My Paintings

How to Paint a Geologic Abstract on a Triptych in Oil Media

April 5, 2010 Filed Under: My Paintings By Ishrath Humairah

Nature inspireds one and all in its resilient ways. From magnificiant and expansive landscapes to the minute details of an atom, there is inspiration all around. When ever I see an empty canvas, the are visions of endless landscapes, bursting skies, and all the possibilities of what colors can be.

Geological formations are inspiring and humbling. They offer a lot more than what a man can behold in his senses. There are stunning moments, astonishing colors, amazing formations, abstract concepts and composition, rare textures and hues, and so much more. How much can a poor human eye behold: And how much can the body take in the experience.

Most of my abstracts revolve around rocks, gemstones, and deepscapes. This tutorial is for all my friends who have asked for the technique I use. I hope it helps you in painting wild.

Here are my step-by-step directions for making a 3-canvas (triptych) oil painting in geologic series.

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Come to Thee – Silhouette Oil Painting of Mosque Minaret at Sunset

March 26, 2010 Filed Under: My Paintings By Ishrath Humairah 10 Comments

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Mosque Silhouette Painting

Come to Thee was made a long long time back, probably one of my first organised paintings with proper materials and techniques. I do not know its dimensions and dont want to either.

This perhaps is the only painting that involved me right from the beginning. From cutting out the wooden board, fixing and preparing the canvas, to painting it in best oils and hanging it on the wall. Everything in one evening, in one go – in a frenzy. What a soul lifting experience it was.

Its a beautiful memoir that hangs on my walls that keeps reminding me to the trials and tribulations that one goes through in life.

Come to Thee was made in the era when my easel was a washing machine that had the right bends and grooves to hold this bespoke canvas steady. Those were the lovely days.

It now hangs on the walls not only because it goes well with the sights and sounds that surround my home but because it keeps reminding me of the lovely life that went by… which only gets better with every passing day.

Been There – Gradient Oil Painting on Canvas

March 14, 2010 Filed Under: My Paintings By Ishrath Humairah 31 Comments

Been There – Oil Painting on Canvas

Another painting done this week. It was on my mind since a long time but I could not get to do it. Till I finally got so badly restless to get it out. What will I do now?

Been There – because somewhere in some point of life, we have visited this. We feel it. We connect to it. You have been there too. Like I have. And so will all.

Oil on canvas – 18″ x 30″

Fire Within – Impasto Silhouette Painting of Burnt Trees Against Fiery Hues in Oil Media

February 23, 2010 Filed Under: My Paintings By Ishrath Humairah 8 Comments

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Fire Within – Oil on Canvas

Here comes another painting which took woefully long time to finish. Layer after layer, colors tones and hues kept changing till I could look at it from distance and say – done. Painting in midst mayhem does tell upon the canvas. I guess it is evident here.

Fire Within painting takes my passion for impasto to another level. The only catch is that I have not used any modelling paste or gesso to get the thickness. Those are the oils; thick strokes of dense colors that lend in their highlights, when viewed from sides.

This oil painting is related to Deep Rooted series but is changing its colors and emotions drastically. The tones are getting darker and deeper with every stroke. The photo does not show its colors and hues well enough. Sometimes I wonder if it is done yet. But if I do not say that to myself, I will probably never be able to move onto another painting.

It took a long time for Fire Within to reach where it is. Today it stands dried and ready on a 36″ x 24″ box stretched canvas, that needs no framing and is ready to be hung on the wall.

Nameless and Faceless – An Impressionist Painting in Acrylic Media on Paper

February 2, 2010 Filed Under: My Paintings By Ishrath Humairah 43 Comments

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Nameless and Faceless – Acrylic Media on Paper

This painting, Nameless and Faceless, has been inspiredd by a photo I had seen long time back. Though I remember nothing more than that, something about it stayed on for long… its form, colors, composition and the whole emotion that it conveyed; I have tried to convey the same with a palette knife. I could never come with a name for this painting for I can never justifiy it enough. So for now it remains, Nameless and Faceless.

I would be glad if I can see that inspiring photograph once again and also get to meet the person behind it who got so many things right in a single frame.

This is one of my favorite paintings with shades of blue, browns, ochre, indigoes and black. The subject and the composition may be cliched but the knife strokes are not. For me, these are the soul behind every painting as the emotion laden strokes can never be copied or reproduced. I think thats the beauty of any original painting and that you cannot really reproduce any work of art. And if you do, it is like a beautiful body without the soul.

My friends always complain about the dark nature of my paintings. They always ask me if I can come up with something happier. 🙂 I think these paintings are just another way of celebrating life. And I do not find anything dark or depressing about them.

There seems to be more joy in these deeper shades and hues.