Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Seattle Skyline

 A quick sketch of the Seattle skyline as seen from the Kerry park. Kerry park is one of those places we never tire of visiting. There's something special about seeing Seattle unfold before you: the skyline, the Space Needle, Key Arena, the partial view of the Stadiums, and Mount Rainier in the background. 

This sketch is a little tribute to a view we love and the memories we have made taking it all in.

Pen and charcoal on 18" x 24" paper. 



Monday, April 20, 2026

Shilabalike'

Last year, we visited the Belur temples in Karnataka, and I was completely drawn into the world of soapstone sculptures. The level of detail, the fluidity of form and the life captured in stone felt almost unreal.

This is my study of one of the shilabalikes - a graceful dancer caught in a quiet, intimate moment, looking at herself in a mirror. Time has not spared her entirely. The delicate, free-hanging necklace is broken, and parts of her legs are damaged. And yet, her presence remains powerful. If anything, the imperfections add character, reminding us of the centuries she has lived through.

What continues to amaze me is that this entire figure including the jewelry was carved out of a single piece of stone.

This is a charcoal drawing (18" x 24"), my attempt to capture a small glimpse of that timeless beauty.



Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Fashion - from the archives

 Here is another pencil sketch of a model. Done on paper approx. 30"X40". Drawn in 1989!



Gitopadesha - from the archives

 Here is a pastel painting of the Gitopadesha scene from Mahabharata where Krishna is preaching to Arjuna just before the battle of Kurukshetra. This was done in 1987 on brown wrapping paper. Size 40"X30" approx.



Saturday, December 27, 2025

Delphic Sibyl by Michelangelo

 A study of the Delphic Sibyl in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

I used sanguine and sepia pencils and sticks, and finished it off with color from pencils.  The original in Sistine Chapel is about three times life-size whereas this study is 24" x 18" on paper. 


Saturday, December 13, 2025

Giza Pyramids

Earlier this month, I had the chance to visit Egypt and see the Pyramids of Giza in person. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you’re standing next to something that’s been around for thousands of years. The scale is massive, but what really caught my attention was the precision and geometry of the construction - and the fact that we still don’t have clear answers on how they were built.

The whole area is vast and wide open, mostly a muted desert palette. But it’s broken up by clusters of camels carrying tourists, giving a burst of color and movement to the otherwise still landscape. From a distance, the scene feels both timeless and active.

I wanted to capture that contrast in a quick sketch - this one’s done digitally on the iPad. I used simple lines and a minimal shading to reflect the simplicity and structure of the pyramids and the desert around them. 



Saturday, January 11, 2025

El Arco

Standing proudly where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, El Arco - the iconic natural arch of Los Cabos - is breathtaking. Often called "Land’s End," El Arco is not only a stunning photo opportunity but a beloved emblem of Cabo’s spirit and charm. Nearby, you'll find Lover’s Beach, with its calm, swimmable waters on the Sea of Cortez side, and Divorce Beach, where the Pacific’s waves crash dramatically onto the sand. The arch is accessible only by water, and the journey is half the fun.



Thursday, November 21, 2024

Spitfire

 A quick sketch of the iconic Spitfire fighter. This was one of my favorite fighter planes of the World War II era. 



Saturday, December 30, 2023

Edinburgh Castle

 A quick sketch of the Edinburgh Castle.



Saturday, July 24, 2021

Arijit Singh

 Line drawing of Arijit Singh drawn on the iPad. This is a single uninterrupted line drawing which is a lot of fun to do. 



Friday, July 2, 2021

Guitar Chord

 A quick pencil sketch of a guitar chord playing hand.



Saturday, May 15, 2021

BB King

 A portrait of BB King on the iPad.



Saturday, February 20, 2021

Line Drawing - Dr. Rajkumar

 Tried another single line drawing.  A portrait of Dr. Rajkumar.  



Saturday, February 6, 2021

Line Drawing

 Tried line drawing of Freddie Mercury of Queen on my iPad.  Never thought it would be so peaceful and therapeutic to doodle on glass. This is one of my first tries at finishing the entire drawing with one uninterrupted single line. Lot of fun and challenging. 



Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Mukilteo Lighthouse

 We finally ventured out of the house during this Covid season to visit Mukilteo and Whidbey Island.  Happened to visit the cute little lighthouse at Mukilteo and loved it.  Here is a quick sketch of the lighthouse.



Saturday, December 28, 2019

Santorini Inspiration

A visit to Santorini was on my bucket list ever since I saw the first photo of the blue domes and whitewashed cubiform houses against the dramatic blue Aegean sea.  The picture perfect views from the village of Oia are breathtaking.  Finally, I was able to visit Santorini this year.  Thoroughly enjoyed the place and took a lot of photos. 

Here are a few sketches inspired by this beautiful island.



Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Michelangelo's David

Pencil sketch of Michelangelo's David.  The anticipation of action is perfectly manifested in the facial features.  The 13.5' tall statue carved by a twenty-something Michelangelo is breathtaking and a must see in Florence.
 

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

iPad sketch 2

Here is a try at drawing a portrait with the iPad and iPencil.  I am getting used to drawing on the tablet and layers gives me a lot of flexibility and ease of erasing mistakes.


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

iPad and iPencil sketch

Bought the new iPad and Pencil last week and wanted to try digital sketching.  Here is my first digital sketch.  The Pencil does a pretty good job, but the lag is noticeable with the new iPad.


Used the free Adobe Sketch app.  Unfortunately, this app does not offer different papers.  Want to try ProCreate next.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Que la Paix

A quick sketch of the landmarks from one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  A mixed media sketch with ink and graphite.

Let there be peace in the city of love.