Charcoal drawing on Canson Mi Teintes paper

"Drawing is the artist's most direct and spontaneous expression. A species of writing; it reveals, better than does painting, his true personality." Edgar Degas

Beautiful quote by Edgar Degas. If you are into soft pastels, do browse through his works which are very very inspiring.

Charcoal medium continues to be one of my favorite till date. When I initially began working in charcoal, all I used was a charcoal pencil, charcoal powder and a normal eraser. Today I am experimenting and exploring with so many different tools and my technique has evolved.

With my Charcoal workshop coming up at Art Station, Andheri west, I am once again having the opportunity to experiment and explore by creating some new "study works" on different subjects, mainly landscapes. Apart from landscapes, I will be demonstrating a few "Still life drawings" too.

Today's post is a charcoal drawing on Canson Mi Teintes white paper. The scene is from Malshej Ghats, Maharashtra. The place is worth visiting in monsoon as the whole landscape transforms into something unimaginable. I got to see some stunning views of the mountains, dramatic cloudy skies, waterfalls and lush greenery all around.

Monsoon at Malshej Ghats

Charcoal drawing on Canson MT paper

Size 5" X 7"

White Canson Mi Teintes paper is a recent introduction to my list of papers for charcoal drawing. I am loving its smooth textured surface which works well for charcoal medium. Moreover it is acid free and without optical brightness additives.

If you wish to know more about the "List of papers" that I use for my charcoal drawings, you can CLICK HERE.

Thank you for visiting my blog and browsing through my artworks.

Water colour painting on Arches cold pressed paper

"The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting." Vincent Van Gogh

I am sure every artist will agree with the above quote. If you are passionate about painting, you will realize what it is like to paint a little everyday. It brings a lot of joy and end of the day when you look at your work, no matter how small or big, it feels absolutely great. Then you gear up for yet another day of painting and begin your plans as to what to create next?

Pangong Lake, also known as Pangong Tso is situated in the Himalayas, at 14,270 ft above sea level. It is about four to five hours journey from Leh. This stunning lake which keeps changing its colours is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the country. I am yet to go there but am so fascinated with this heavenly place that when friends send me photographs, I cannot resist painting it. 

My today's painting is with reference to a photograph sent by a student and I am grateful to her for the same. I have used Arches Cold pressed paper and a combination of both Winsor and Newton and Camlin water colour tubes. I am beginning to love this paper as it stays wet for long and that enables me to add colours without the fear of having hard edges. 

Serenity

Water colour painting on Arches CP paper

Size 6.5"X 8.5"

If you have been regularly browsing through my blog you will know that I have still not zeroed in on the right paper for my water colour artworks. I have definitely shortlisted a few good ones and Arches is one of them. Selection of a paper is a very personal choice for every artist. Most papers are good but its just that each one of us find our comfort level in some particular brand.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am presently working on a series of few charcoal landscapes as my one day "Charcoal drawing workshop" is coming up soon at Art Station, Andheri west. Will post them soon. If you are interested in attending you can drop me a mail at manjupanchal5@gmail.com

Thank you for browsing through my artworks.

Portrait study work on Canson Mi Teintes paper

"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." 
Michelangelo

Today I am posting a small quick "Portrait study" of a pretty woman I met at Thangu, where we halted to have breakfast before moving towards Gurudongmar Lake. She was friendly with a pleasant personality. I interacted with her and took her photographs from different angles. Before starting her front face profile I decided to do a quick study of the side face using minimum brush strokes.

For my charcoal and white pencil portraits I have more or less shortlisted two papers. The Strathmore gray toned paper and Canson MT series. For my present work I have used Canson paper. Both these papers are available on Amazon.in.

Portrait study of a woman from Thangu, North Sikkim

on Canson Mi Teintes paper

Size 5" X 7"

This portrait study was more about getting to know her features and I have not spent much time getting into the details. I am almost done with another of her portraits and shall be posting it soon.

