Kieran's Art

 The Magic of Fresh Lime Soda Artwork and original ode to Limbu Soda by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, recalling the many hot summer afternoons rescued by this simple magical drink. Remember the instant lift from a refreshing lime soda on a hot day? It's the perfect summer picker-upper - there's not much more to say Except the science quietly at work. The lime is a carboxylic acid bomb Triggering a release of saliva, which to a dry mouth is like a balm The bubbles of the soda means more surface area so more cooling  But here's the kicker this chemical reaction gets the brain a-fooling The trigeminal stimulus registers in the brain as something refreshing The salt and sugar are vital electrolytes. Fresh lime soda's a blessing

 Study in Opacity, Shadows and Reflections   Artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I try more complex subjects I imagined a rustic composition as a study in opacity, shadows and reflections Not one to shy away from a challenge, I put paint to paper ignoring all objections I decided to suggest the reflection of the egg and apple on the glass tabletop And to give a sense of depth I ventured to add shadows with a barebone backdrop Nothing like the delicious taste of a cold glass of farm-fresh milk each morn With a couple of free range eggs made just the way you like at break of dawn You really don't need an extensive breakfast menu with exotic sounding dishes Add a nice juicy apple plucked from the tree - farm to table ne'er ever misses

 Ode to My Beloved Wife   Artwork and ode to my dearest wife by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026 Gliding effortlessly, she blots out the sunset, pure poetry in motion. No matter what life throws at her, she's the epitome of motherly devotion! Putting her own career on ice, she became the loving mother of our two kiddos. Dropping them off to how many music, art and sporting lessons, heaven knows! A homemaker's job is one of endless giving, the glue that keeps us together. The captain of the ship, she shows up daily, sunshine or stormy weather Let's take a moment to salute the wives in our lives, for all they have done Words aren't enough but thanks to you, I know I'm truly the blessed one

 The consummate artist   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, shout out to the many artists who push themselves for the sheer love of their craft The curtain call is over, the crowds have gone home, she sits alone… A deep sense of gratitude washes over her, she can feel it in her bones The love for her craft keeps her going, even when there's no ones watching. She understands she must play the game, her producers need to hear ka-ching She also knows the thrill of doing a job well, and gives it her all every time Somewhere in the audience, a young girl's making memories of a lifetime That's how the torch is quietly passed on from one generation to the next We all need a role model who inspires us to strive daily to reach our apex

Study in Negative Painting   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I continue exploring watercoloring techniques The process of carving out shapes by painting the background  Building depth so the object pops out by coloring all around The tight flower buds bloom to reveal gently tinged petals I chose Payne’s Grey so that the shadow and shape settles I let the entire work evolve on a blank page as color and water mixed Knowing when to let go is important so the ethos doesn’t get nixed

 Study in Contours and Perception   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, as I continue to explore nuances of watercolor painting I came across a striking artwork of a blue ceramic bowl containing fish. A striking composition of silvery smelt snug in the contours of the dish!  The curvature of the blue lines lend a sense of volume and depth. Overlapping fish randomly stacked give a perspective of added breadth! The way the surfaces diffuse or reflect light is so fascinating. The glazed dish diffuses colors while the silvery fish are animating. The shadow of the bowl adds another dimension to the art! I had fun painting it and hope you liked taking it apart

 Reality check   Artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, bemoaning the manmade disaster_ There's something unhinged in the Western Wing, no one seems in charge Ranting and raving the Mad Hatter lies audaciously to everyone at large Disjointed policy statements tweeted in all caps are tangled in knots Half way around the world, incendiary bombs driven by AI take pot shots Time for a reality check, open the windows and let some fresh air inside Cool the overheated testosterone egos, and let common sense be the guide Listen to the voice of wisdom, learn from the hubris of history's mistakes When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging and put an end to heartbreaks

 Quick Sumi-E Ink Sketch   Loose Sumi-E ink artwork and original ode to the dragonfly by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026 Let me introduce you to the percher dragonfly - scanning the skies for prey The hapless victim is brought down in mere seconds, no getting away Today’s ink wash took me less than a minute, anything more won’t do They are fiercely territorial and rivals they’ll chase away and hotly pursue Today’s a hot day and it keeps its body erect to radiate heat quickly Being cold blooded they monitor their temperature rather strictly Honed over millions of years, they have a 95% success rate  Any flies or bugs unlucky to spot one knows it’s already too late

