tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88606958106666670332024-03-08T09:29:20.748-05:00artbymeeraA blog about my adventures with art and maybe life itself.Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.comBlogger654125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-74152428045357252222024-02-05T11:00:00.001-05:002024-02-05T11:00:52.428-05:00Recording Memories <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL2QvU9NqwxcH4tL_gQJ5K_eR_8_Kf0EM8zrSYgmqrj9FKIx0H6AI9tlW0JsjM5DBv9KzP_HT5fTWkkDSh6DHeD5HY_9rmXk-wo3a7qZGnWY2i8U8l-CAJHgpy-13u5SP4PMalNhEwrzzjpYPt5qfUfuepEnL6-6zAo42qnLWtXRmvNcYtruSCp-l7Gxm/s4032/IMG_2730.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL2QvU9NqwxcH4tL_gQJ5K_eR_8_Kf0EM8zrSYgmqrj9FKIx0H6AI9tlW0JsjM5DBv9KzP_HT5fTWkkDSh6DHeD5HY_9rmXk-wo3a7qZGnWY2i8U8l-CAJHgpy-13u5SP4PMalNhEwrzzjpYPt5qfUfuepEnL6-6zAo42qnLWtXRmvNcYtruSCp-l7Gxm/w300-h400/IMG_2730.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me And First Born</i> Pen and ink by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sometimes I wonder what’s the point of sketching and then recording it in the blog. Doing the covid diaries, I have recorded moments that looking back now, I could have easily forgotten and dug up memories that brought me joy. Now publishing in the blog after two and three years later brings some amazement to me! This was a memory from years ago and yet now fresh - and refreshed again ! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHzj3l2SYHBAs7a_0A5E4-WbXjP0phBQdGhq7dns57WEkXZQwpSRvKVXBs2BA0a09PEHzVYu7DnBeqh7pHDAexzrVMQEEJjqBFrD3mo0mxbtO2cuO2veex7NUP8ZYAwVGdpSKAaaNsrFuQ28G3x6lF-KwRA-XqtyltN4bEhknY6SMk-AIdSJhyphenhyphenE_TNYTN/s4032/IMG_2731.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2788" data-original-width="4032" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHzj3l2SYHBAs7a_0A5E4-WbXjP0phBQdGhq7dns57WEkXZQwpSRvKVXBs2BA0a09PEHzVYu7DnBeqh7pHDAexzrVMQEEJjqBFrD3mo0mxbtO2cuO2veex7NUP8ZYAwVGdpSKAaaNsrFuQ28G3x6lF-KwRA-XqtyltN4bEhknY6SMk-AIdSJhyphenhyphenE_TNYTN/w400-h276/IMG_2731.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Week 20 Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Pandemic journal 2021 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>The photo in the Smithsonian Engagement calendar 2021, upcycled to pandemic diary/journal 2nd year in a row, is by Elinor Cahn: <i>East Baltimore Documentary Survey Project c.1975Gelatin silver print Smithsonian American Art Museum. Cahn was one of the several photographers involved in the National Endowment for the Arts 1978 East Baltimore Documentary Survey Project, which aimed to capture the realities of life in a multiethnic community. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDgteEJJqNU9Z-Y8orY_I54Dme6-4TSD1toDLGBIkpSNrp0Qr4sxAPjn2zBO0SwpShZAU1lqhjhdSm5H9PBMSftktKTldTTBhuRMt6zSI9Ktz7hC41R-VyQr6ywe7120FXfGx0N4xPO8zifgxcgPIyU_ThxOQ1BEtkt4L6KqoeE02uu8T-Sdjdje-Ist7/s4032/IMG_2987.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="4032" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDgteEJJqNU9Z-Y8orY_I54Dme6-4TSD1toDLGBIkpSNrp0Qr4sxAPjn2zBO0SwpShZAU1lqhjhdSm5H9PBMSftktKTldTTBhuRMt6zSI9Ktz7hC41R-VyQr6ywe7120FXfGx0N4xPO8zifgxcgPIyU_ThxOQ1BEtkt4L6KqoeE02uu8T-Sdjdje-Ist7/w400-h283/IMG_2987.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Week 20 Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Pandemic journal 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> My sketch for this week is of the mural <i>Pool House Blues by Anickan Udofias</i> at the William H Ramsey Aquatic center by the Eastern Market at DC. I have learned a lot about various artists and history, science, archeology etc. through the photographs in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar and also by the art I saw in and around various places I visited during those days. The poster shown in the calendar photograph is for Richard Norman’s 1922 movie. The movie featured “<i>Bill Pickett(1870-1932), a famous cowboy and a rodeo performer of African and Native American descent. Pickett created the technique of bulldogging( also known as steer wrestling) featured in the film. The film itself is presumed lost, as only fragments have been found”. