The 50 Paintings Project

Painting # 50

The Eternal Goddess by Damini Dalal

This absolutely surreal painting is a masterpiece of my dear friend Damini

An oil painting on a fairly large canvas of  4 ft by 3 ft - this painting is an original and beautiful  representation of the meeting between Lord Krishna and River Yamuna.

I am in love with all of Damini's paintings but since we are talking about this one what I really liked about "The Eternal Goddess" is the surreal , other worldly quality about it. Though Krishna and River Yamuna are represented in human forms yet they seem so magical, so divine. 

As you look at it more closely I am sure you will notice the precision of the  beautiful reflection of her red dress in the water. 

Also the unconventional portrayal of Lord Krishna without his usual finery is pleasing to the heart.

 

In Damini's own words - " Krishna's peacock feather is missing and so also his adornments . His hair is curled and his dhoti tied hastily around. Yamunaji is also not bedecked in finery. This moment shown in the painting is preceded by the story of love, yearning and passion between Krishna and Yamuna."

And that story of love,yearning and passion is put into a mesmerizing poem by the artist herself....

She arises, a luminous Goddess

Mesmerised by the Divine Flute

Lotus stems plucked from the depths

To entwine Her Lover

She offers her offering –

Her entire Self             

Embalmed in His radiance

The Two are One and the One are Two

Their exquisite effulgence

Majestic, mystical, magical

Their passion and love infinite

Unbounded……United!

        Every artist says something through his/her paintings -  Likewise this is also  not just a painting - Its a story in itself -  

Its Poetry in Colors!

Finally as I sign off with the magic of the above poem still hovering in my mind I leave you with these last words for Damini -- an artist, a poet, a philosopher and an inspiration ...

"  In His light she learns how to Love

 In His beauty , how to make Poems

He dances inside her chest, where no-one sees Him

but she does -

And that Sight becomes this Art"

***

The 50 Paintings Project

Painting  # 49

The Blue WOMAN by Gehna Mehra

This absolutely fine and alluring painting is a masterpiece of my dear friend Gehna Mehra .

Technically, what is interesting about this artwork  is that with a very limited color scheme she has succeeded in portraying the various shades and contours of female form ---which is as complex a form to paint as it is to understand :)

Using a cooler color like blue in the back ground to project the subject in the foreground is very appealing.

A self portrait in Oil on Canvas - it is more than just a painting.  Allow me to elaborate - 

The most complicated and interesting subject in the world of painting is the human body and it is also the most forceful tool of expression. So when an artist graduates to painting Nudes it marks a big leap in his/her confidence in self expression.

Painting a nude is like baring one's soul - and not being afraid to do so.

In the 1400's when Boticelli painted the Birth of Venus and a long time after that the nudes were made with physical perfection, with symmetrical body features, smooth skin, particular body proportions.

What is beautiful In Gehna's work is there is no attempt to imply or add qualities to the nude, freeing the female form from so many projections that are cast upon them - capturing it as it actually appears. 

Without the need for approval from anybody. Allowing the female form to  just be her own beautiful self and taking pride in that.

As I  wind up , I leave you with this last thought about this week's artist , Gehna Mehra , founder of Stree Astitva , a program for Women Empowerment, a Journalist, a Speaker , an Entrepreneur and an inspiration to many ----

 " The sexiest thing she wears is confidence! " 

Untill next week and the last painting of this project :) - Be your own kind of beautiful .

The 50 Paintings Project 

Painting # 48

"Goddess Saraswati" by Bhagi Indu

This magnificient and exotic painting of Goddess Saraswati is by my dear friend Bhagi.

An Acrylic, on a fairly large canvas of 70 cms by 90 cms -  I have my own reasons for falling in love with this painting 

 Firstly the brilliant color scheme of  reds and yellow and blues with green to add that luxurious touch.                                                            

Secondly , note the beautiful ease with which one color just merges into the other --  shades of red and yellow creating an orange, reds and white creating a pink....

 which is not easy to manage such a uniform shading of colour in acrylics because they dry really fast. Oil paints give you enough time to shade and reshade but not acrylics.

Thirdly, and this is most interesting :) -

 Even though most of the colors used in the painting are high energy colors - Red (passion ,fire) Yellow (vitality, warmth) Orange (enthusiasm, determination) --- Yet this painting has a meditative , peaceful feel to it ! Is it because of the divine smile of the Goddess ? 

Or is it because of the peace in the  personality of the artist creating this beautiful masterpiece?

Having known Bhagi since school days I can easily say its the latter :)

In Bhagi's own words - " I like this painting as it was the first time I was doing a traditional mural painting. It took me several weeks to complete this one but the process was very exciting. Each new brush stroke and each new color added life to the picture "

"Each new brush stroke Each new Color adds

life to the picture !

Indeed Bhagi, and that's when a painting ceases to be just a painting - It transforms into a labour of Love !

  

The 50 Paintings Project

Painting # 47

'Shivohum Eternal and Four Element' 

by 

Shivani Ratra

This absolutely divine painting is by my dear friend,artist,poet,writer,designer ... Shivani.            

