MY LATEST PAINTINGS
Dr Nihal D Amerasekera
At my request, ND sent me two of his latest paintings. They are beautiful and ample demonstrations of his artistic abilities. Nihal provided the information accompanying the paintings, which enhanced his presentation. I hope viewers enjoy them as much as I did.
Mahendra Gonsalkorale.
SOUTHWOLD
Southwold is a quaint village by the sea along the Suffolk coast. It has been described as quintessentially British and I have no reason to disagree. It lies at the mouth of the river Blyth and is a place of outstanding natural beauty. It is indeed an ancient village mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1086. Like most villages by the sea it is nature that has decided its fate. Storms and tidal waves have changed the course of its river which have affected the way of life of its inhabitants. A fire in 1659 destroyed much of the village but much of it was never rebuilt and was left as village greens.
It is a picturesque seaside town with sandy beaches and many
beach huts. The town is a magnet for tourists all year round. Southwold has a
lighthouse commissioned in 1890 which still guides ships that navigate the East
Coast. Southwold Pier stretches 190 metres into the sea and houses shops and
places of entertainment. The pier also has the famous Water Clock that raises a
smile every 30 minutes.
St Edmund’s Church in Southwold, considered one of Suffolks
finest, was built in the 1400’s and remains a functioning church and also
attracts many visitors.
Southwold is home to the Adnam’s Brewery a famous brand
established in 1872.
The famous author George Orwell who wrote ‘Animal farm’ and
‘1984’ lived in Southwold for 20 years from 1921 and wrote much of his work
from there.
I first came to this beautiful village in 2007 when my elder
son got married to a girl from the area. They arranged the wedding in the
‘village’ which is now described as a town. Southwold will always have a place
close to my heart for those wonderful memories I cherish.
PEAK DISTRICT
It has been a family tradition for many years to go away to
some place in the UK and stay together in a house or a hotel for a week. There is no cooking or washing the dishes,
just a lot of driving, plenty of music and some good wine. Last year it was Rye
in Sussex and this time round it was the
beautiful Peak District.
The Peak District has been designated as a National Park
since 1951. The park lies in the heart of England and covers 555 sq miles
covering five counties: Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and
Greater Manchester. To me its pristine peaks and troughs are a great reminder
of Diyatalawa and Bandarawela . When I
part the curtains in the morning the rolling mist that cover the mountains
takes me back to the hill country in Sri Lanka.
We stayed in a hotel in the Hope Valley in Derbyshire
surrounded by some of the most picturesque scenery. Thirteen million visit the
Peak District every year to enjoy walking, climbing, cycling, mountain biking
and caving. There are many disused mines
which have been used for quarrying grit stone since the 13th
century.
There are seven rivers in the Peak District and 3 large
reservoirs providing water to the local population and for irrigation. The Peak
District has some of the purest natural mineral water in the world, and is
famous for brands including Buxton and Ashbourne.
The area has inspired writers for generations, from Jane
Austen and Charlotte Bronte to William Wordsworth and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
I was born in Kandy, that beautiful citadel in the hills. I am well aware of the affection Sri Lankans have for the hill country and the mountains. The peak district in the summer is simply beautiful and will most certainly transport your mind back to those visits you’ve enjoyed in Sri Lanka.
Mahen
ReplyDeleteThank you for publishing my meagre attempt at landscape painting. In the past I have done many portraits and this is my first try at landscapes. I find them time consuming and difficult to get the 3-dimensional effect close to reality as possible. It is hard to beat what nature has done over many centuries and also what man has created to enhance its beauty.
I have looked at the John Constable masterpieces to get some ideas and inspiration. He is a genius in the way he brings his images to life and reality.
Despite its difficulties drawing these gave me immense pleasure. As I've said before , for me it has been a form of meditation and also mindfullness. I thought of nothing else but the project at hand. When I look at them again even now there are things I would like to change and enhance. As everything else in life nothing is perfect.
Nihal, these paintings are wonderful and exhibit a unique style - your style! Please don't try to make them "as close to reality as possible" as you describe. Your paintings convey a feeling - a love for your subject. I presume you are using watercolors? Personally, I find them difficult to use, but they seem to suit your style. I love your choice of colors and the way you have painted the clouds in the first painting. This may be your first attempts but I think you are off to a very good start. Please continue painting, because we'd love to see more.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean by painting being "a form of meditation." More of our friends should try it. I am in a bit of a slump at the moment, but I think I will get back to it sooner than later.
I few years ago I started watching a British TV series entitled "Peak Practice," and was fascinated by the background scenery. I've often thought it would be lovely to visit that area. Who knows? Maybe someday...
