Saturday the 15th of February
Posted: February 15, 2014 Filed under: art, artwork | Tags: artist, drawing, graphite, home, how to, images, photoshop, profession, Rihanna, scan, studio, tutorial Leave a commentOh my God, did you see Shakira’s new video? Can’t remember to forget you? I think the highlight of the video is Rihanna – sorry Shakira fans, I really like Rihanna! The song is catchy and the video is done with taste. It’s a relief from the kind of overly sexed videos floating around these days. If you haven’t seen it, do. I guarantee you won’t ‘remember to forget it’.
I am settling in my home studio and trying to adjust to the new routine. Not having to walk daily past gawking, spitting men for a few hours of painting pleasure is a definite plus!
Looks cosy no?
Next up, I have been asked how I manage to scan my graphite drawings in fairly good condition; so without further ado:
(Note: The following only needs to be done when your scanner or camera does a bad job.)
Step 1: I scan the picture in my HP printer.
Step 2: Then I pray to the gods of Adobe Photoshop until they bless me with their tools and tricks.
Step 3: Open the scanned file in Photoshop and do this: File>Image>Adjustments>Desaturate. This will do away with the yellowish tinge that comes with scanning and bring out the original hue of your drawing.
Step 4: You can stop with step 3 but scanning also sometimes washes out the values and tones of your work. For this, again File>Image>Adjustments>Levels.
A small window opens where you can adjust the sliders. Play around with it until it matches the values of your original – you can get it right, don’t worry.
Step 5: Save the file.
Hope that helps. I compiled this quick tutorial under the assumption that you know a little about Photoshop. But if you need more info, just let me know. Until next time, take care!
Saturday the 1st of February
Posted: January 31, 2014 Filed under: art, artwork, UAE | Tags: agony, artist, Dubai, finished work, graphite, graphite on paper, hurt, images, new one, profession, rent rise, Sharjah, Wolf Leave a commentSigh…a lot has happened here on Waltons Mountain, I mean , in my life since my last post. Well, not a lot but seems like enough to make it seem a lot. Remember the ‘stuff’ I mentioned last time? One of the stuff: due to some unfathomable reason (people say it is because of the much-anticipated Dubai Expo), there has been a rise in apartment rents all over Sharjah. My studio rent which was AED 21000 per annum has become AED 26000 with no warning. So I didn’t renew my contract. I quietly packed my things and shifted the studio back to the room in my parents’ apartment where I had started my career 3 years ago. My family has been very supportive through all of this. Still, I can’t help thinking this is a step down – I really thought things were moving forward…..
I finished the wolf drawing I had started in the beginning of January:
Graphite on smooth bristol, 5″x4″
Till next time!
Friday the 29th of November
Posted: November 29, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 42nd anniversary, clouds, father, images, studio, UAE national day Leave a commentSigh! Last Friday was a rainy day for UAE. But that meant not being able to go to the studio. The street leading to my studio would be full of dirty puddles. As it is, walking through that street on a Friday is close to a nightmare. Large groups of men loitering (as opposed to small groups on weekdays), spitting, staring (Oh Lord the staring!) occasionally accompanied by catcalls. So with the puddles, I will have to skip, hop and walk closer to those groups to avoid the puddles. Brrrrrr! I’d rather step in the rainwater drain water mix. So I chose to pick arguments with my mother, tee hee! Just kidding.
My mother pointed out the sky to me the next day. Below are some photographs (these were taken with my mobile so it doesn’t really do justice to the actual glorious clouds, sorry):
From the balcony:
The same evening in a nearby park:
Hmmm…I could make a painting from one of them? If you want better resolution files of these images for reference, let me know.
This December the 2nd marks the 42nd national day. Incidentally, it also marks the 44th anniversary of my father’s arrival in the UAE. I dedicate this blog post to my father who came here so long ago, stayed in spite of being homesick, worked hard in a strange land to build a good life for me and my sister. Thank you.
Till next time, cheerio!
The Road Less Travelled 