Kieran's Art

  Oranges Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025. The artwork is a study in using complementary colours to bring out brightness. The poem is a throwback to my early childhood in Nagpur, my birthplace. My grandfather came to Nagpur o'er ninety years ago That started our Nagpur love story, 'lil did we know  You get the sweetest and juiciest mandarin oranges there The soil’s acidic, summer’s hot ‘n winter has cool air Just before the tangy fruit ripen, the rain stops 'Tis perfect timing to ensure bumper orange crops Since 2014, they have a GI tag to protect its name  But its unique flavour is the real claim to fame

  Nostalgia Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by memories of the kerosene oil lamp that always came in handy during the summer power cuts of 1960s What is it about nostalgia that awakens your soul? Just a slight whiff of the past sets you on a roll Opening the floodgates of memories of a kinder, gentler age Long-forgotten names and faces set sentiments on a rampage An old photograph, a long-lost friend or an antique object Is all that's needed for cherished flashbacks to resurrect An old-fashioned oil lantern callously tossed aside as scrap  In the 60s it was a priceless workhorse, now gets a bad wrap Don't let the world tell you what is and isn't in style  Today's prized possession becomes worthless in a while Memories are yours and only yours to preserve and treasure Reconnecting with your roots they bring immense pleasure

  Go Fishing 😻 Original artwork and whimsical poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 If you must know, sashimi is my favorite dish Anytime, anyday … just can’t resist fresh fish No need for soya sauce, hold the wasabi I don’t care for sticky rice, don’t like sushi  Right here, right now a koi will do just fine  But for that wretched ‘No fishing’ sign Good thing I had my Sharpie with me New rules! Time to enjoy some yum sashimi

  Be different Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 inspired by a favourite quote by Steve Jobs about rebels and misfits In a world that thrives on order, being different is hard  Lines are drawn, rules made; conform or be debarred But there is beauty in all and strength in diversity What makes us unique needed cause adversity  Rather than be threatened by someone who pushes the envelope It’s like viewing life through a multidimensional kaleidoscope  Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, round pegs in square holes Life’s about living your dreams, achieving your goals Footnote: This was used by Apple in a ‘Think different’ Ad campaign in the late ‘90s to break the PC monopoly.  Visit https://youtu.be/5sMBhDv4sik During the mockups, a recording of the ad featuring Steve Jobs' voice was used. This version was never released, but during his memorial service at Apple, his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, unearthed the recording,  which was played o...

  Playing in the Rain Original artwork and whimsical poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Oh, the childhood memories of playing in the pouring rain. Drenched to the bone, shivering with cold, let’s do it again. Bravely commanding the Black Pearl, loaded with pirate loot. Craftily dodging the Spanish Armada that’s in hot pursuit. A sudden clap of thunder added to the sense of urgency. No quarters asked, none given; so show no clemency! ‘Unleash the Kraken, ’ I command with an air of authority,  ‘Teach the scallawag Spaniards a lesson in superiority!’ ‘Batten down the hatches, matey, ’ I shout into the gale, ‘Heave ho to Starboard, into deep waters we shall sail. ’

  Windmills Original loose artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Holland without windmills would not be the same It would be under water with no land to reclaim Working with nature, they quietly pump seawater out Allowing the land to be tilled and tulips to sprout A lesson for us all to drain the windmills of our mind Break free instead of feeling overwhelmed and confined Get busy using your talents to surprise and delight all Life doesn’t have to be a crawl when you can have a ball

  Moose on the Loose Loose artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Never ever mess with a Moose on the loose, my dear! It looks big and clumsy, but don’t ever go too near For their size, they are very agile when alarmed  Keep a safe distance, or else you will be harmed Bulls have fearsome a rack o'antlers on their head  Aphrodisiac to cows, but to rival bulls, a dread European elk moseyed across the Bering when frozen Roaming o'er Canada - the true north .. the chosen

  Loose watercolour of a Crab Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 This style of loose painting lets the water and paint decide The shapes and colours stay fluid until it has all but dried The idea of just going with the flow is very appealing  Rather than staying within the lines, try freewheeling  My zodiac sign is Cancer, which sounds pretty dreadful  Just in case you missed the memo, the crab’s fearful  Truth be told, Horoscopes and life rarely ever match Write your life in bold strokes, not chicken scratch

  French Lavender Today’s artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, was inspired by a weekend spent in the lavender fields of Provence in July 1996 It's a sight that I'll never forget - the lavender fields of France! The refreshing July breeze scented with its refreshing fragrance Blades of blooms of rich blue and purple hues, dancing in the sun Field after field as far as the eye can see, all swaying in unison We rolled down the windows as we cruised along scenic D952 route Stopped to savour delicious lavender honey ice cream - such a hoot!! The pièce de résistance was the Golden Star of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Nestled between steep limestone cliffs, mon Dieu, très beau, ma chère! Post script: When I shared this artwork and poem with friends, one of them sent me this photo taken recently in the Aix-en-Provence area This is exactly how I remember the scenery during that drive.

