Self Portrait - Rachana

I must admit that I took such a long time to share my this painting.

May be I was little scared to share it...

Today I am sharing the painting I completed with so many patience and so many great attempts.

Every artist would try to make self portrait at-least once , and this was my third attempt. 

Rachana - Self Portrait - Acrylics on 8 x 12 Canvas

I never thought to make self-portrait until I took my this picture for Mitti Design's  Zumka earrings collection..

As I mentioned earlier, I always wanted to make my portrait, but every time I ended up mt thoughts
after making sketch.. But this time sketch was so perfect and I was so happy to take next step..

Sharing picture of initial sketch.

I always had fear of spoiling it, so I didn't add any extra things in it. I just wanted to make it perfect.. :)
After so many thoughts and lots of patience I finished this painting on the New year's evening.

And took time of some 20 days to finally share it with you all..

 Parakeet was not the part of my initial sketch, but I always had a feeling of something is missing in my work.. And my husband's imagination of Parrot saying something to me, completed my thoughts.

So, how do you like my new painting?

Don't forget to Leave your comments -  share your thoughts with me, to improve my work.

Thanks for visiting. 

Sakhi - A Dear Friend!

Everyday we meet many people but among them we make few friends!

Friends are special, And I would say If Some one stays with you like your shadow in your  happy or tough moments, is your best friend.

In Sanskrit "Sakhi" use for a "Female Friend".

Sakhi - A Dear Friend, Pencil on 11"x15" water color Paper (140lb )

I have never work work pencil, infect pencil shading is something I never tried. You have seen my previous sketches, even I am surprised that how I made it only with pencil.!!!

The one thing I loved most is their expressions, they came our so good, just the way I wanted.

One is holding a bird with Pride and her friend is supporting her like her shadow!

Their eyes explains everything. Even the individual images of both ladies is out of my imagination.

 

You can buy this Print from my Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102197454/sakhi-a-dear-friend-print

Now my next project is be to make them in Color.

Will see you soon guys, Take care.

Nav-Vadhu : The Bride

Hello my beautiful readers!

Sharing you my new painting "Nav-Vadhu : The Bride".

I completed this before 3 weeks, but I have been lazy these days, so sharing it today :) 

Nav-Vadhu : Acrylics on 9 x 12 Canvas Board 

This time I have done something new,

Can you see those Embossed Jewelry detailing? I tried it first time :)

Prints are available on my Etsy Shop :)

I am back, Vacation is Over..!

Hello..!!

How are you my lovelies..! Such a long time, Almost 2 months..!!

I know I am running behind as I was on such a long vacation..! 

In last few months we visited more than seven destinations. 

Starting with a long vacation in US, then my India Trip, and after coming back from India one more vacation!

Then I was busy with house cleaning and I fell sick..! So my work delayed for few more days.

But now I am back on track, working on my next project.

Initial sketching is done and now working with background coloring.

Here is its first look..

 I will keep posting its progress.

Krishna - Work in Progress

Hello my beautiful readers *** Smiles***

Updating after such a long time..!! "Krishna "- my new painting project.

Well, these days I am in India for a small vacation so I am not able to post updates of my paintings.. :(

But I will keep posting pictures of my city, and things I love here..

Navratri, the most famous festival of "Gujarat", is starting after 3 days.. 

I will keep you updated...!!

Warli - The Tribal art of India

Hello..!

These days I am finding many articles on Indian Tribal Art in news paper and on some of my favourite blogs.

Recently "The Key Bunch" is featuring Warli art, 

and I remember I never publish my some of my warli paintings that I did in my "Practice Time" (Check my sign and Date) **Smiles**

 This one is called  "Village Life" on 18" x 24" Canvas Board.

 My experiment turned out so beautifully with black and white. My idea was to show our routine life. 

The sun rise, birds, men and women start their work and all..

Here I have try to add all the possible things that I know..**Smiles**

This is a wedding scene, A Tribal wedding scene..
I saw a similar one at my friend's house and here I tried it....

I was thinking warli is very easy, but then I found If you want to it in systematic way,

 You need to maintain dimensions, and space in between..

I'll be posting all my updates of my Untitled painting..

And I have found a nice name from your suggestion..

As I mentioned that Lucky person will get its First Print..**Smiles** 

Maa Pruthvi (Mother Earth)

Maa Pruthvi  ( માં પૃથ્વી - Mother Earth) on 12" x 16" Canvas. Medium - Acrylics

Happy Earth day to all beautiful readers. 