Nihal
ReplyDeleteThe great portrait painter has become a great landscape painter ! Well done !
I enjoyed your paintings especially the 'southwold'. The ' Peak district' painting shows your identity and your style of painting I feel. You should keep it up as Srianee says. You would have spent so much time to paint these, specially the' Southwold'. I can imagine the ' meditation and mindfulness' you have imparted to these paintings. I am sure you would have received so much of pleasure on painting these. So please go on painting landscapes which gives us enjoyment too. All the best !
Chira
Chira
DeleteThank you for your lovely comments. Landscape painting can be arduous but most rewarding. I will persevere with the inspiration from Srianee and yourself. Some of the scenery and botanical gardens in Sri Lanka are some of the best in the world. I will try my hand on the stunning scenery of our own beautiful island, the jewel of the Indian Ocean.
I am so impressed with the paintings of Claude Monet. They look like arbitrary splashes of paint but look so real and so very beautiful.
DeleteNihal
ReplyDeleteI'd like to change the word 'painter' to 'Artist' in the first line.
Chira
Srianee
ReplyDeleteI am new to painting. Until your comment I was concerned people wouldn’t understand what I was trying to achieve hence my desire to bring every mountain tree and bush closer to reality. I’ve read this is really not necessary as the eye makes it into reality if done in the right way. I am pleased Srianee you like my style. I use the iPad and the Apple pen and will continue to do so. Thank you.
As for the British scenery and landscapes it is stunningly beautiful. Since I have stopped foreign visits we have travelled in the UK. In every season there are beautiful places to visit and enjoy. The prevailing wind for this island is south westerly blowing moisture from the Atlantic, hence can be wet, but it also adds and emerald green to the landscape all year round. Rain is pennies from heaven!! Unless you don’t have an umbrella!!
I'm even more impressed to hear that your creations were done using the iPad and the Apple pen, which is another medium that I am trying to master. Well done!
DeleteSrianee
DeleteThere are many advantages painting with the iPad. I carry it with me wherever I go quite easily. Sending the paintings across to others is so easy as its all digital. No messy brushes and no paint everywhere. I can stop and start my paintings in a jiffy. Try it and you would love it. I always believe if one could enter the medical faculty when we did one can do anything . Perhaps an overstatement but not far wrong.
Dear ND, your skill at landscape drawing is amazing! The narratives, written in that lucid style of yours make the paintings come alive especially to those of us who have not visited these beautiful places. We would love to enjoy the paintings that you have done on your previous holiday trips. I agree with Srianee you should keep to your unique creative style. Manel
ReplyDeleteDear Manel
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your encouraging comments. I enjoy doing landscapes although new to it. With portraits , if it is not a true likeness there is a possibility of the subject being unhappy or even annoyed. None of that with landscapes. It is an opportunity to immerse oneself in the beauty of a wonderful part of the world. Writing a short account and describing beauty is also therapeutic. Thanks again.
Nihal,
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I do some painting, too, although I hesitate to call myself an artist! I prefer acrylics as a medium because they dry quicker than oils while having many of the features of oil paints. This fact of long drying times makes oils ideal if you want to keep developing your painting. Acrylics are also water-soluble, which is very handy, it is much easier to wash the brushes!
I find watercolours one of the most difficult as there are so many techniques that you need to master, but transparency and “running” colours into each other can give very rewarding effects. But it is not easy to make changes when the paint has dried.
I haven’t got much experience with the i-Pad and Apple pen. I must try again!
Landscapes are also challenging in the traditional sense as a 3-D view is necessary. But there are more modern styles where “bringing to life” with a 3-D effect is not necessary.
I quite like charcoal and a soft pencil for black and white drawings with the use of shading to get life-like effects.
Nihal, it is only now that I am aware of your artistic talent!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations !
Sanath,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. Painting is something to do in retirement. Nowadays when I look around and see the trees I try to figure out how to draw it.
Becoming a habit now. I get a lot of satisfaction from painting.
Nihal Amerasekera
Hi Nihal
ReplyDeleteExcellent effort and pleased to know that you get so much satisfaction from painting. The foreground of the Southwold painting looked very professional.
Have you thought of doing a painting of the Lords cricket ground, one of your favourite places.
Hello Bora,
DeleteGreetings! Sorry I missed your call yesterday being on the busy Elizabeth line to Reading. Glad you like my paintings. In the Southwold painting I tried to emulate the professionals and in the the other I tried my own version of a landscape I liked. I will indeed have a go at the iconic pavilion at Lords. Best wishes.