  Big boys love to fish Original artwork and whimsical poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 I’m a big boy now, I’m gonna catch lotsa fishy Got me a can o’ worms, big and fat and squishy  My Pa says it ain’t easy an’ he don’t tell no lies Pa’s knows everything, he’s big, strong ’n wise This is where Pa caught his first fish at seven I’m gonna beat him at six years and eleven Whiskers is with me to make sure I don’t cheat Tho’ me thinks he really wants my fishy as a treat

  Art imitating Life Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Aft a dreary winter tulips are the harbingers of spring Bursting forth with reckless abandon, joy they bring Their splash of color, an antidote to the winter freeze Fresh as the morning dew, cool as  a monsoon breeze Philippides at Marathon was done telling the news So too these tulips, just as fast, bid us adieu “Fret not”, said the artist, “Beauty be’t evanescent” But art imitating life, make’t incandescent

  Ode to the Raspberry Original artwork and ode by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Raspberries need no introduction, but an ode ... hmm maybe? You've seen them ... red heart-shaped, and so juicy, baby! It is a perennial, but the canes last for 2 years, no more Year one, the shoot grows, the next it bears fruit galore The fruit ripens and sweetens with the kiss of the sun's rays You can't stop at one, just enjoy 'em in so many different ways This plant is a gift that keeps giving, every gardener knows Sending out new shoots that does one thing only  - just grows Then it's time for the next generation - that's life in short A good lesson to live in the moment with grace and comport

  A Long Way From Home Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Plying your craft isn’t glamorous or breathtaking   Long waits in strange places is oft heartbreaking   The life of an artist is full of twists and turns Plenty of highs mixed with some heartburns ‘Tis the journey that’s important, not the destination The priceless joy you get from your creation  You’ll never please everyone, not by a long shot Stay true to yourself, ne’er let your soul be bought

  Image Ain't Everything Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Image is everything, so they say, but is it really? Billions are spent on marketing campaigns, clearly Funny thing, the image they sell isn't for real 'Tis in between your ears, elusive, even surreal Yet here we are, caught in this endless chicanery Splurging on worthless baubles and wacky finery Like a mirage in the desert, it stays out of reach Isn't this daylight robbery not freedom of speech? So get off the merry-go-round and set yourself free God made you just as you are; He knows best, agree?

Chechaouen - Blue City Today’s artwork, titled ‘ Chechaouen - Blue City ', is a study in perspectives and angles in primary colors. Inspired by Chefchaouen (also Chaouen), a small city in the Moroccan Rif Mountains about 2 hours south of Tangier, often called " The Blue City ". It is an artist's delight being one of the most visually striking towns in Morocco, due to its blue-washed buildings, streets, and alleyways, attracting photographers, artists, and spiritual seekers from around the globe.  

  Japan’s female samurai warriors Onna-bugeisha (女武芸者) were female samurai warriors trained in the use of weapons, horseback riding and martial arts. Many noblewomen, particularly before the Edo period (1603–1868), were trained as skilled sword fighters and archers, with a duty to protect their households, families, and sense of honour, especially during times of war or when defending their homes. Source: https://www.historydefined.net/onna-bugeisha/ Full disclosure : This artwork is my own composition; my first attempt at human portraiture. Although the proportions could be better I’ve learned to live in the moment, using each opportunity to explore new subjects and expand my repertoire. Sometimes the results falls short but that’s when I learn the most.

  Rags to Riches Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the success story of Spanish fashion brand Zara Zara’s story is a remarkable one of vision and execution with passion From a modest family-run workshop to an international house of fashion In 1963, Amancio Ortega Gaono opened Confecciones GOA for bathrobes  And in 1975, he launched the first Zara store with a full designer wardrobe  Don’t look for Zara billboards or ads - that’s not their style Satisfied customers evangelising to friends - brings a smile Their secret? Fast to market in two or three weeks from idea to shelf And limiting the supply to create an artificial urgency in itself Zara now has 2000 stores in 90 countries around the world It’s a true rags-to-riches story that on the world stage has unfurled

  The Pathos of Flamenco Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Flamenco is deeply influenced by the Romani Gitano Culture of Spain Under the raw energy and sensuality, an unspoken pathos doth reign Whence the Romani came from, the deserts of North India, 'tis clear Scholars agree, the Romani migration started a thousand years earlier Maybe they were musicians on military campaigns with armies, or maybe not. Or forced to flee persecution or social injustices that became their lot They carried their cultural roots, their language and traditional fashion To Persia, Arabia and Byzantium, who condemned them all with dispossession Their itinerant journey continues through Europe in these modern times About 10 million strong, they are still falsely accused of random crimes Truth be told, if you don't fit into the norms of our 'civilised' society You get unjustly ostracised, falsely accused of immorality and impropriety 'Tis no wonder that Flamenco ...