 A Beacon of Hope   Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran. Gonsalves (c) 2026, cautiously optimistic for the end to the senseless war Sometimes the sheer insanity and greed seems so overwhelming that we get numb How can anyone be so stupid to start something without a plan - that’s plain dumb!! Then when things go so awry the Mad Hatter watching the wheels fall off, calls ceasefire But by then the genie is out of the bottle, countless innocent lives destroyed in the pyre Like a beacon from a lighthouse the lull unleashes a renewed hope for return of normality But one must be cautious, lest oversized egos scuttle any peace deal sans any rationality  Here’s praying that better sense prevail and that men of strong character do the right thing Will they ever realise that in war for everyone who thinks he’s a winners, millions feel the sting

 Catching up on Edgewater Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, after a memorable sun-soaked lunch with friends from Canada who we see more often on Zoom How does one paint a memorable lunch get together with dear friends? On Edgewater as a gentle sea breeze listens to us talk odds and ends The laughter was infectious, the conversation was truly heartwarming  Seeing faces on Zoom pales when meeting in person, tis so transforming The food was just the excuse as we sat under a beach umbrella reminiscing  Discovering the relatives and friends we had in common that were missing Like boats anchored on the edge of the water, we were happily tethered Reliving distant childhood memories that time and space had weathered

 Hallelujah! He Has Risen   Original artwork and sonnet by Kieran Gonsalves (c), 2026 Easter is far more than chocolate bunnies! Much more than just spring flowers in full bloom!! He broke free from a sealed tomb on his own. And in doing so shattered death forever!! Hallelujah! He has Risen as he said. Life's but a journey - Destination Heaven! His Resurrection joins us with God for good. In Christ, death's sting is just a mere falsehood

Solemn Reunion of Mother and Son   An original One-Act Holy Saturday Play (and artwork) by Kieran Gonsalves (c), 2026 SCENE START SETTING : It is just before daybreak after the Crucifixion and the Upper Room, which hosted the Last Supper, is quiet. The long wooden table sits center stage, with a silent figure wrapped in white tunic. The two adjacent guest rooms are occupied by Mother Mary and John, the favorite disciple of Jesus. In the dim light, Mother Mary is tossing in bed, restless. Her face etched with grief, as she fights back the tears. She can hear John, the favorite disciple, snoring with every breath - and though he is deep asleep, it reminds her that she is not alone. Suddenly, a soft, golden luminescence fills her bedroom. It doesn't flicker like a candle; it glows with a soft warmth that instantly fills Mother Mary with peace. The Archangel Gabriel appears - just as he did at the night of the Annunciation - with the quiet reverence of a messenger servant....

 Sonnet on the 14 Stations of the Cross   Original sonnet by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, dedicated to my dear friend Tino de Sa, who shared his own sonnet and enlightened me of how the 14 stations of the cross lend themselves to a sonnet.    Here's what I found about the 14-line sonnet, often cited as the "Goldilocks" length for a poem: it is long enough to develop a sophisticated thought, but too short to allow for rambling. It requires the poet to be incredibly economical with language, making every one of the 14 lines essential to the whole.    Furthermore the 14-line structure works in tandem with Iambic Pentameter (a "heartbeat" rhythm of ten syllables per line).    The last two lines called ‘the Volta’ or ‘the turn’ are arguably the most powerful part of the 14-line structure. Because they rhyme with each other (a rhyming couplet), they stand out from the rest of the poem, subverting everything said in the earlier 12 lines and providing a pit...

 The Mystery of The Crucifixion   Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2026, on the occasion of Good Friday, recognising that the story of Salvation involves suffering - none more poignant than Christ crucified. Yet, by rising from the dead on Easter Sunday - Jesus conquered death and gave us the gift of Eternal Life. Wishing you and your loved ones a solemn Good Friday when you contemplate on what God's love means to you Considered the worst form of public execution, so cruel and painful. The Cross left victims impaled to die by asphyxiation, so disdainful There was no escaping the physical anguish fighting for every breath! A gruesome spectacle in plain sight meant to dehumanise even in death Standing at the foot of the Cross was his Mother steadfast in her belief! Never wavering in her faith in her innocent Son, despite her wretched grief Yet by suffering unjustly, Jesus identified himself with all the innocent victims! Showing love conquers hate. Long ...

 Service before Self   Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves(c) 2026, on *Holy Thursday* when Jesus unexpectedly washed the feet of his disciples, even as one of them, Judas Iscariot, had arranged to betray him for 30 pieces of silver Judas Iscariot's head was full of clever schemes; wholly blinded by worldly ambition Seeing Jesus bring the dead back to life, he wanted Jesus to force Roman submission   Thirty pieces of silver as blood money was enough for him to betray Jesus that very day Jesus chose to kneeled down in humility to wash the dirt from his disciple's feet away   Preaching forgiveness and mercy, drove Judas crazy; what was needed was an insurrection The Prince of Peace had come to redeem mankind by his crucifixion, death and Resurrection   Jesus said, 'You who call me your Master. What I have done for you, do to the others too The King of King came not to be served but to serve. Giving his life to save me and you