                                                                                                                                         
 A detailed artwork in mixed medium where Acrylic Colors, Relief Work and Water   colors have been meticulously used.

The more you look at this artwork the more interesting it becomes.

One starts by looking at the beautiful eye symbolizing Goddess Parvati - 

Then as we take in the brilliant blue symbolizing Lord Shiva we cannot miss the beautiful calligraphy work used to denote the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra - (A powerful chant from the  Rigveda which is known as the Great - Death Conquering Mantra.)

This brilliant artwork generates a  sense of faith in a higher eternal reality .   

Look at it a little longer and it reminds us of a power that  lies within us all  -  The power to defeat our problems , the power to be a better version of what we are.

Exhibited at the India Art Fair 2017 in New Delhi ,  this painting is a brilliant example of original expression - something I have come to associate with Shivani over so many years.

 She is one of those artist who  experiments boldly and  creates freely . 

Something which every true artist aspires to achieve - Soulful Expression!

Lord Buddha by Shivani in Charcoal

Untill next week :)  BE SOUL HAPPY

The 50 Paintings Project

Painting # 46

               The Lotus Pond by Mamta Raja

'The Lotus Pond' is a vibrant Acrylic on canvas by my dear friend Mamta .  

 It is one of my favourites because of the overlapping, layer work which is intriguing and creates interest in this painting and also because  in this painting I see a part of her personality.

The colour scheme is vibrant and cheerful,  much like Mamta herself :) .Though no Gold color has been directly used -- one can still see the golden glow on the leaves and in certain horizontal strokes.

The use of layers gives an impression that this painting is probably done on Silk and not canvas.  The red border is a unique touch - which is normally uncommon in paintings on canvas.

The most beautiful  part is of course , the  color of the Lotus -- It is unconventional,   
It does not conform to what is generally perceived as its color and yet that's what she has boldly gone ahead and used - affirming that that's what makes an Artist ,  a Creator. 

An impromptu,freehand Ganesha by Mamta

For art is a journey of a free soul - And only when we are free - we can create beautiful things.

The concluding thought that comes to my mind as I write this is ----
"Along with Paints and mediums when an artist starts pouring her personality into the painting - that's when a true 'art from heart' is created. That's when it becomes something more than a pretty picture - that's when it stirs the viewer's soul."

See you next week - Until then Let go of the Rules, Let go of the techniques , Let go of everything which keeps you from painting from your soul  - And go ahead and create that Art from the Heart.

Love

The 50 Paintings Project

Painting # 45

                  Tribal Art by Nisha Mittal

This  beautiful, traditional painting is by my dear friend Nisha. 

Nisha uses Vegetable and Acrylic Colours on handmade paper for these detailed artworks.

The scene is depicting the celebrations of a marriage. 

 It is tribal art from the Region of Kalighat in West Bengal .

A very intricate piece of work where you can easily spend a few minutes appreciating the detail. 
You may also note an interesting thing -- that all the people's faces are shown in profile , in side view.....And that indicates that none of the figures in the painting are looking directly at you. They are looking at each other and rightly so because they are engrossed in a marriage celebration , engrossed in having fun and not posing for a wedding photograph. :)

I specifically selected this painting from so many other beautiful ones - mainly because of the detailed effort and because it has the same elegance of the Madhubani paintings /Mithila Paintings. 

Another painting that deserves a mention here (and one that is my favourite too)  is one of Nisha's Tanjore paintings - where she uses 24 carat Gold leaf with  much precision and care to create beautiful artworks. 

A Tanjore painting with 24 carat gold leaf

I must tell you that these beautiful paintings by Nisha will be on display  at the Race Course Art Exhibition, Mumbai on 14th and 15th April 2018.  

Artists express themselves through their art and every Artwork has a message - what it is, only the beholder can decide . 

I guess for me it is this : 

 

So Keep your eye on the details :)

Untill next week ..... Love and hugs.

The 50 Paintings Project

Painting # 44

                                                     by Dr.Sonali Wagle

An Acrylic on Canvas by my dear friend Sonali. 




The complimentary color scheme of Blue and Yellow lends a vibrancy to this painting which causes you to keep looking at it for a while - and then you find yourself making a story about it :)


-- What does this girl look like who is sitting so confidently in her red shoes.....Does she have long light hair or a dark short bobcut ?....
Is she sitting in a pretty roadside French Cafe ?...Or is she waiting at the airport?......Is she happy or sad? ...Maybe she is waiting for her friend who has asked to meet her to give her some good news ...or is she sad and decided to dress up one last time and do what she likes....



Well I Loved this painting because it says different things to different people - and what it says , depends on what is our own state of mind when we view it.  What does it say to you? 


Our poet friend, Siddhesh Wagle, quickly penned these lines when he saw this painting ...

            "Wear your heels
           And think higher...
          You are most comfortable in your own shoes ".

 Beautiful !


So here's a lovely message that this painting gives me and I leave you with that untill next week - 


                "Be your own Beautiful Self"
          "Be Comfortable in your own Shoes "