Creative Fridays' Exhibit

The Creative Fridays event initially began quite modestly and was never intended to be an ongoing activity. However, the artists enjoyed it so much, they began to plan a regular open studio session with someone bringing a measure of their expertise in a particular medium. To our surprise, there has been quite a lot of artwork as a result. Enough that it was decided to have an exhibit. Following are some of the pieces shown

The two on the left are by Janis (top) and Chuck (bottom), and are examples of what was termed, "contemporary Mughal miniatures."


Gesture drawing in ink was one Creative Friday exercise. Below bottom is one Janis drew...











Also below and bottom is another of Janis' contemporary Mughal miniatures...


These were watercolor landscapes done as a result of one Creative Friday held in Mussoorie when we were in the U.S.












These two are outcomes of the Creative Friday on illustrating. Both Janis (top) and Chuck chose illustrations for The Blue Umbrella, by Ruskin Bond, an Ango-Indian author who lives and writes in Mussoorie...











The following is an assortment by various artists....















These two are by Chuck (both top): the first a blind contour portrait in ink, colored with watercolor; the second a sun mandala in ink on photopaper, colored with watercolor.




Another assortment of art pieces displayed on a wall...











The artist on the left is a young college student who has begun attending the adult art class and participating in the Creative Friday activities. Her mother accompanied her to the Exhibition Opening because she wanted to see where her daughter was getting such inspiration.

Six of the Creative Friday regulars - two could not attend, one ill, the other in the U.S. A number of other artists and budding artists have also attended over the months of Creative Fridays.

Charcoal & Kids' Art Class

Janis and Chuck led the Kids' Art Class this week because Vikhor was preparing the Gallery for the Creative Friday's Exhibit Opening scheduled for later that same afternoon.

These kids are always fun to work with, today they were especially so! We used charcoal - we forewarned the parents, it can be messy!

Notice the portrait below by one of the more exuberant, charge ahead, students:

We found out after the first session that this little girl is only 4 1/2 years old. She is amazing in the ability to listen and follow directions however. After the first class she went home and spent about an hour and a half telling her mom everything we did that day. Notice the placement of the eyes on her portrait - characteristic of children her age.









These two are the older students - they are beginning to grasp, and practice, the concepts very well. Notice the contemporary, and popular, anime influence on at least one of the portraits.












This young man really enjoyed charcoal! You might be able to tell from his face - unfortunately the photo doesn't completely capture all the charcoal that he managed to get on his white, British Embassy School, official, uniform shirt! Fortunately his mom was forewarned and didn't seem to mind, especially considering how much he enjoyed this project.

More on Art Classes & Diversion House Mural

Blue Umbrella Art Academy & Tikona Teacher Training Institute
Vikhor, a national artist with an interest in teaching art, assisted in teaching classes last session. This session he leads the Childrens Class and assists Janis and Chuck in the Adult Class. Here he is with his students:









Diversion House (an activity of Catalysts)
We have been collaborating with Catalysts in this ongoing project. This Saturday, 10/24, was the last scheduled session with the girls (though, we have a proposal pending that will expand and extend these times for the next six months). Below are some of the girls telling the story of their "big dream":



Two of the completed works:








Here the girls are trying out their canvases in various spots prepared for the paintings on the tree wall mural:

Diversion House Design Mural

The design-mural is in the second bedroom at Diversion House. The large dark blue swirls will have biblical promises written in Hindi.

This mural will definitely be color-full!









The girls have been very engaged in this project, and are excited to see us each week. They were also quite excited to have their pictures taken before the mural and with Janis!

Diversion House Murals

The past several weeks, we've been traveling to Dwarka, an outlying area south of Delhi, to help in a project with Catalyst's Diversion House. The House is for girls, ages about 10 to 15, rescued from living on the streets of Delhi.

The project consists of 2 murals on the walls of the main room/bedroom and the second bedroom. The main room mural is a landscape setting with frames painted in for where a 1'x1' canvas painting will be hung. Each of the girls will get a chance to paint their "big dream" on a 1'x1' then the canvases will be placed in the frames on the mural.





















Some of the girls (more next posting with the design mural!)...













Some of the details and color being added

Art Classes Exhibition

The first session of 6-weeks Art Classes has finished. Immediately below Janis is conducting a make-up session for students who missed a session during the 6-weeks....

As a concluding exercise, the students' art pieces are exhibited at Reflection Art Gallery for an evening. Below are some of the student's art work...


















Students, parents, families and friends attended to see the students' work exhibited and to share in some light refreshments...

Mural and English & Art

We have started a mural on the entryway wall between our flat and our neighbor's. We're hoping to finish before Divalli, which is October 17 this year.

Here's the initial sketch...


Janis painting some of the background...








Most of the background filled in...
Some of the additional color, design and border...the rest of what is white in the photo will be orange, red and burgundy. Hopefully we'll finish in the next two weeks. So far the response from neighbors and passersby have been quite encouraging. This is one of the advantages of doing art in public, it becomes a community event...








Because the weather just changed and has been raining, Janis' English & Art class met today in front of the mural. Here Janis is with two of her most consistent students - the press-walla's daughters. They're playing UNO in which Janis has to speak in Hindi, the girls have to speak in English....