 |
<< Temple on the Rock (Kanyakumari) - Gusts of sea
wind ruffled the A4 sized sheets clipped to my sketchboard. I sat with
my back to the sea. There were hundreds of tourists in that extensive
courtyard surrounding the Vivekananda temple. I looked up and began to
sketch the upper floors. Soon a crowd gathered around me. People on the
balcony grew curious. Some were obviously posing for my benefit! We were
on the Vivekananda Rock, at a stone's throw from the mainland. 10 "
x 8" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (33K).
Top
|
|
Waves against boulders >>
(Kanyakumari) - I had to wait in a long, long line for my turn on
the boat(which was to take us back to the mainland). Resting my pad against
the railings, I used the time to sketch the sea breaking against a few
outlying boulders. 8" x 5.5" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (19K)
|
 |
 |
<< Kanyakumari - 1.30 AM - As viewed from the hotel
room on the 4th floor. 11" x 8" / Charcoal pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (59K).
Top
|
|
Dawn at Vivekananda Rock (Kanyakumari)
>>
This was where I was the day before. 11" x 8" / Dry Conte on
Paper
Click to enlarge (29K)
|
 |
 |
<< Sanyasi at Kanyakumari (Holy man) - By
six in the morning, I was exploring the alleys of Kanyakumari. This young
sanyasi in black sat facing the rising sun. His immensely tranquil bearing
had me scrambling for my charcoal. Was he to be a latter-day Vivekananda?
7 " x 8" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (32K).
Top
|
|
Tip of peninsular India >>
8" x 11" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (29K)
|
 |
 |
<< Kanyakumari - waves of the Arabian Sea - Sketched
around eight in the morning, sitting on those very boulders you see in
the lower righthand corner. I did not have time for breakfast and soon
returned to the hotel to begin work on the next painting. 11" x 8"
/ Dry Conte on Paper
Click to see enlarge
(33K). Top
|
Kanyakumari >>
This I painted from my hotel room, which was on the 4th floor. I began at
9, immediately on returning from the beach. I had to finish by 11,
since I needed to check-out by 12.
14.5" x 10.5" / Acrylic on Paper
Click to enlarge (38K) |
 |
 |
<< Kanyakumari - detail 1(The church) - Acrylic on
Paper
Click to see enlarge
(31K). Top
|
Kanyakumari - detail 2 >>
Deep cobalts in the horizon, ochre in the sand, transparent turquoise shades
in -between. The wind driving in white crested wave-lets to gently sway
the boats. This, definitely is worth a closer
look. Acrylic on Paper
Click to enlarge (40K) |
 |
 |
<< The Hanuman God (Kodaikanal) - He is the guardian
deity, and has a polite yet imposing presence - guarding the entrance
to my hosts' residence. 8" x 11" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (46K).
Top
|
|
The Rotating Horse of Kodaikanal >>
You may find the story about her in here.
Click to enlarge (19K)
|
 |
 |
<< The Steps of Kodaikanal - A solitary winding road
elaborately laid against stepped slopes. Interferes with the joy of driving
in a hilly region, so modest is the climb. On the other hand, watching
a vehicle rolling up or down that road is fun. It continually plays a
game of hide-n-seek - appearing here, disappearing there! what I haven't
included are the cow-hands, skillfully guiding their cattle down the steps.
This was late in the afternoon and it was quite chilly. 8" x 11"
/ Graphite on Paper
Click to enlarge (46K).
Top
|
|
The Kodai Trees of winter >>
Drew this immediately after the preceding one. Take a closer
look 8" x 11" / Pen & Ink on Paper
Click to enlarge (46K)
|
 |
 |
<< Durga in the Drawing room (Kodaikanal) - She proudly
sits in my hosts' living room, a creation of the Santiniketani "gharana."
This is as good an installation as you will get, the whole arrangement
emphasizing a roundness of form and universe. 8 " x 11" / Dry
conte and Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (63K).
Top
|
|
Kodaikanal - the stump >>
The tree has its own story to tell. She stood perfectly proud and happy,
till one day men came and reduced her to a stump. 10.5" x 14.5"
/ Acrylic on Paper
Click to enlarge (45K)
|
 |
 |
<< Old man watching a tire change (on the murderous
Madurai-Kodaikanal Road) - My car needed a change of tire. While this
was being done the elderly gent approached us in a wobbly bi-cycle. He
got down, respectfully observed the entire procedure, stood still like
the perfect model and when the new tire was in place, left - without ever
uttering a single word! All along he had on an expression of rapt attention.
I wonder if he has subsequently bought a car for himself - which wouldn't
be too surprising, what with incomes rising in the South. In the meantime,
I narrowly missed being pulverized by a speeding bus. 6" x 8"
/ Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (28K)
Top
|
|
Train from Madurai >>
8" x 11" / Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (37K)
|
 |
 |
<< The crescentic beach of Kovalam - Tourist brochures
say that there are three such crescentic beaches of Kovalam. This one
has a Light Tower, barely discernible on the far horizon. I was sitting
on a high pile of rocks when a group of curious college-goers clambered
on to my perch. There interests were divided between me and the bikini-clad
lady in the foreground. Some achievement, that! 8" x 11" / Soft
Charcoal Pencil on Paper
Click to enlarge (25K).
Top
|
The Gift >>
Like most good memories, this ends with a wonderful gift. Scan of a color
xerox. The original was 14.5 " x 10.5" / Acrylic on Paper
Click to enlarge (26K) |
 |
|
South, Chronologically sequenced Page
1 || Top
|