Presently I am also busy doing some charcoal landscape works in preparation for my upcoming one day Charcoal drawing and sketching workshop on the 17th of December at Art Station, Andheri west.

Thank you for browsing through my artworks.

About my newly purchased Tabletop Easel

One of my latest additions in art stationery is a Table Top Easel. I had been looking out for one since long. Some of my last few paintings have been created on this Easel. It is light weight, easy to use and carry. I may use it for my plein air sketching very soon.

A very big advantage of using this easel is that my neck muscles do not get strained any more as I paint and sketch at eye level. The base is adjustable and I can easily adjust the height as per my requirement. For my soft pastel and charcoal works I use a masking tape to pin the paper on a simple mount board which can then be placed on base of the easel. 

When the painting is placed at an angle on the easel, it becomes very convenient to get up every fifteen minutes and to watch the work from a distance. Analysing the work from a distance helps in a better evaluation. I am loving this easel and plan to use it for all my future works. I purchased it from ART STATION but after an online search later I realised that it is available on AMAZON too. Online shopping is definitely more convenient but it can become an addiction. I browse regularly these days to check on certain pastel brands and get very tempted to place an order but then I remind myself of all the unused stationery that I already have at home. Self discipline and patience in every field is so very important.

My newly purchased Table top Easel

The base can be raised higher using the screws provided 

at the sides. Its angle too can be adjusted.

Table top Easel with canvas board placed on its base.

I can fix the paper on which I want to create the work

with masking tape on to this board.

An arrangement that is working good for me.

The reference photograph is at the top.

My Canson Mi Teintes paper is on an archival quality

mount board ( Fixed with masking tape at four corners )

One of my Coorg paintings in soft pastel is in progress.

I love to read inspiring quotes. Sometimes they are the exact words that I would want to hear to keep me motivated so that so that I can draw, sketch and paint on a regular basis. The passion for art is always there from within but at times it needs to be fueled. Therefore through this blog I share the quotes that touch my heart and keep me on track on this art journedy.

Today's Quotation

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art Station - for all your art shopping

During my early years of art, I frequently visited town, mostly at HIMALAYA STATIONERY for purchasing my art stationery. It was much later ie few years back when I was introduced to ART STATION by a student, which made me realise that everything that I required was available close to my residence. Now that I know of this shop, I almost pay a weekly visit either to shop or just browse though the new stuff that gets added.  

As the shop is really a boon for all art lovers I decided to blog about it so that people staying close to Andheri west can travel here rather than going all the way to town.

ART STATION, a very popular art stationery shop at Four Bunglows, is an excellent place for all art related shopping be it Indian products or imported ones. The range of products have increased over the past few years. You can find everything under one roof be it canvas, soft pastels, water colours or brushes. They also store exclusive craft materials and are soon going to move into much bigger premises close by.

Given below are few photographs of the shop displaying the wide range of art products.

Contact details of  Art Station : 2226339794, 9967202612

Art Station - for all your art stationery requirements

Shopping for art material can be a daunting task. So I decided to write a post about 

ART STATION, a shop which is in my vicinity ie at Four Bunglows, Andheri west. ( Mumbai )

In the initial years I would travel to Fort area to visit Himalaya for my annual shopping. Not any more as I get most of the things that I require at Art Station. This shop has grown big in a short period of time and they keep Indian as well as imported art and craft materials. 

One can find most of the popular brands like DERWENT, WINSOR and NEWTON, CRETACOLOUR, GOLDEN etc. As an artist there is no question of getting disappointed. You almost get everything here. If at all the paper or paint that we require is unavailable then they can get it for the client as per the order.

The Contact details for Art Station: 26339794 OR 9967202612

Before I buy my imported art stationery I do make it a point to compare

prices by visiting different sites like

www.amazon.com

www.dakotapastels.com

www.dickblick.com

www.ebay.com

www.flipkart.com

www.snapdeal.com

It gives me an idea regarding the prices of the product worldwide and also I get to read the reviews by people who have purchased the sets that I am looking forward to buy.