Kieran's Art

 The First Kiss of the Sun   Loose watercolor and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026 Oh how comforting to know that even after the darkest coldest night The sun will always burst forth bringing with it warmth and daylight It behooves us to remember that nothing last forever, nothing ever will In the midst of the storm keep faith and you'll find peace and tranquil The temptation is to take charge and get control - that's a big mistake The blade of grass bends to the wind, the stubborn bamboo snaps and breaks Experience teaches us when to fight and when to lay low, that's for sure This too shall pass, live to fight another day; don't be rash and immature

 Tales of a Sun Dappled Window   Loose line and wash watercolor and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by a photo sent by a dear friend (No, I'm not good enough to take requests so don't even think about it 😅) A well meaning friend sent me a picture of a charming cottage window. Draped in all shades of blue from sky to cerulean to cobalt and indigo! The window muntins and sash were bleached by the Mediterranean sunshine. The window panes weren't broken and the neat lace curtains were by design. The genteel owners clearly love fragrant sprigs of blue geraniums in pots. The bright red porcelain vase quietly suggests holiday to some exotic spots. If only the walls could speak what stories would they tell to you and me? Pour yourself a cuppa coffee and let the visual carry you away to gay Capri

Rocks and Flowers   Watercolor painting by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by an artist who paints only wildflowers amidst rocks. It gave me great joy to visualise the different colours and texture that abound in nature, and I hope it brightens up your day too

 Just felt right for a glass of Chardonnay   Original watercolor and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, inspired by the events of the day Today marked the start of the spring gardening season, a not a day too soon Wondering why? Wheeler's delivered a truckload of compost, 'tis such a boon. It's backbreaking work moving 10 cubic feet of fully broken organic compost After twelve months of prep it smells earthy and moist - black gold almost! It felt just right to kickback with a glass of my favorite chardonnay chilled And whole wheat crackers with smoky Gouda cheese and shrimp that's grilled A small reminder that spring is right round the corner an' I just can't wait To catch some sun while gardening - oh la la just thinking about it feels great

 The Esoteric Art of Painting Light and Shadow   Watercolor painting and artsy poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I continue practising (bumbling along) the elusive art Another reckless attempt at trying to capture the magic of light and shadow. A bowl of Red apples in a Crystal bowl with a sunburst adding to the glow! The contrasting shadow a hint of Burnt sienna blended in with Ultramarine blue. The dense crystal bowl randomly scattering light as it passes through and through! Fresh apples in Alazarin crimson with a touch of Crimson red add allure to the art. Finish it with a cool wash of Cerulean blue and Payne's grey for the background part! Light makes one approach the subject with humility, one can only try but there's more But thus just adds to the mystique with much to learn, and so many aspects to explore

 Ode to Mango, the King of Fruits   Watercolor painting and original ode by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, remembering the delicious Goan Mancurad mango of my childhood, a result of grafting introduced by Portuguese Jesuits over 500 years ago Permit me take you back to the mango groves of late 1500s in Portuguese Goa. Jesuit priests brought with them advanced fruit grafting knowledge from Lisboa! Until then the quality of mangoes were left to the whims of open pollination. Expert in grafting figs and citrus, good mangoes soon grew in any location The divine Afonso mango threw open the doors of the royal courts of Emperor Akbar Prompting dialogue between religious scholars all because the mango was the star   Akbar planted hundreds of thousands of mangoes in Darbhanga so smitten was he Making mango, famous for nectar sweetness, khushbu and texture, royal by decree