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVPYgGdKtoarQy-p3-oudMVkXBs9rQQzFHRmOhDW6UAyLT5PouyvtUhIxjJ6FWJBbRfbZZPW7BZPcl6voPFTVnAC7vI97A7ZpcWdm58oVhbZdMwB03mHzJUwMnFrfB3dtOcDSrtFYYzcGEbRxZazksi80rY3XBJu8kW0NAbMPo0ymwsD0kE_6MyDbbc84/s4032/IMG_2988.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVPYgGdKtoarQy-p3-oudMVkXBs9rQQzFHRmOhDW6UAyLT5PouyvtUhIxjJ6FWJBbRfbZZPW7BZPcl6voPFTVnAC7vI97A7ZpcWdm58oVhbZdMwB03mHzJUwMnFrfB3dtOcDSrtFYYzcGEbRxZazksi80rY3XBJu8kW0NAbMPo0ymwsD0kE_6MyDbbc84/w300-h400/IMG_2988.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Sketch of the mural ‘</span><i style="text-align: justify;">Pool House Blues by Anickan Udofias’</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: justify;">Sketch by Meera Rao </i></div><br /><p></p></div>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-87328835148848379892024-01-30T14:23:00.000-05:002024-01-30T14:23:48.999-05:00Birdbath Adventures <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-BBzuaFBX4LujZs-26ZKGfvrB322V4Z5Fd0nTMV9tkIe-y0LGhN2KELwo7IZt7TLvTxH5JyrutZnv5RoiVxpfuLoI8uCwwGV9Ybqj-rIuszZSbsTBd_3_4XaoTx4t3H04h4XyLUrgN4-Dhip5mkjWVcUE9eov__RCDoZrwFEabwqs32VTR6I1p3Fou5z/s4032/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-BBzuaFBX4LujZs-26ZKGfvrB322V4Z5Fd0nTMV9tkIe-y0LGhN2KELwo7IZt7TLvTxH5JyrutZnv5RoiVxpfuLoI8uCwwGV9Ybqj-rIuszZSbsTBd_3_4XaoTx4t3H04h4XyLUrgN4-Dhip5mkjWVcUE9eov__RCDoZrwFEabwqs32VTR6I1p3Fou5z/w400-h300/IMG_2898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Birdbath Silhouette</i> photography by<i> Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had to take down our birdfeeders a few years ago. During Covid pandemic stay home days we installed a simple bird bath, It has given us so much pleasure ! Some birds fly in and out taking quick sips of water. Red winged black birds love to dip and shake vigorously. Mourning doves like to linger in small groups. Chickadees and Cardinals are always busy and don't stay long. This year January has been very cold and the water often freezes. I started to heat water indoors in my kitchen and then pour hot water to loosen and thaw the frozen water. I then check to make sure water is not hot. Usually in a matter of minutes the birds seem to notice and happily visit to sip! This photo was taken the first time I did it this year when the I saw the steam rising and a silhouetted bird against the early light from the sunrise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Its a fine morning</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>oh the glorious sunrise</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and water for birds</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>~</b>haiku by Meera Rao<b>~</b></i></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-15616693122432930972023-12-27T11:55:00.001-05:002023-12-27T11:55:37.542-05:00Manholes and Memories <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhLu0XhCqCPp-21f6IeF_jOjL_wEIyyMecu335IpeUHig7jW5Loizl1ebMcBnBqUQVQnRPT01m40AQ3uAE1FFILJGv7n3338hvQxDlRppRC880Kte-KZa7kfBBNIkLn2CQSb9WoB-G1nWdELkzeyqzXi479vWsYz709_5Rk5vSqKjjyeLRNda5mrxqiLY/s3024/IMG_2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhLu0XhCqCPp-21f6IeF_jOjL_wEIyyMecu335IpeUHig7jW5Loizl1ebMcBnBqUQVQnRPT01m40AQ3uAE1FFILJGv7n3338hvQxDlRppRC880Kte-KZa7kfBBNIkLn2CQSb9WoB-G1nWdELkzeyqzXi479vWsYz709_5Rk5vSqKjjyeLRNda5mrxqiLY/w400-h400/IMG_2687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Emgagement Calendar sketching the pandemic 2021 week 19 May 2-8 </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXMSC7EqaX74_YMncfJ1l12H3jAbc9b7E9RNPysIAxjU2QZHXMRXc_mKpz2oh-sCWn4GGJWn7Zt862c-IDAq8otbpqgK0_Zv66U1IVDTbEB8LoOVunLWQzkrL_nhPi6b_0jyHYquqH3BW6qlwQquz35F-0IDS4RjNsfbKML0jV2N2tgYKV4_keAZt9_b9/s3024/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXMSC7EqaX74_YMncfJ1l12H3jAbc9b7E9RNPysIAxjU2QZHXMRXc_mKpz2oh-sCWn4GGJWn7Zt862c-IDAq8otbpqgK0_Zv66U1IVDTbEB8LoOVunLWQzkrL_nhPi6b_0jyHYquqH3BW6qlwQquz35F-0IDS4RjNsfbKML0jV2N2tgYKV4_keAZt9_b9/w400-h400/IMG_2688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Manhole