Jellyfish Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by our visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams/jelly-cam   Jellyfish are masters at their craft, bar none Going strong  500 million years and still not done While it is true they lack both a brain and a heart  Their rudimentary nerve net sets them apart  The Turritopsis dohrnii is immortal or so it seems It reverses aging of its cells, stuff of dreams They move by pulsating their bell shaped bodies  Riding currents, storm waves and tsunamis The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a breathtaking display Of jellyfish frolicking so gracefully like in a ballet  

  At Sea Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 In the whole wide world, there is no other place I’d rather be, than on my Catamaran in the middle of the deep blue sea Now that I’ve run my race and earned my bread (and butter) Not for me, the city life with its hustle and bustle (and clutter) You think I’m bored … you haven’t sailed before, 'tis I can tell The sea and the wind are constantly changing, causing pell-mell  I’m an old swab who knows the currents and the fish they bring Hoisting sails and dousing them, all day if need be, is my thing Watching meteorites streaking across the Milky Way gets me trippin’ When bottlenosed dolphins come a'frolicking, it’s my time to go a'dipping So don’t pity me, it was I who chose to live foot loose and fancy free Far from the madding crowd, doing my thing, just being good ole me Footnotes :   1] The pop hit, ' Cool Change ' by the 70s/80s Australian rock/pop group, ' Little River Band...

  The case of the Blueberry Stumble Today’s artwork on Blueberries inspired an original light-hearted poem, a self-confession on my blueberry bush misadventure in the garden. Each year I promise to do better, but this year it got ‘verse’ - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 If you Google for Blueberry, you’ll see a million recipes for crumble This is not one of those; it’s the case of the blueberry stumble As Dickens said, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ If blueberry bushes could speak, they would accuse us of a crime  Let’s just say it’s ‘_Elat Yriaf_’, that’s  a fairy tale in reverse  Started off happily ever before, then went from bad to worse We had seven 10-year-old bushes from Oregon delivered to our door   These were carefully cultivated, tried and tested, couldn’t ask for more My friend is the only blueberry whisperer amongst us seven Six bushes are in blueberry hell, hers in pure blueberry heaven Maybe we didn’t keep the roots moist, maybe ...

  After the winter comes the spring Original painting and uplifting poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 It's the dead of night, and everything seems cold and dark Yet the silence of dawn is broken by the song of a lark Sometimes, when everything you do seems to go all wrong Focus on the important stuff; the rest will come along 'Tis said that for everything there's a rhyme and a reason So too for all things, there is also a time and a season Always remember that after the dead of winter comes spring Keep on keeping on, you ne'er know what tomorrow will bring 

  Flame of the Forest Original painting and whimsical poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 'Tis rumoured she's searching for her lost flame perpetually Just how long has she been there? No one knows actually Did you catch a glimpse of her as you meandered through the forest?  When she whispered your name, were you excited or embarrassed? She scurries like a ghost - now you see her, now you don't ... Maybe today she will find her lost love, or maybe she won't. Her memory haunts you long after she has disappeared And her relentless quest goes on and on, isn't that weird? Inspiration : The inspiration for this original artwork was a picture of Hawaiian beauty I saw on an album cover.   I tried one of the fancy art-school techniques to draw a face, but the result was hideous.  I went back to free-style sketching her face and surrounded it with a variety of vibrant tropical flowers and plants.  Once I coloured in the background, it made no sense to colour the face, whic...

  Zorba the Greek " Zorba the Greek " (1964) is a classic film based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis .  Set in Crete, the movie celebrates passionate living embodied by the effervescent Alexis Zorba, played by sublime Anthony Quinn. His character is the very heart of the film, earthy, passionate, and full of life.  Zorba seizes life by the throat, embracing every moment with gusto. He lives by the motto, “ Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and look for trouble. ” By contrast, English-Greek writer Basil, showing an intellectual detachment, arrives in Crete to reopen a lignite mine he inherited, choosing a more measured, cerebral and cautious approach to life. Zorba, hired as his foreman, is a jolt to Basil's straitjacket world because Zorba lives instinctively—dancing, drinking, and loving without inhibition.  Their evolving friendship is the central theme of the film’s story. One of cinema’s most iconic scenes is when Zorba teache...

  The Rose Original artwork and light-hearted poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Édith Piaf broke your heart with ‘ La Vie en rose ’ Rather than compete, I’ll try... umm, ‘ autre chose ’ The rose has captivated humans since the dawn of age Iconic Marie Antoinette with a Rose became  quite the rage The Tudor Rose blossomed at the end of the 100 Years' War Joining Lancaster's Red with York's White forevermore In Ireland, Little Black Rose was Róisín Dubh of rebellion In the Wild West, it was a sultry woman on a black stallion  ‘ Ring a Ring o' Roses ’ ain’t about the Black Plague at all 'Tis but a rhyme about kids holding hands before they fall For Gertrude Stein, a rose is a rose - that’s her deal Now you are ‘ sub rosa ’, therefore, your lips are sealed Cross-references Click here to listen to the live performance by Edith Piaf - her voice is raw, passionate, and deeply emotive, not just with technical skill but with the vulnerability of someone who had lived thro...