Trip to Jurong Bird Park Singapore

(Very old post found in my draft posts...unposted and forgotten
posting this blog page after a long time... )


December, 2014
Trip to Jurong Bird Park Singapore

We had wonderful time watching the pranks of variety of birds living in their own environment set up and maintained so realistically by the park authorities/team, got to know their favourite food and we also got chance to feed Peacocks, Lorikeets, Orioles and Starlings. We watched the 'high flyers' bird show where the birds played, performed actions as instructed and parakeets sang songs and counted numbers.

It was eternal joy watching the birds in such a scenic ambiance... and it provided loads of frames to capture with eyes, camera lens and pencils...

Live, quick and simple sketches using graphite pencils and black pen on paper

Swans in the pool 

A pool 

Tree houses set for the high flyers show

Charcoal and chalk pencils on paper



Susil's first Acrylic on canvas
(Photo courtesy - KJN Photography)

-Susithra Naveen-

Toys and Idols...

Susil's new craze...
sketching toys and idols... and some of them are here...

Stick pen, color pencils and chalk pencils on paper...

Ganesha... Come on...start music! 

Kutti Teddy 

 u :) 

-Susithra Soodamani-

Teddy

Teddy
Colour pencils, red, white and sepia chalk pencils on paper
(using internet photo reference)

-Susithra Soodamani-

MWA@Meenakshi Amman Temple

MWA trip to Meenakshi Amman temple...
I've been yearning for a chance to sketch on location there....for a looooong time
Every inch of the temple is interesting
Madurai's Asset and Pride! Am Proud!

Appa and I went around the temple, then I sat comfortably in the corridor which surrounds the lotus tank and started sketching with my graphite pencils
Good that it was not as crowded as I thought it would be..
Some people and kids came nearby and smiled :) .... while a old lady applied kumkum on my forehead and blessed...

Welcoming Idols...

Yazhi...
A quicker sketch ....with  Black Charcoal and Hardtmuth red chalk

Yazhi...

 This sister seemed sad, in deep thoughts sitting near a pillar...
and when she peeped into my sketch book .... her face transformed into a smile and wondered... 'naana?!' (is that me?!)

Temple is the best soothing place

Certainly Meenakshi Amman temple is marked for multiple trips to sketch...


-Susithra Soodamani-

MWA@Alagar koil

15 February 2014, Saturday

10:00 a.m to 12.00 a.m

That was a great memorable day!!

Muralidharan Alagar Sir and Amiltha from Chennai met Susithra, Soodamani(Appa) and Dr.Harishankar for the first time, right inside the temple near the large gopuram at the back of karupanaswamy’s place. After a little while, new members, Animation student Sathish kumar and Oviar Prabhakaran joined us. We all introduced ourselves.

Being the first group visit, we dint find much time to roam around and sketch different locations, instead we sat near the gopuram and discussed a lot. Though Susithra had to leave for an exam and Murali sir to a family function (that was just less than a 2 hour meeting), that was memorable and valuable sharing, learning and sketching experience.

Susithra showed her previous works while Sathish showed his wonderful digital paintings, Murali sir showed his live and quick sketches made at various outdoor trips and explained how he used the pencil/ pen and ink medium in the pictures. He also told us how we can perceive various levels of abstraction while starting to sketch, use of bold single strokes, through basic shapes like circles, triangles and lines. He told us about planning a composition while sketching at locations. His tips and techniques such as 8 heads, using a mirror to identify mistakes, shrinking our eyes to have an abstract view, sketching gestures etc.. were useful. We got to know about pastels which serve as a tool to learn better about blending of colours and it helps working with acrylic colors.  Amiltha and Appa took some snaps.

Susithra and Harishankar sir sketched a pic - the view of the temple just from the place where we met while Sathish made nice miniature sketches of the temple and gestures with pen.

Through regular study, trials and experiments and continuous practice …. Art is loooong and enjoyable!!

Happy Weekend!

Hoping wonderful regular trips like this :)

-Susithra Soodamani-

MWA Inauguration on Republic Day

For a very loooong time Susi has been yearning to go on regular outdoor trips to study, learn and sketch  at various places like temples with sculptures and idols as reference / common people, gestures etc..
Inspired by CWA* .... Here comes MWA**

Started the first venture at Aruppukottai...
I guess it was my grandparents who lived there who got me the first color pencils/ crayons even before going to school

MWA....
Date : 26-01-2014 Sunday
Place:  Aruppukottai (50  Kms from Madurai)
           Malaiyarasan Kovil
Members: Susi and Appa (my greatest support and critic)
(Expecting more members)

Determined to go on regular trips on weekends to sketch outdoor...

Temple at the top of the hillock 

(Red, Sepia, black charcoal and pen on A4)

Lord Krishna
(water color pencils, Black,white charcoal on A4)

*Chennai Weekend Artists

**Madurai Weekend Artists

-Susithra Soodamani-

Cinema Flashback with Vinayagar Thunai...

The first picture Susil drew in 2014 is a Sketch of Lord Ganesha ...inspired by an art by an artist called Padmavasan

(Charcoal pencil and Orange stick pen on A4)

Cinema Flashback ... Inspired by the Event FLASHBACK held in Chennai and the Exhibits by the Chennai Weekend Artists..
Here is Susil's Cinema Flashback Ventures.... (heii.. wait a sec... Before reading...guess the personalities and then read the captions :) )

Ulaganayagan and Sridevi

(Moondram Pirai - Charcoal Pencils on A4)

Nadigar Thilagam and Natiya Peroli 

(Sikkal Shanmugam with Thillana Mohanambal - HB, 6B Graphite Pencils on A4 )

(Ref: Newspaper clippings)


-Susithra Soodamani-

Darling Darling

Sus tried portrait of her niece (Sas) with photo reference
While the one on the right came out quite well, the kurathi is in disguise (unrecognisable)

Anyways convinced that it is a good attempt  

Paapu as Kurathi and Western Dancer 

(Charcoal on chart paper )

-Susithra Soodamani-

Rajini Flashback...