A day, we remember to appreciate nature and learn ways to protect our environment. A day, to promote awareness "Find ways that you can help keep the planet clean and help protect our environment!"

I have tried to explain the beauty of "Earth" by this painting "Maa Pruthvi ( માં પૃથ્વી )".

I turned "Goddess of Flower" in to "Maa Pruthvi" by adding some elements in it.

And to give Indian touch, I added earth as "Bindi" and a "Nose ring".

Beautiful birds on earth, Indian Peacock & Parrot increased charm of painting..!

And you can see all that detaining in these images.

What other thing can explain Sea Life/ Water life batter..?

Lovely Lotus and Fantastic Fish.

What else I can say,

"માં પૃથ્વી ની સુંદરતા અપણા જ હાથ માં છે- Mother Earth's beauty is in Our hand" 

Please Save it.

Panihari : The water woman of India

Panihari : The water woman of India, 

Mount on 12" x 16" Canvas, Medium - Acrylics.

When I started this painting I was not sure for its name. 

But today morning, I found a video and when I saw it, I got my answer.. Its perfect, "Panihari : The water woman of India". Panihari means "Woman who does the work of carrying water". 

A very important task, and its a routine for all woman who lives in small village.
 Every morning they fetch / Collect water from River, Pond or Well for house-hold purpose. 

Even today in some area of Gujarat & Rajasthan woman does this job. 

This time I experiment with dark colors to give these ladies "गॉव की गोरी " (Village Girl) look.

One more thing I've added here is "The hair decoration" to the woman in red.

Last month we went to "Maximum India Festival" in DC, and something I loved the most is the hair decoration piece, (specially for long braid hair styles) you can see that below..

This has a lot of detailing, a beautiful thing..! And this one is my favorite picture too...

I am Gujarati, and I can not forget my favourite Garbo (Song) that explain more about "Panihari".

Lovely music and sweet words.. And this is my first Video in YouTube..

I can not forget to share that video, that inspired me to name this painting

 "Panihari - The water woman of India" 

Well I hope you like this one too... 

Take care guys..!!

Holi : The festival of Colors

"Holi : The festival of Colors" - Acrylics on 12" x 12" Acrylic Paper

"मत डारो पिचकारी। मैं सगरी भिजगई सारी॥

जीन डारे सो सनमुख रहायो। नहीं तो मैं देउंगी गारी॥

भर पिचकरी मेरे मुखपर डारी। भीजगई तन सारी॥

लाल गुलाल उडावन लागे। मैं तो मनमें बिचारी॥

मीरा कहे प्रभु गिरिधर नागर चरनकमल बलहारी॥"

Happy Holi to all my colorful readers..!!!

Holi (Basant-Utsav) is a religious festival celebrated mainly in India to welcome the season of Spring

 But the famous region for Holi celebration is Brij, Land of Lord Krishna. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna started the tradition of playing with colors during the festival.

These days the commercial aspect of celebration has led to an increase

 in the use of synthetic colours. But traditionally the colours are made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Āyurvedic doctors. 

The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. 

The playful throwing of natural coloured powders has a medicinal significance. For wet colours, traditional flowers of Palash are boiled and soaked in water over night to produced yellow coloured water, which also had medicinal properties.

You can read some more things about "Holi" form Wikipedia too..

With some more colorful painting, I will be back soon..

Take care and have Happy Colorful Weekend..

Radha Krishna - A Divine Love

Radha Krishna - A Divine Love...

 "यमुना किनारे कान्हा बंसी बजावे, राधा दोडी चली अवे"

Means, " The sound of Krishna's Flute is Call for Radha"

And that's what this painting is all about.!!

There are so many tales and stories of Radha Krishna.

"Radha Krishna, One soul two bodies.."

The relationship of Radha-Krishna is the embodiment of Love, passion and devotion. Krishna is the soul of Radha and, Radha is definitely the soul of Krishna. Radha is undivided form of Krishna.

One can not understand or explain their Love,

But Radha and Krishna are the Best example for Love..

Both Radha and Krisha Loves Lotus,

and here I have shown Lotus at bank of river "Yamuna".

As per Indian mythological traditions "Krishna" is the perfect man. 

"श्याम सुंदिर वर घनश्याम" means "The lotus-eyed, dark skinned Krishna"

Edited picture actually explains that..!!

Hope you like this one...!!

See you soon..! Take care..

Kanya Viday - An Emotional Farewell...