Mandalas </i>photocopy of miniature paintings from accordion album sketchbook</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The wonderful side benefit of very late postings from my 2nd and 3rd year of sketching the pandemic days is that it reminds me things I have done and places I have visited that I almost have forgotten about !! That weekend 2021 I was inspired to pull together different manhole covers from places I had visited ( yes, I notice interesting manhole covers wherever I visit !) I sketched and painted about 20 in a mini Japanese accordion sketchbook. I photocopied one side and put it in my Smithsonian Engagement Calendar up-cycled to my sketchbook ! Uncannily, it paired well with Alexandra Agudelo’s ‘Molly bowl’. The bowl embodies her ‘<i>use of pre Colombian metal working techniques of batado in which a sheet of silver is placed between two hard surfaces and struck with a hammer in order to manipulate the material without welding’. </i>For her ‘<i>They evoke vessels used in ancestral rituals.’ </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDE-k7h2VbVtyZDW7Gw4gNs3GOYdTTe9fMkHmS-YLj0MBKb9x1VURMLpHNbXCt_Qi_a3VFy-G9GK-RR7eAkIT6zGYS9Auku1SvDOM5oKHeOXQnMSOoQUT31SsQM2gb0WOVq7jrlZNIbxprCLtO3wIY7LUxn_AHwvnyLaOQOzhbvxF0ZpTLNjAk1wd4dYr/s3024/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDE-k7h2VbVtyZDW7Gw4gNs3GOYdTTe9fMkHmS-YLj0MBKb9x1VURMLpHNbXCt_Qi_a3VFy-G9GK-RR7eAkIT6zGYS9Auku1SvDOM5oKHeOXQnMSOoQUT31SsQM2gb0WOVq7jrlZNIbxprCLtO3wIY7LUxn_AHwvnyLaOQOzhbvxF0ZpTLNjAk1wd4dYr/s320/IMG_2690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">National Museum of the Marine corps ink and watercolor 2022 week May 1-7 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>In 2022, on May 2nd we visited the National Museum of Marine corps in Quantico, Va. We pass it all the time on our trips to and back from Washington DC but never did take that exit. The magnificent building evokes the scene of soldiers raising the flag at Iwo Jima. An exhibition of 50 huge and absolutely stunning <a href="https://www.usmcmuseum.com/wethepeople.html" target="_blank">watercolors by the artist Mary Whyte of ‘<i>We the people:Portraits of Veterans in America’ </i></a>drew us to finally take the exit from the highway. It was a memorable exhibit by an artist I had always admired. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6DOetwSINYpdFKeX09FTULaJOYhyphenhyphenqcQQHQrr_Uv2WIDZ3sOIekvwszh7OQ9hf6rs09Lb04OL5bwc-v21xbMkn3N7Ry88BFoEW-aaDOqzF-WjTbOqhVVeqdivsNvUpuSxlXDR65Yb2VpTkEIVfsTuvjDuyI8Jx04malN_u1PnIc1p-w8b-5lR6CHbxdxq/s3024/IMG_2691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6DOetwSINYpdFKeX09FTULaJOYhyphenhyphenqcQQHQrr_Uv2WIDZ3sOIekvwszh7OQ9hf6rs09Lb04OL5bwc-v21xbMkn3N7Ry88BFoEW-aaDOqzF-WjTbOqhVVeqdivsNvUpuSxlXDR65Yb2VpTkEIVfsTuvjDuyI8Jx04malN_u1PnIc1p-w8b-5lR6CHbxdxq/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Pandemic year 2022 sketchbook </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The painting the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar is by Elmer Wachtel of California spring landscape c. 1920. </div>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-13798489548675937552023-12-18T16:34:00.003-05:002023-12-18T16:34:34.358-05:00Conservation, Traditons And Imagination <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSckEZ23HUl6mjgXXX-8XRfXLmnM4SBCose0hgoKrLajbxZ9Vej5VvC_s8MyS09NCQH2T5OfVOfGVPBE1NOad2qnQzq3UDAifrFx59cEPD0cnMNC-XOfLE-MREnEwwps44x9DjeVLwFXAWUq9krMtWaSwyPJ4HeBrK2PsnImJXnos0cg_GMuyOU8LG85Iu/s3950/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2729" data-original-width="3950" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSckEZ23HUl6mjgXXX-8XRfXLmnM4SBCose0hgoKrLajbxZ9Vej5VvC_s8MyS09NCQH2T5OfVOfGVPBE1NOad2qnQzq3UDAifrFx59cEPD0cnMNC-XOfLE-MREnEwwps44x9DjeVLwFXAWUq9krMtWaSwyPJ4HeBrK2PsnImJXnos0cg_GMuyOU8LG85Iu/w400-h276/IMG_2582.