Anita Chowdry

Previous comments

As I have recently tried to de-clutter this site and integrated the ‘About’ page with the introductory page, I have been unable to reinstate the comments originally made on those pages.  As I value these comments and did not want to lose them, I have manually copied them onto this page, and I hope the authors will continue to stay in touch:

 

Hello Anita,
Your silverpoint illustrations are exquisite! I especially enjoy those with some light color added. Recently, I have started silverpoint drawing and enjoy the practice immensely and have experimented with adding some watercolor to my illustrations too.
Though I understand this is not a traditional practice with true silverpoint illustrations, I feel that the added subtle color sometimes lends a new depth and richness to this art form – as in your iguana illustration! Beautiful!
I’m glad to see other artists applying subtle color to their silverpoint.

I’m currently using a commercial silverpoint ground – Goldens’s acrylic based ground. It works fairly well, and allows me to add the subtle watercolor when I desire. I have not tried any other ground preparations yet. Currently – my instruction has been through self-teaching and a Denver, Colorado based silverpoint artist and art professor at Denver University -Tom Mazzulo. http://www.tommazzullo.com/

Hi Dan,
Thankyou for your kind comments – colour with silverpoint is interesting, but it can be quite tricky, I find, because most silverpoint grounds are too absorbent for watercolour. I must try the Golden ground you mention, as its sounds like you have managed to address the problems with applying colour
Best, A.

As a result of being given awards, and not following them up, I have just done a post offering ‘bouquets’ rather than awards, and you are one of the people I have listed as being particularly inspiring, your work is stunning, and I have learned a great deal from your information posts as well – I found you when I was looking for information on silverpoint. Happy New Year!

 Anita Chowdry Submitted on 2014/01/01 at 4:01 am | In reply to anna warren portfolio.

Thankyou so much for this Anna – I really really appreciate your support, and all the kind comments and likes you have offered in the past. I enjoyed your post ‘bouquet’ – very inspiring.

 

From Deborah Submitted on 2013/04/07 at 10:14 pm

Hello Anita,

I am curious about what kind of shell might have actually been used to store the ‘shell gold’ paint.
Do you hold workshops in the U.S.?

Anita Chowdry Submitted on 2013/04/08 at 3:57 am | In reply to Deborah.

Hi Deborah, thanks for visiting. In India it always seems to have been the fresh-water mussel – you can actually see them depicted in Mughal paintings of painters at work. I use them, but I also like oyster shells, because they have a nice integrated ‘lid’ that protects your paint and can be used as a palette.
I am planning to visit the US late this year to do workshops – shall keep you posted

Hi Anita,
I was searching for the painting ‘raven addressing assembled animals’ as I’m painting a copy and I came across your website. Since you’ve seen the original, I actually wanted to know whether the gold color in the painting is actual gold leaf/shell gold or paint? 🙂

Also by the way I reallllllly wish I could have attended your workshop regarding making paint with real minerals and stones! But sadly I dont live in London.

Love your website.

Anita Chowdry Submitted on 2013/01/26 at 8:39 pm | In reply to Faryal Ahsan.

Hi Faryal, I know is not easy to distinguish areas of gold in a photograph, and in this case gold is actually used rather sparingly. Most of the areas that look gold are in fact yellow ochre, some of which are overpainted with a thin layer of gold – like the crocodile’s spines for example. Good luck with your painting.

Dear Anita,
I hope you are well, and that your classes and paintings are as fruitful as ever. Studio looks inspiring; I’ve been working on one of Cubitt’s buidings for several years now, by coincidence.
I appear to have mislaid my last curled minaiturist brush that I bought from you ten or so years ago; do you still sell them, or could you get hold of another couple to see me through another ten years!
Best wishes, Matthew; (prior student of one of your inspirational courses)

Anita Chowdry Submitted on 2012/12/17 at 7:50 pm in reply to Matthew Beesley.

Hi Matthew, I would love to hear more about Cubitt – I am constantly inspired by how well thought out the Woburn Walk buildings are, with consideration for community as well as wonderfully restrained decorative features – I think the style is on the cusp between Georgian neo-classical and high Victorian.
Please pop in next time you are in London, and I shall see if I can help with the brushes.