Kanya Viday - An Emotional Farewell...

Acrylics on 12" x 12" Canvas paper.

Kanya Viday / Bidaai is the Hindu customs in which after marriage, the bride walks out with the Groom from her parent's home into a new world to lay the foundation for an entire new life with new family and a different environment. The tears of joy and sorrow can be witnessed not only on the daughter's face, but also on the Mother's.

And that's what I have tried to express by this painting. Actually this one is for my "Mom".

"Years of bonding and a separation within minutes."

It's hard to describe that feeling her daughter being sent off which runs through a mother's mind and the emotions which fill her heart. Unimaginable it is to see a mother cry and smile at same time by hiding her tears.

  

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.

A mother always has thought twice, once for herself and once for her child. A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of herself.

In Gujarati they say "દીકરી તો પારકી થાપણ કહેવાય" ( Dikri to Parki thapan Kevay )

Which can also means – "The farewell of a daughter is inevitable".

You can Listen that incredible song by link below..

For all detailing, a closer look, And a touch of Gujarat this image explains more..!

Many "Thanks" to my friend 'Abhishek Diwan', who helped me to explain this painting by words.

Do let me know about Your thoughts and comments for this one.

I Will be back with something new with my next post..!

Dulhan : Waiting for him

"Dulhan : Waiting for him"

Acrylics on 12"x12" Canvas Paper

To potray "Indian bride" is not so easy, because of her dressing and lots of Jewelry.
I felt "Waiting for him" tital is so perfect with this,"Dulhan",

so I named it, "Dulhan - Waiting for him". 

 and as you can see words of a very beautiful Gujarati Gazal "Aafrin" by Pankaj Udhas,

"શાંત ઝરુખે વાટ નિરખતી રૂપની રાણી જોઇ હતી"

Means "A beautiful woman was eagerly waiting for him "

And here is Meaning of the song by words,

શાંત (Shant - Slient, quat) ઝરુખે (Zarukhe - Window) વાટ (Vaat - wait ) નિરખતી (Nirakhti - looking for) રૂપની (Roop ni - Beautiful) રાણી (Rani = Queen, Woman) જોઇ હતી (Saw)

And here is the video... I love this song.. its just so beautiful...

And here is the closer image..!!!

I hope you love this one..!!

I have prepared my next painting countinuing "The Wedding" sequence,

and it is on "Bidaai". I'll post it soon..!

The Baarat / Bidaai : My Big project

Hello Readers..!!!

I am back with "My big Project - The Baarat / Bidaai"

7 Canvas frame size 24" x 30" each, makes 14 feet long one continuous painting.

The painting is so big, I have to edit individual painting photograph to make one painting.

And you can see this on wall of  "Spicy Garden Indian Cuisine" in Maryland.

This is Baarat / Bidaai scene, in Indian Mughal Art.

Where King is taking his Bride to home, People / Relatives / Helpers are also part of it..

Starting from Left, Senapati / A Man on Horse holding a flag.

The Senapati is protecting Bride & people. And Flag shows the King family is on their way.

 

The Horse..! White, and with Royal decorations..!

And Here come the man with Flag..!!

The next painting is showing People / Relatives.

Detailing of woman & her Jewel..

Two man, One protecting with  A metal Fight weapon..

  The next is the one who needs all the protection, "The Bride".

And detailing of  Doli & The Bride..!!

A closer look to Bride..!

Her face, all Jewel & everything..!! My favourite part of the entire painting..!

Then the man who carries the Doli,

I take care to give every man a different face & attitude.

That you can see in all the images.!

The Forth one shows Bride-mates, Women who can't stop talking..!! :)

Have a Closer look....!!!! But let me tell you, that's fun..!

And in next painting, one woman is looking behind,

 to see everyone is following them or not, or may be you can say, she wants to involve in the talk too..!!

In this painting a man is holding sun guard for king.!

Detailing..!

Woman has some food / Flower in her Basket..!

And a young Boy ..!

And a man who holds Sun-Guard for King..!!!

And next comes the King / Groom.. On an Elephant.

Mughal King On his Shahi Savari (Royal Carrier)

And his Detailing of an Elephant..

And the King, holding a Rose in his hand..!!

And the last painting of this series..!! Two guards, holding flag..!

And their Detailing..

Seven painting, and I really don't have words to explain..!!

My Big Project has ended, and Now I can complete my "Dulhan"..!

I will post my "Dulhan" very soon..!!!