to myself. I try , making use of every little minute and second, to do at least ONE painting everyday. Sometimes this just ONE painting that I create gives me immense pleasure to keep going the next day.

Thanks for visiting my blog and browsing through my works. 

To browse through my latest artworks you can visit my 

INSTAGRAM feed.

Charcoal painting of a Landscape with mountains by Manju Panchal

Using charcoal pencil and blending tools created this landscape with mountains in the background and bushes in the foreground. When I initially got into the charcoal medium years back, I mainly did portraits. But over a period of time I have realised that Charcoal is such a versatile medium and it works so good on coloured Canson paper in combination with soft pastels. Also the effect each time can be so different, depending on what technique you apply to create the different values.

Mountains in a row

Charcoal painting on Canson paper

Size 4" X 5.5"

Canson is a French manufacturer of Fine art paper and there are different papers for different mediums.

For charcoal painting as done above, I have used Canson C a grain paper. You can get this paper at the art shop ART LOUNGE at churchgate , opposite EROS Cinema for a price of 65/- Rs a sheet.

Personally, I have liked this paper which is 180 gsm and will do for small works. Furthermore it has great  texture and despite adding a few layers I did not feel the need to add any fixative spray at any time in between the layers.

Soft Pastel painting of Leh Ladakh mountain scene by Manju Panchal

I have already posted couple of Leh Ladakh paintings done in water colours, referring to photographs given by a very dear friend of mine. This is the last one which I wanted to do and I decided to do it in soft pastels. I have used a red coloured Fabriano paper for the same and mostly KOH-I-NOOR soft pastels.

While I use the photograph as a reference I do make a few changes in the composition and alter a few elements to suit my requirements. Unlike still life paintings, in landscapes I have to deal with the foreground, middle distance and the background. It is always a great learning experience, no matter what the subject is.

Next I am working on landscapes in charcoal and will be posting the images soon. 

The Leh Ladakh Mountains

Size 7" X 9" ( Excluding the mountboard )

Soft Pastel painting on Red coloured Fabriano Elle Erre paper ( 220 gsm )

Water colour paintings done in my skechbook

My 10th and 11th mini water colour painting done in my sketch book.
Both the paintings are pretty small. Enjoyed doing the single cherry BUT doing a small landscape gets quite tricky. May be in future I will stick to doing still life as small works.

Water colour is such a spontaneous medium that it keeps you focused while the work is on and the end result is EITHER you get it right or you have you ruined it. Many a times I have to discard my work NEVERTHELESS I would love to continue doing watercolours WET on WET technique as I am getting addicted to it.

Two mini water color paintings

A cherry

Snow capped mountains.

The above paintings are part of my water colour sketchbook. You can know more about it in one of my earlier posts. For any queries related to my paintings you can write to me at 

manjupanchal@hotmail.com

Charcoal drawing of a "Glass and Cup"

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." Pablo Picasso

I am always on a lookout for a subject for my next painting. This time I decided to do a Still Life Painting of a transparent glass and a ceramic teacup using the charcoal medium.The paper I have used for this work is FABRIANO ACADEMIA. which has a little texture and I love the effect created on this paper.

Everytime I do a charcoal painting I experiment a bit with my technique trying to get new effects, new looks and a different work.

A glass and a teacup

Charcoal painting on Fabriano Academia paper

Size 5" X 7" ( Excluding mountboard )

Thanks for browsing through my works. If you intend to attend my "Art Workshop" which I normally conduct during the weekends you can drop in a mail to me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

My works can now be seen on my INSTAGRAM page. If you like them, please share.

Mini water colour paintings for my water colour sketchbook

My 8th and 9th mini water colour painting in my water colour sketchbook. ( Made out of Indian handmade paper ). Both paintings are created using camel water colours.

Wet road during monsoon

Seashore lined with coconut trees

If you are looking out to buy art stationery, be it imported or domestic, check out for the rates

and discounts in FLIPKART.  Fabriano papers, Raler Downey brushes and much more.

My travel kit for water colour painting.

If I were to be travelling and away from home for a few days, then I would probably carry the following as shown in image below. I created my small sketch book specially for carrying it around as it is very convenient to carry. It is a different issue that I have already started using it while at home as I am loving my experience of creating mini water colour paintings.

The Image above shows the following

My open box palette with all the essential colours poured in it from the tube

Closed box palette

My water colour sketch book

Few water colour round brushes

( As of now I have been using round brushes by Camel and Arora )

All the three things as mentioned above are light weight and very convenient to store as well. Given an oppurtunity one can easily paint a few water colour sketches while away from home. I definitely plan to do that some day.