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar week 18 2021, April 25-May 1</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn1i1SE7Z9ZLFN-RP8g09eC5HEHk3sarFJgIPHWSsdhDDkTqYMk6gZOGfNnCNzAWqtPHtjS_DY5J8PaVSIlZ_t38i6cbWBQ884XSee6g2bJmgRTXp6yvlaV6UuWRZ1b5bs9iE3avhC3XoHc0HvBrl4VCkzs452SpBIhhd0TvLNZdm4DMlRXcjJvNRhk1Q/s4004/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4004" data-original-width="2885" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn1i1SE7Z9ZLFN-RP8g09eC5HEHk3sarFJgIPHWSsdhDDkTqYMk6gZOGfNnCNzAWqtPHtjS_DY5J8PaVSIlZ_t38i6cbWBQ884XSee6g2bJmgRTXp6yvlaV6UuWRZ1b5bs9iE3avhC3XoHc0HvBrl4VCkzs452SpBIhhd0TvLNZdm4DMlRXcjJvNRhk1Q/w289-h400/IMG_2583.JPG" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Up a tree </i> pen &ink and watercolor by<i> Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When your grandchild climbs trees and has special adventures the same week that 'the Panda on a tree' photo (by Conner Mallon 2019) is in my upcycled Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021, - where I had been chronicling the second year of pandemic memories - its a special feeling :) As cute as the panda is, it is clear who in my eyes is the cuter one. The panda was at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute - on loan from China- as an ambassador for conservation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaJsH40IBiD8LvAleztN3hrcojfYTWXc2c3Hx9-ebgQbHHJFgI9PZk9p0FbDZa6N_qa6WlLqiOjg2CuZBbAMcbaS-_MW78zs5-TiMCfjvYYTgx_1WlLa_hZ6yFIWWufqwaigx4GJO2ANsWbHIxFWf4x4u8ftZqo-YleE2Ywlma_yjO5ft-7aOgtRTBYoF/s4032/IMG_2585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaJsH40IBiD8LvAleztN3hrcojfYTWXc2c3Hx9-ebgQbHHJFgI9PZk9p0FbDZa6N_qa6WlLqiOjg2CuZBbAMcbaS-_MW78zs5-TiMCfjvYYTgx_1WlLa_hZ6yFIWWufqwaigx4GJO2ANsWbHIxFWf4x4u8ftZqo-YleE2Ywlma_yjO5ft-7aOgtRTBYoF/w300-h400/IMG_2585.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>At the Hirshhorn Museum Yayoi Kasuma exhibit</i> ink and watercolor.by<i> Meera Rao </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg-bflNDxpUQhxpfBJXqnK9y1OSQOp09s-Xy9_IeJUPhXXYAXzlPXQnsxPgnm8hA94T910JkTeErI6Jcgli8T7oKy5cclOt00l6Igdl8W9dsAzdHruklu4xmx6-RyYLvvwAu2A18-igU4_eeiTrlYWzPwBhCZ-ZuSigzvpdsIG7Kdzvmr-ayOoTHW1oad/s3936/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="3936" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg-bflNDxpUQhxpfBJXqnK9y1OSQOp09s-Xy9_IeJUPhXXYAXzlPXQnsxPgnm8hA94T910JkTeErI6Jcgli8T7oKy5cclOt00l6Igdl8W9dsAzdHruklu4xmx6-RyYLvvwAu2A18-igU4_eeiTrlYWzPwBhCZ-ZuSigzvpdsIG7Kdzvmr-ayOoTHW1oad/w400-h275/IMG_2584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar week 18 2022, April 24- May 3</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A year later, as seen in my sketch for the same week 18 in my third year of sketching the pandemic year memories -in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022, we were still wearing the masks when in crowded interiors even after having vaccinated and boosted ! The Kasuma exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC was psychedelic with colors, dots, lights and mirrors! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The photo for week 18 in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 is of a piece by Jiyoung Chun's Joomechi art "<i>Whisper Romance_His Tear'" : "Joomechi is a unique Korean traditional handmade paper technique that uses only hanji (Korean Mulberry paper),water and the artists hands. It creates strong, textural surfaces that sometimes appear printed. This work is about the love God showed humans by sacrificing his only son on the cross." </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Both artists reach into their imagination to produce unique works! And I keep dipping into all the sketches and paintings that are tucked in my sketchbooks, and studio :) </div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-58960114856618120582023-12-12T14:42:00.003-05:002023-12-12T14:47:05.089-05:00Doing Our Part<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ntPsLBXYzqjZGAhxQY4mC2ZnB7hqMcFsRUossvFpgV00hxSAcibPHP9EVxRJYaoKuexHRcHPi-qS0bLqCJBVMKIedtif6as3KPyoLOopa3OMpYEqtx7DUdMuFRyh6nF5gLMChXb_9EDysv5FyTS_TeSunKAwzWNzZIEdQyZ3s88W7Odq8TxQJOHJlMIj/s4032/IMG_2560.