Unusual canvases

This is another post in the series of unusual canvases (see the first one here).
         I'm always instantly attracted to any form of art, it doesn't have to be on paper or canvas. In fact, I have this fetish for unusual canvases which encouraged me to do a whole series on this subject. Today I'm writing about an art form which most of you will be tempted to try out once you've seen how simple and attractive it is.
                           Feast your eyes on these -

 What better way to celebrate fall than to have autumn leaves painted on your nails ....!!

 A Halloween design here....sure to grab many eyeballs and make you feel like a diva...

 Colourful gypsy nails anyone?
                                       All these beautiful designs are done by Robin Moses, a talented nail artist. Check out her blog. She does designs to suit every mood, season and holiday.
                                                    All the above designs are by a talented professional. However, one can try some simple nail designs at home...like the ones below -

 This one here can be done by just applying a coat of pink nail paint (or any other colour) and then applying polka dots with a contrasting colour. Apply the polka dots with the end of a toothpick.

This is another simple but attractive design - clear nail paint as base and coloured rhinestones stuck on in flower shape. I would like to try this with a pastel coloured base.

 This is a beautiful lattice work. The diagonal lines are drawn on the nails with beige nail polish on the end of a toothpick. How attractive ...reminds me of the top of a cherry pie..
                                                           So, next time you're going out and want to add a little flair to your dressing up, try some of these simple nail art designs and trust me, you'll end up being the center of attention.
Source of images : here, here, here

Diwali Lights..

Happy Diwali to all..! I am sharing various corners of my home decorated for diwali ...
(P.S. - We live in a govt. house, so please excuse the shabby state of walls and floor....)
P.P.S.- This post is heavy on pictures..


This is rangoli made on my side-board in the dining room...the diyas waiting to be lighted in the evening..

A close up view.....

Rangoli made on the entrance..I made this rangoli one day previously, and it met with a sad end when a stray dog made himself comfortable on it during the night. So next day I made another one, and took suitable anti-dog measures.

A closer view..

The new rangoli...

This one is not so detailed as the previous one..I just could not gather up the energy, plus I was still very angry at the dog...could not concentrate..

A corner of the living room here..the flower is made with a rangoli stencil available in the market in many different patterns..

Another corner in the living room...

The Bar...

My plants...

and the dining table...waiting to welcome visitors..

Diyas lighted at night...

There is something magical about the light of a diya...

The entrance..

The electric lights can never look as good as the twinkling light of a diya or a candle...

agree or disagree?

Hope your life is filled with the lights of Diwali forever..

Designers from Ancient India.

We recently took a trip to Khajuraho, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has beautiful temples carved out of stone, and the skill of the artisans has to be seen to be believed. It is as if the sculptor has drawn on stone with his chisel, and indeed many of us cannot draw half as well with a pencil on paper. Here I am posting some beautiful patterns and designs from ancient India -

My salute to those artisans of the old.

Fantastic Fall...

 I am in love with the way houses in west are decorated for fall...its absolutely amazing! Love the fall colours, the hay stacks, the pumpkins, the scarecrows, the cornucopias, the various orange yellow shades of leaves...sigh! I could go on and on....

                                                  I would love to keep a few of those carved pumpkins as diwali decorations this year. Really, October is one of my favourite months of the year.....Diwali, autumn and halloween all blend into one another so beautifully..
     The decorations for all three can just overlap with a few changes...I'm definitely going to try a few experiments this year...till then, I just want to drool on these images of fall decorations  (some of these are highly doable )..........check'em out..

 just candles, pinecones and pumpkins...

 Beautiful leafy garland  to adorn your windows, or even mantlepieces....

 Colours of fall in a jar....for those people who live in a place where leaves actually turn these lovely shades of yellow and red and orange...I can only drool...

 Simplicity itself...the whole combination of red orange leaves, a pumpkin and basket is beautiful...

 Another very simple centrpiece......I simply LOVE  the wreath made of reeds on the wall behind...

 Love the idea of filling coloured bottles with natural decor elements....

 These lovely painted spades are perfect patio decorations....

                               This wreath is stunning in its simplicity....anyone else feeling inspired to give this one a try at home...I certainly am...and once I am done with it, it'll certainly be another post...ciao for now...!!

      All images from the net...see here and  here.
                                 

KITSCH

                       My Experiment With Kitsch


                          This post has almost no words and only two pictures...I'll let the picture do the talking..

           
         This is painted on a ceramic plate with acrylic colours and is inspired by the colourful truck art found in Pakistan.  To see examples of typical  Pakistani truck art, click  here.

beachscape

This is the story of a girl who went to a beach for the first time in her life. She saw the ocean, the waves breaking upon the shore, the mesmerizing sound of water, the shells on the beach, the rounded pebbles...and she saw and felt the beauty and power of nature as she had never felt before (living as she was in a concrete jungle). And she never wanted to leave !!..But all things eventually come to an end, and so did her holiday.
                                                                              She was sad to part with the place, so she took some memories along as keepsakes to keep in her city apartment which will remind her of the beach and perhaps give a beachy feel to her home...
                                                  Here's a table which looks just like a part of the beach....complete with sand, pebbles and shells...and one which gets many compliments as well from her visitors...

                                                                   A closer view....

                     

                     ....and an appropriate centrepiece completes the picture.

                                 


                          This is the arrangement on one of the side tables...the tablecover is actually a sarong..

And another beach inspired arrangement for the side board...more pebbles, some beads and a frangipani flower...

And finally, a centrepiece for the dining table...an attempt to recreate the magic of those evenings spent sitting in candlelight by the beach, feeling the salty wind in your hair and the crash of waves somewhere in the dark..

                                         
                                    Hmmm...nice but I think she forgot the candles...!
      

paper art 2

Here's some more of my paper art that I love so much...
A personalized name plate...

                                                       

And then trying it out against different backgrounds.... Which one do you think looks best?

                                             

                                          Well, I think black and white is my favourite...
                                          See you again soon, hopefully with more paper art...
                                                                        Cheers!