A still from the Movie 'Thappu Thalangal'
Suggested by Appa

Rajini Flashback

Charcoal  on A4 paper



-Susi-

M.S Subbulakshmi Amma..

 MS Subbulakshmi Amma's 

Kaatrinilae varum Geetham and  Kurai Ondrum illai are favourites of Susi 

'Meera' reminds me of one and only MS Subbulakshmi

M.S Amma 26/9/2013

(Charcoal on A4 paper)

பட்ட மரங்கள் தளிர்க்கும் கீதம்

பண்ணொலி கொஞ்சிடும் கீதம்

காட்டு விலங்கும் கேட்டு மயங்கும்

மதுர மோகன கீதம்

நேஞ்சினிலே நேஞ்சினில் இன்பக் கனலை எழுப்பி

நினைவழிக்கும் கீதம்.....

-Susithra Soodamani-

Love U Appaaa !

Father's day special 
A quick sketch (15- 20 minutes?!)
wishing Happy Fathers day !! 

Love u Appa!!

Love u Dad!!

(charcoal pencil and crayon on A4 paper)

-Susithra Soodamani-
(Proud to carry ur name)

எல்லா புகழும் இறைவனுக்கே!

The King of Music who said...
எல்லா புகழும் இறைவனுக்கே !

The unparalleled  (can never be paralleled! ) 

(Charcoal pencils on paper)

His musical creations never fail to bring eternal joy ...

Long Live Rahman.....
For his music is immortal

Jai ho!


-Susi-

Kumki Pongal...

Kumki movie is still in Susi's wish list
The awesome cinematography is evident from the picturesque posters and advertisements
(I would watch it 'soon')
and the heroine....wooh...Susi loves her expressions, also in her debut film Sundarapandian

Pongal special.....
This was an advertisement in the newspaper and the lighting tempted Susi to sketch and make it as profile picture 

the making of Kumki 

Medium: Charcoal on paper, smudged using cotton buds :)

Happy Pongal! :)


-Susithra Soodamani-

Bye Bye Glasses...My friend !!

Itz me ....only me....no glasses ..no lens ...and its only me 

Itz mee   

Farewell to My dear friend (Glasses) 

           It was in fourth standard holidays that people at home guessed the problem in my eyes; I was taken to the eye doctor and found that I was short sighted. A thick pair of glasses was fitted on me and you came into my life. As I aged the lenses got thicker (though fiber glasses and other costlier ones made them seem thinner) until 11th or 12th std and then the power became constant...After a year I was introduced to the world of contact lenses.

My friendzz

And the day came …Corrective surgery           

          The good news was I had healthy eyes inspite of high myopia and I was considered eligible for the corrective procedure (though I was warned about the chances of getting back little power). We fixed date for the personalized LASIK at Aravind eye hospital. (Thank you Dr.Hari Priya Mam and the doctors)           

          It was 16^th May. Ready with black coolers I was in the waiting room with other patients all winking, with eyes closed or pretending to close, as eye drops were given to all of us. We were called one by one and it was my turn.        

          Into the room….with a cap covering my hair and a large green apron….I lied down with my head toward the Doctor… In the beginning I was asked to stare straight, while he taped a sheet to cover one eye and a holder like device over the other eye to keep it from blinking.While I was looking straight at the red light and could not blink, the doctor started the process. The machine made clicking sound as it worked...It smelled like something burning… the sound and the smell was something familiar. There was a voice ….”Three more….Two more …One more” and it’s done. I could see something brushing my eyes smooth like the car wipers. It was actually cool. I was able to see the red light; sometimes it was clear and sometimes fuzzy. The same was done for the left eye as well.           

          They helped me to get up when it was over. The surgery was quick, about 15 minutes only. When I sat up I could see clearer than without my glasses, First thing I saw was my toes and I was so excited that I could see it clearly without difficulty   it was almost dreamy.            

          Back home with black coolers and the eye drops prescribed for 10 days.

After surgery helpmates

And Now…

Waking Up and Just Being Able to See!!!! …without wavering the hands in search of the specs box...

May be I can try putting on eye makeup...

No more blurry vision and guessing...

No more pushing up the glasses every time...

Trees will no longer look like green sponge/bush but have definite neatly shaped leaves ...

No more contact lens...

It’s easy to see the clock at night without wearing glasses or putting my nose up to the clock...

No more dependencies at water falls and theme parks...

But really missing u sooo much friend…dear glasses…

Bubyeee!!   

           Even now..searching you every time I wake up, after a face wash….and at many times has become an instinct.You have been a part of my life for 12 long years. You made me look more professional and intelligent  , smart and good. You were with me at all hard times hiding my tears and at all happy moments, making my eyes glitter through the lenses.Thank you soooo much!! 

Thank You Appa!! 

  Thank u Appa     

    After a month...during the review check up ... in the reflection room...a little girl called susi (who couldn't even read the first big number on the screen a month back) was jumping 'internally' out of excitement as she could read almost every line(Myopia: NIL). Appa’s 12 yr wish was to get me out of myopia and that was evident from his happy tears.
Wonder!!....Delighted!! Thank you so much Appa !! 

-Susithra Soodamani-