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ntPsLBXYzqjZGAhxQY4mC2ZnB7hqMcFsRUossvFpgV00hxSAcibPHP9EVxRJYaoKuexHRcHPi-qS0bLqCJBVMKIedtif6as3KPyoLOopa3OMpYEqtx7DUdMuFRyh6nF5gLMChXb_9EDysv5FyTS_TeSunKAwzWNzZIEdQyZ3s88W7Odq8TxQJOHJlMIj/w300-h400/IMG_2560.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Black Gold </i> ink and watercolor by <i>Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYSWTUHbysQLU_K2QGbE_sK645JmrxiysyI_UVZ7ZfWtWzngispVL_Uni3ITG5s8fR79zCMBfX_vR2RRt-lfSageNMtmuyy-2KItXraKDT2cT7cAjc2ls3ly29_l__DEefCmm8ooD9jClQuZNtHnRyz6t-3cs5fC4aZSKjUs-cUdCUgTBL4qpDLVIb9J8/s4029/IMG_2559.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="4029" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYSWTUHbysQLU_K2QGbE_sK645JmrxiysyI_UVZ7ZfWtWzngispVL_Uni3ITG5s8fR79zCMBfX_vR2RRt-lfSageNMtmuyy-2KItXraKDT2cT7cAjc2ls3ly29_l__DEefCmm8ooD9jClQuZNtHnRyz6t-3cs5fC4aZSKjUs-cUdCUgTBL4qpDLVIb9J8/w400-h279/IMG_2559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 17 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The COP28 going on in UAE has been in the news these past few days and it is by chance that my long delayed posts on earth day found an opportune time to see the light of the day! We do try to practice 'reduce, reuse and recycle' as the playful illustration in the commemorative poster in poster for Earth Day in New York April 22 1990 shows. My husband is always very proud and happy to use the 'black gold' from our compost bin in our garden. All the vegetable and plant waste from my kitchen and garden go to the bin to be composted-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> something we have done for many years now. Serendipitously it was also the week a batch was ready for the garden and I was happy to record it in my upcycled sketchbook : the Smithsonian Engagement calendar that became my covid diary !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The caption for the calendar photo credits Seymore Chwast for the poster which is now housed in Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. Inscribed in her tablet are the words "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgIfgX5cMhnpoJneEnu_qTJm7LleVH4lycVlo16dIcSlBZ1WWvjT35ltl3_8JAWh-em-9tTL_tZJqH1s27e1FmGKzVxxyrL-ee0FX7PzVFsXw2ZrHgBOoOVGPBEjdIYknbsWHK1zbB2cPhlDj6u35YqQwZEDwdndl5DKZLiaD2VppFcOysn53arBsqCtA/s4032/IMG_2558.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgIfgX5cMhnpoJneEnu_qTJm7LleVH4lycVlo16dIcSlBZ1WWvjT35ltl3_8JAWh-em-9tTL_tZJqH1s27e1FmGKzVxxyrL-ee0FX7PzVFsXw2ZrHgBOoOVGPBEjdIYknbsWHK1zbB2cPhlDj6u35YqQwZEDwdndl5DKZLiaD2VppFcOysn53arBsqCtA/w300-h400/IMG_2558.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Iris Blooming </i>pen & ink and watercolor by <i>Meera Rao </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc94zUY1DttV6rCXK5Mpuu0FsaumH3xwFeFm4EP4u8BMlTd1QWhTpiEiwlqwiNUJ1Kn-Vr8sgqa-fsUKgU9NipnG7K_Pkgw6L_0dqMrErJgAygPseQJMTaKpbSdtORNY58Dkz5eI6F_bX4kEdLpQW5521wvKVekVnt8-mkJS5Ee4fmWBNEJDXBk8Rq-uhX/s4030/IMG_2557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4030" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc94zUY1DttV6rCXK5Mpuu0FsaumH3xwFeFm4EP4u8BMlTd1QWhTpiEiwlqwiNUJ1Kn-Vr8sgqa-fsUKgU9NipnG7K_Pkgw6L_0dqMrErJgAygPseQJMTaKpbSdtORNY58Dkz5eI6F_bX4kEdLpQW5521wvKVekVnt8-mkJS5Ee4fmWBNEJDXBk8Rq-uhX/w400-h300/IMG_2557.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 17 2021</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Last week for the first time we went into the Ripley Building of the Smithsonian Museums and saw a print of the painting of Julie E Packard by Hope Gangloff hanging in the hallway. I recognized the painting from using the 'Smithsonian engagement Calendar 2021' as my upcycled covid diary :) It reminded me that I was behind in my blogging and posting even though I have been busy painting and sketching regularly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> The write up in the calendar notes :" <i>Julie Packard (b 1952) has dedicated her career to preserving ocean life. In 1984, she helped found the world -renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium." </i>This portrait is hanging in the National Portrait Gallery. <i> </i></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-67500364577537442532023-12-05T21:12:00.005-05:002023-12-05T21:12:54.959-05:00End of Something is the Beginning of Something Else<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R_OpclfG2aDN59aQaubkkH5OLlgtKlXaOyh_ZYR5tn5le4k8QSCyLtEWKg0Y0oDJwq02NSMRvMqb0bi3d1SzVyzPM1Mvw-ub4iMbwF9sJbKQLnDF8KJlDVTBTMiRFGfWmg35e0ju0KT4FdZxTsy_98UXvo8aywMx78-RKJUGZKLXopGXY-LQDlX-m7ni/s3024/Ganesh_eco_art_box.