Watercolor Painting

   Professionally I am an Architect but spiritually I am an Artist. In my childhood I used to enjoy drawing, cartooning, painting. Perhaps this is the reason I was drawn to choosing Architecture as a profession. It was one of the very few fields which offered a great package of science, technology and creativity by drawing.  For the past twenty years or so, I have indulged in Watercolor  painting, as a hobby.

        My paintings are strongly influenced by the rendering principles of architectural graphic work. Just as an architectural drawing is an accurate image of the real structure, so are my paintings made to look very much like the actual object to be painted. My favourite subjects for painting are flowers and leaves. Although painting is a 2-dimensional  medium and flowers /plants are not, I try to capture their 3-dimensional and sculptural look on paper by creating shadows of petals, playing with shapes and size to generate a perspective view. The texture is created by varying the thickness and density of lines and smooth watery washes are generously applied to bring forth the softness of petals. I enjoy creating new shades of color by mixing different colors and also creating tones of the same color by varying the water in the brush.

        Watercolor painting also helps me to unwind from the highly computerised world of Architecture. Using my hands helps me to connect to my inner soul of creativity. Its a great hobby to have because you can multi-task with it, it dries quickly as opposed to oil paints and the products get ready fast. While painting I deal with soft, sculptural surfaces whereas in architectural work most of the time I get to design hard, right-angled surfaces! Using water and hands together is like therapy after using only computers.

        Anyway, the point being a vocation in Architecture and an avocation in painting is a great mix of machine and hand work. They compliment each other. I have held seven exhibitions of my paintings, never with the intention of selling. Now with the means of this blog I hope to make it a permanent exhibition with a global audience! If you take the time to grasp the intricate beauty of nature through my paintings, you will also understand the spiritual joy I experience by simply painting them.

Ratna

September. 24. 2007

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The woman who works with her hands only is a laborer.

The woman who works with her hands and head is a craftswoman.

The woman who works with her hands, head and heart is an artist.

-St. Francis of Assisi