Ganesha, hand-carved in Rajasthan

[PaulinKendal]

I'm a very lucky boy. I've just got back from a month in India, and had a fabulous time.

As a bonus, I brought back this splendid sculpt of Ganesha, which I'm intending to paint.

It was shrink wrapped, and when I removed the wrapping the figure smelt strongly of petroleum. I'm guessing it comes from the polish that has been applied to it. The smell has now dissipated, but I'm wondering whether I should try removing the surface finish, or just blast it with primer and see what happens. I think I'll probably do the latter.

[Tim Marlow]

That looks fun Paul. Personally I’d try the primer somewhere unobtrusive first, just in case you get a reaction with the original finish when you add the primer. It would be a disaster to inadvertently get that all over.

[PaulinKendal]

Good advice, Tim, I'll follow it.

[PaulTRose]

Thats going to look very interesting when painted

[rtfoe]

Very nice wooden sculpture of Ganesha... reminiscent of the many temple carvings dotting our capital and neighbourhood especially Batu Caves.
Will you be painting in colours like the carvings seen in the temples in India? The ones here are very colourful.

Cheers,
Wabble

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Following with interest Paul. What an unusual subject.

[PaulinKendal]

Very nice wooden sculpture of Ganesha... reminiscent of the many temple carvings dotting our capital and neighbourhood especially Batu Caves.
Will you be painting in colours like the carvings seen in the temples in India? The ones here are very colourful.

It was seeing all the painted wooden icons in India that made me think of painting this. At first it seemed like vandalism to consider painting such a nice wooden carving - but that's how temple carvings are decorated (and it cost less than the commercially produced figures I normally paint), so why not?

I believe the marble statues of ancient Greece and Rome were originally painted, too.

As for colours, it'll have to be bright, for sure. On temple sculptures the colours would just be blocked in, but I'm probably going to do some shading. And Ganesha is usually represented with a pink face and head - I'm considering rendering his head in more 'realistic' elephantine colours.

[Airborne01]

I'm intrigued by this Paul - any progress to date?
Steve

[PaulinKendal]

I'm intrigued by this Paul - any progress to date?
Steve

Aah, sorry not to reply, Steve, I've been very distracted - we're in the process of decluttering our house in preparation to sell up and move to the other end of the country, so I've done NO hobbying for weeks now.

So no progress with Ganesha I'm afraid, apart from a tentative spray application of paint to see if it sticks and doesn't react with whatever the figure had been polished with (it's fine).

Ganesha has gone in the stash, but will be my next project. I'll keep you posted.

[PaulinKendal]

Well we've still not moved to Norwich - yet. Our house in Kendal is off the market, to be relaunched in Jan, so I've been able to recommussion my hobby room and get some painting done!

Just started on Ganesha.

[Jim R]

Nice to see you back. Sorry the moving is not going well. I think the housing market is very slack at the moment. The uncertainty created by our Rachel.
A very interesting painting project. Glad the primer didn't react badly.

[Airborne01]

Welcome back, great start mate!
Steve

[PaulTRose]

This is a great subject.....cant wait to see it take shape

[PaulinKendal]

Nice to see you back. Sorry the moving is not going well. I think the housing market is very slack at the moment.

You're not kidding! In over three months we had just two viewings, despite slashing our asking price aggressively. There are always reasons people have to move (bereavement, change of job location, marriage, divorce, more kids - not necessarily in that order!), so a stagnating market should mean pent up demand in the New Year. Here's hoping.

[yak face]

Must have missed this when you first posted in march paul . What a fantastic project and a superb bit of craftsmanship in the sculpting . Brilliant start on the painting , its going to look stunning . If I’m ever delivering down London and the route takes me past the Hindu temple near Brent Park I’m always in awe of the beautiful limestone carvings completely covering this stunning building , on a bright sunny day its breathtaking . Cant wait to see the next instalment of ganesha , cheers tony

[flyjoe180]

Looks great already Paul, a wonderfully crafted sculpture.