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R_OpclfG2aDN59aQaubkkH5OLlgtKlXaOyh_ZYR5tn5le4k8QSCyLtEWKg0Y0oDJwq02NSMRvMqb0bi3d1SzVyzPM1Mvw-ub4iMbwF9sJbKQLnDF8KJlDVTBTMiRFGfWmg35e0ju0KT4FdZxTsy_98UXvo8aywMx78-RKJUGZKLXopGXY-LQDlX-m7ni/w400-h400/Ganesh_eco_art_box.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ganesha </i>Mixed Media by <i>Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-9ELJETOcZ_4bT1jE4gXLx0YOCnjjdz6n_eE3NYNKcAfXNa3Z8NIpfDwkbH-2oFstD4WaKYCgKxmYq1P-smHc_H8O8gW9ZEqqy62tcUwxTLmoXeGmB-sLwhsvAVnfYk1WyfNRs3yJOb5dP1qJf603PsJOVNUGkd-r17J3PXsXTdn0aemWuoQxgodZdwi/s2700/Ganesha_eco_art_box2.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="2700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-9ELJETOcZ_4bT1jE4gXLx0YOCnjjdz6n_eE3NYNKcAfXNa3Z8NIpfDwkbH-2oFstD4WaKYCgKxmYq1P-smHc_H8O8gW9ZEqqy62tcUwxTLmoXeGmB-sLwhsvAVnfYk1WyfNRs3yJOb5dP1qJf603PsJOVNUGkd-r17J3PXsXTdn0aemWuoQxgodZdwi/w400-h400/Ganesha_eco_art_box2.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ganesha </i>Mixed Media 2x2x3/4" by <i>Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have been experimenting with using empty mint boxes, used up metro cards etc. in my art explorations. Here I upcycled an empty Trader Joe's mint box into a travel altar with the image of God Ganesha using watercolor, color pens, washi tape(for the sides). The challenge was to draw a 2x2" miniature Ganesha to fit in the box and that required a few tries! In the end it was a wonderful feeling to recycle the box into a meaningful work of art. As I was starting the project, I was reminded of a quote by Fred Rogers of Children's Educational TV shows : </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"Often when you think you are at the end of something,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You are at the beginning of something else "</i> </div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-4196326940933518982023-11-29T13:43:00.013-05:002023-11-29T13:46:08.101-05:00VWS Signature Membership<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXogFWegNGqMEXeyslq3YdpfKUSLF1i_Gxw2zsFizdZEsc0FnYbjcTm10iSpgq8GMmxLctb3zAhKfzic2i-oyCV0iK16VSWvxqI2zwkEyCbnG5YFswZgCpdSNOLuPFOzSoORHCzV2Bq1g_LX45DwLt9xvGlDslg8xIyMcXIFeCeRRscLXp7UABn24S_XK/s3938/VWS%20letters.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="3938" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXogFWegNGqMEXeyslq3YdpfKUSLF1i_Gxw2zsFizdZEsc0FnYbjcTm10iSpgq8GMmxLctb3zAhKfzic2i-oyCV0iK16VSWvxqI2zwkEyCbnG5YFswZgCpdSNOLuPFOzSoORHCzV2Bq1g_LX45DwLt9xvGlDslg8xIyMcXIFeCeRRscLXp7UABn24S_XK/w400-h308/VWS%20letters.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP95yo6hcUNxOzhP_omkbQrToB6AsnO4i1eRd0vrO3v45-wJ-6ggYChQRR8KvhXcLDMiv2pSkiwFXi_DpjgmolDDYfLnUcpzb10dQtXt44U-3SH0Tz6GuqqwsrHgcKTZDIKW6eLg3vvKObV4HpBAOJjTcZoM4yxseHCGJzI09GmW9nKewrq9lXa1dPFAYV/s1605/vws23%20me%20with%20waterlily.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="1284" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP95yo6hcUNxOzhP_omkbQrToB6AsnO4i1eRd0vrO3v45-wJ-6ggYChQRR8KvhXcLDMiv2pSkiwFXi_DpjgmolDDYfLnUcpzb10dQtXt44U-3SH0Tz6GuqqwsrHgcKTZDIKW6eLg3vvKObV4HpBAOJjTcZoM4yxseHCGJzI09GmW9nKewrq9lXa1dPFAYV/w320-h400/vws23%20me%20with%20waterlily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The blog anniversary came around again on the 17th of this month - An anniversary almost forgotten. I am thankful for 16 years of blogging. But unfortunately, this year has not been conducive for posting due to sundry reasons. Meanwhile the big news is that I was awarded the signature membership to Virginia Watercolor society