An experiment with blunt pencil, ink & wash

An experiment with black ink using a blunt pencil. I've done the washes first and then scribbled those lines to get the composition. Happy with the result :)

I'm inspired by Kiah Kiean [http://kiahkiean.com/artblog/ ]. I've recently brought his book ' line-line journey' and absolutely amazed by his mastery over line & perspective.

The Royal Mile

Royal Mile, Scotland -  every inch so royal!
The whole length of the street is filled with some nice old & magnificient buildings. It has some wonderful places like Royal Mile Whiskies, Writers Museum, and that grand & tall festival hub [ castle hill] at the end. Tried to quickly capture in a minimalist style using pen and watercolor.

The Majestic Mysore Palace

I've done this in Pen & Wash. The dark sky color effect is a great effect with a splash of ink [ Dr.Ph.Martin's Ultra Blue, Radiant Concentrated watercolor]

Mysore Maharaja Palace, India. The guide told us that this enormous structure was built in 1912 with just 50Lakh Rupees - which means 100K USD approx!! It is said that this structure is a blend of architectural styles from India, Middle East, and West. 

A Nice Tearoom in Pitlochry

This is one of the loveliest views i've come across - Hetties in Pitlochry, Scotland.
...the dark blue doorway with a large window was so welcoming that anyone can hardly miss this! More beautiful is the background that it is cast against - the wall is made up of mix and match of rocks, bricks, and cement. The long shaft of corrugated-rusty-iron-look-alike roof on the top of the wall melds nicely into the wall. This is one of my favorite pictures..in pen & watercolor.

The Ooty Hut

A unique hut built with thatching, bent coconut tree trunks, and locally sourced wooden planks..this is in Botanical Gardens, Ooty, India. A local tribe called Todas live and sell wares, shawls and other food stuff. Wonderfully nostalgic! Done in Pen & watercolor.

The haunting ruins of Warangal Fort, India

As a kid, i was always captivated by the grandeur of those rock pillars. And i grew up listening to those stories from those pillars of power that ruled the time. The beauty which still haunts...i've tried to capture the long view of the famous archway of the fort. The craftsmanship, artwork and engravings are very intricate and melodious. What remains now is just ruins..Sketched it in pen & watercolor using an an old photograph.

Bit of history: Warangal - a historical town, 150 km away from the Hyderabad. Warangal Fort epitomizes the beauty and wonder of the bygone era of Kakatiya Kingdom. This city was also mentioned by Marco Polo in his travel diaries. I come from this city and have a special place in my heart. Have a look at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WarangalFort.png