Monday, 22 June 2015

Mahabalipuram shore temple - watercolor painting - by N.K.Baskaran

Mahabalipuram Shore Temple

watercolor painting of mahabalipuram shore temple by artist N.K.Baskaran to honor one of South India's greatest monuments built in the 7th century by the pallava dynasty.

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Jehangir art gallery - N.K.Baskaran watercolor paintings are available - www.jehangirartgallery.com

http://www.jehangirartgallery.com/gallery.php?event=133#.VXgkFVWqqko

Lakshana art gallery graphic prints and drawings of 20 artists for `Print Makers Atelier - 2006'

Etched with finesse

`Print Makers Atelier - 2006' at Lakshana showcases graphic prints and drawings of 20 artists

Printmaking is an important branch of visual arts along with painting and sculpture. But generally people do not realise how much skill and endeavour go into it. The word `print' makes one feel it is a mechanical reproduction of images and has got nothing to do with originality. `Print Makers Atelier - 2006' is perhaps the first ever exclusive exhibition in the city showcasing the graphic prints and drawings of 20 artists. The works include a variety of prints such as etching, dry point, monoprint, colograph, woodcut, lithograph and digital prints made by artists who have been working in the graphic workshops of the Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre. The senior most of the participants is C.L.D. Gupta, whose control of the medium of etching is seen in "Baul Singer" and a couple of charcoal drawings. The silvery appearance of the meticulous pencil drawing by K. Balasubramaniyan is noteworthy. Cynthiya's mixed media work "Kite" and another showing a fish, in which the viscosity technique has been used, are colourful and appealing; "Ten Commandments", another work by her, attracts attention because of its rocky texture. In Kanakasabamani's works too, texture plays a major role. Scattered staccato lines are the hallmark of Premalatha Seshadri's creations. Loretti Joyce Pinto's etching of a woman reveals her firm handling of the etching tool and her ability in drawing; multiple figures in different poses dominated by the big face of the woman expressing anguish come out powerfully. She has also done a couple of prints in the chinecolle technique resulting in a multicoloured collage-like imagery. The same technique has been effectively applied by D. S. Sridhar. His dry point untitled work seems to depict a Buddhist Jataka tale. The colour scheme in the mono print by Shailesh suits "Me" well; the twin heads seem to indicate the closeness of the man and the woman. Though thematically different, the wood block prints of Dinakar Sundar introduce the ancient technique of Japan. The digital manipulated prints of N. Srinivasan are based on his pet theme - memories of his native village which still influence his urban situation. Though somewhat decorative, the textural variations contrasting the smooth and the rough are commendable in the digital creations of Ramesh Yanthra. The same technique finds use in the works of K. Baskaran. As today's typical young man, Jacob Jebaraj has chosen to use the CD disc with heat process to demonstrate his control of the medium of etching. Can contact prints be a tool of graphics? "Yes," says Prasanna whose contact prints of newspaper headlines form a unique idea. The newspapers are supposed to have shaded his window and the effect of a window shutter comes out clearly in the somewhat small prints. The show at the Lakshana Museum of Aarts is on till February 20. LAKSHMI VENKATRAMAN

N.K.Baskaran MFA paintings show - The new Indian Express

The cerulean sky, a seamless golden lining as the sun hides behind the clouds and a bright moon in a night that is otherwise pitch dark. That is probably the most repeated imagery of the mind, whenever the word nature is mentioned.

How much difference can you show in paintings that have three common elements — a boat, a man (boatman or a fisherman) and a water body? Just with these three images that conjure up art works entirely based on nature, artist K Baskaran’s vast canvases of works in water colours explore the expansive firmament of nature that dons a new role every hour.

As the brackish water or the muse of the sky dances in the reflection of red hues, Bhaskaran’s images work towards a common goal, presenting the mysticism and unmatched beauty of nature.

With some of the largest art works done in water colours, the artist, with an eye on social cause, has made an earnest attempt to create environmental awareness as well.

The show has taken a cue from recent times as it presents the picturesque Life of Pi in one of its odes to nature — with the flow of water that meanders and takes off on a winding journey, or at times, stands still like a moment of introspection.

The show is on at Art Houz, No 41, Kasturi Rangan Road, Alwarpet till July 31.

Artist N.K.Baskaran exhibition - Article by Deccan Chronicle

‘It’s the toughest medium’: Baskaran K.

Chennai-based artist Baskaran K., currently showcasing his collection themed around nature, at Art Houz gallery in the city, chooses to work in water colours.

His love for art, he surmises, must have come from his mother and sister, the best in his family at drawing kolams on the floor.

“My father was a natural, born artist who too served as an inspiration,” says Baskaran. “From the time I was in school I would take part in art tournaments, and nine times out of 10, I would take home the first prize. My motivation for art came from humble sources of inspiration, and I kept pursuing my love for art, which I also studied at the college level. It was at Chennai Arts College that I started experimenting with different mediums,” he points out.

He toyed with different mediums in college, but was more inclined towards water colours. This has been his chosen line of serious pursuit since the last five years and forms a part of the current collection on display. “It is by far the toughest medium,” Baskaran says, “considering an error can never be undone. I choose my thoughts wisely before I sit down to paint, and those thoughts and memories have come alive in this collection. The themes I like working with are the five elements of Mother Nature, and in doing so, I recollect a time that is long forgotten when boats and ships got people across rivers and continents.”

Baskaran has been part of several national-level shows, has shown at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, which he considers a highlight of his career thus far, considering an artist is invited to unveil his collection only once every seven years, so difficult is it to get an exhibition slot at that venue. He has also had solo shows in Singapore.

He plans to experiment with mixed media on canvas in the years to come.

Monday, 22 June 2015