at the VWS Annual show in Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I ponder, draw, paint</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>brush color on wet paper</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and a lily blooms</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>~Meera Rao~</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-39666439667742937232023-08-29T20:38:00.001-04:002023-08-29T20:38:14.990-04:00Introspection and New Beginnings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMXoykCszB4MDw_jIcD36ypB0p3EzyfX90rS6ZeIBD9qat5rcQW4t65hdRy6_65GvY6HVcRh631JZSd9KfZ1azfTqPZpIvJ5RuMJF5IT7GX6VTtWDmrEmODuPg89Byll829Q6L4fjuS9eOzHY_XBJtsP_DZ3edJdfEaHRIS2VIftDOaq8cFQZJVQszAt4/s2429/vainline.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2429" data-original-width="2429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMXoykCszB4MDw_jIcD36ypB0p3EzyfX90rS6ZeIBD9qat5rcQW4t65hdRy6_65GvY6HVcRh631JZSd9KfZ1azfTqPZpIvJ5RuMJF5IT7GX6VTtWDmrEmODuPg89Byll829Q6L4fjuS9eOzHY_XBJtsP_DZ3edJdfEaHRIS2VIftDOaq8cFQZJVQszAt4/s320/vainline.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>One Vain Line </i>pencil by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">These sketches and photos are from my Smithsonian Engagement Calendar upcycled to pandemic diary year 2 (2021) and year 3(2022). I am way behind in posting and now determined to pick up and continue! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> '<i>One Vain Line'</i> is a self portrait sketch done in one continuous line for a challenge in 2020 which then was in a show at the Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center in Hampton. I decided to frame it with the torn edge of page showing. That was the week I was assembling the matt and the frame for the show. I took the above photo to check and see if framing it like that will work - I think it does :) For the art journal I did a reduced size photocopy of the original sketch and glued it to the page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ8fPrk19LiMFHE-wpejRpvw9AAAtWrJ_jpDrb2fwhqEQ2O3r-jNI6HKvyTQxsq7sEhmF_yePH4N2_U9vl4rwkEasgoh-Y7KNRIm4juay65FNtJF5msM9h57YR-r3QjbxZVBGV8I43bYYouh28iaMUEBsaKsq_MzqlqJ9-K1b1ijVyfs9k7mPe31f31BV/s3024/IMG_0955.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="3024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ8fPrk19LiMFHE-wpejRpvw9AAAtWrJ_jpDrb2fwhqEQ2O3r-jNI6HKvyTQxsq7sEhmF_yePH4N2_U9vl4rwkEasgoh-Y7KNRIm4juay65FNtJF5msM9h57YR-r3QjbxZVBGV8I43bYYouh28iaMUEBsaKsq_MzqlqJ9-K1b1ijVyfs9k7mPe31f31BV/s320/IMG_0955.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 16, 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">April 10-16 2022</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The photo in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 is "Guardian" 1990 Silver Gelatin print by Earlie Hudnall Jr. Its from Smithsonian American Art Museum. "<i>In 'the Guardian' a father enfolds his young daughter as they stand along a street reflected in the mirrored lenses of his glasses. The American flag tucked behind his ear suggests that in addition to warmth and affection, he is passing on a sense of </i><span style="text-align: center;"><i>community and patriotic pride."</i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDnnzyQIxOYdy3tQARioihR7veqNKo5f2UicylUlUpR-YuB0OlGDeSnztHUscMpmh47orMN1jazwuTA7w_SMRy0XXk1dOajZ3v6OM9a9xAIdZ7UiwcKUsUZ32JSf1ZpoAYLZA4A9Za3kINDVCUMHUM3c064va3tBOTH0CaK190y72467H1Fey8kwe_JFB/s1024/kanisketch2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDnnzyQIxOYdy3tQARioihR7veqNKo5f2UicylUlUpR-YuB0OlGDeSnztHUscMpmh47orMN1jazwuTA7w_SMRy0XXk1dOajZ3v6OM9a9xAIdZ7UiwcKUsUZ32JSf1ZpoAYLZA4A9Za3kINDVCUMHUM3c064va3tBOTH0CaK190y72467H1Fey8kwe_JFB/s320/kanisketch2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'<i>Visu kani" </i> in watercolor, ink and silver pen <i>By Meera Rao </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">April 14th is 'Visu' celebration of the start of the 'New year' in many communities in India that follow the solar calendar. A 'kani' is assembled in the puja room near the alter, the night before with seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers on a plate with dry uncooked rice and a mirror in the middle that is decorated with jewelry. First thing on the morning of Visu after waking up, we light the lamps and look at our own face surrounded by the abundance from nature. This is to symbolize the wealth, prosperity and health we wish upon our selves in the coming year. Looking at our face in the mirror surrounded by the fruits, flowers, vegetables and jewelry is also a reminder that we are all part of the same nature and are one with the universe. It is also to affirm that we need to be good stewards of the nature to prosper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQQ9TO9KdxxEZy4LFSCEe7QU-pajOlFFTHe2MwIdABwlXgXBz48dQJ-gh1T2MSrw8fD6b82XBRS7Mi6uGGLh-MX6VivUVy5EeTlnOkAWy0ToM4_Rdbg6CYlvX9DaA6A2hgyZAlFbblCvXfbG2UCPIG1pGUNj7X39pT4Vazybp4vPlYFR9JGTBirb8zm6K/s2974/IMG_0954.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="2974" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQQ9TO9KdxxEZy4LFSCEe7QU-pajOlFFTHe2MwIdABwlXgXBz48dQJ-gh1T2MSrw8fD6b82XBRS7Mi6uGGLh-MX6VivUVy5EeTlnOkAWy0ToM4_Rdbg6CYlvX9DaA6A2hgyZAlFbblCvXfbG2UCPIG1pGUNj7X39pT4Vazybp4vPlYFR9JGTBirb8zm6K/s320/IMG_0954.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 16 2021</div><div>April 11-17, 2021</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The work on the opposite side is the page 'Bound Console' is by Rachael David- from the Smithsonian Craft Show. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am hoping this post will reset a new beginning for my routines and I get back to blogging regularly !</div></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-78457758284944908462023-05-18T12:01:00.000-04:002023-05-18T12:01:02.251-04:00Eco Art Art Box : Celebrations <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiivPKkafYHAbPP1jG5-YTkizznFY4XW9uJfAc9bwomMQnRpNpzfYlxBGWyKnv0Cd9z6lzP-lSxbaLw5-fuo26OuoB53GO-1w8sCmEDwlW3n2vxnD5rMO3_r5KYBZMcLfXlw3ME1tS7IqnK-isfaMIsQGAWaESGguYEC9OVuigqlIlM1UMnho0rAKevA/s1681/IMG_8472.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiivPKkafYHAbPP1jG5-YTkizznFY4XW9uJfAc9bwomMQnRpNpzfYlxBGWyKnv0Cd9z6lzP-lSxbaLw5-fuo26OuoB53GO-1w8sCmEDwlW3n2vxnD5rMO3_r5KYBZMcLfXlw3ME1tS7IqnK-isfaMIsQGAWaESGguYEC9OVuigqlIlM1UMnho0rAKevA/s320/IMG_8472.PNG" width="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sri Rama-Sita Kalyana </i>by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8x6x1.5cm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I made this box as a 50th Wedding anniversary gift recycling an empty mouth freshener mint box :) I used watercolors, micron pen, markers and Pitt pens to draw and decorate the <i>Sri Rama Sita Kalyana</i> (wedding) portrait. I used different Japanese washi tape with gold accents for front and side covers as it was for a golden wedding anniversary! Back cover was a simpler Japanese washi tape. It was a challenging yet fun project that I did past December but forgot to post it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO-8MIlrIzVVSZxe-z0c5NLBSM-IMm-WAf63ZO3mrY_oew_fr57LgiqvC7N5ADnuijEpxsQLhlNUfOqy5jiQB3hF4ohZr1jU1sJRGi_9luMcmGX4HbNsSMgliHqYS-XniNkpTnWZn0OnUxcevAoCbitE8bsqr16wZIvv8qWvNnla4tcTvhvV9UnCKxg/s1452/IMG_8469.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHO-8MIlrIzVVSZxe-z0c5NLBSM-IMm-WAf63ZO3mrY_oew_fr57LgiqvC7N5ADnuijEpxsQLhlNUfOqy5jiQB3hF4ohZr1jU1sJRGi_9luMcmGX4HbNsSMgliHqYS-XniNkpTnWZn0OnUxcevAoCbitE8bsqr16wZIvv8qWvNnla4tcTvhvV9UnCKxg/s320/IMG_8469.PNG" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eco Art Box Front Cover</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50s6JpO9IBz4LLdjbaikkJkUqtABF-rsDi4fixkkRmMncaT-c5rCd-BYmN64M9ioj0odnQ_FcrFB30DNuqfeK46TmlEreCX1isqH8uTSldnU04Kv5bY4r3AzEnn_S9iZBHc0DWP8IqywM4RUh2p6ELft-EU15Lb2DsYuz45VcfX3bTVx6FqjdUAirPw/s1386/IMG_8471.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1277" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50s6JpO9IBz4LLdjbaikkJkUqtABF-rsDi4fixkkRmMncaT-c5rCd-BYmN64M9ioj0odnQ_FcrFB30DNuqfeK46TmlEreCX1isqH8uTSldnU04Kv5bY4r3AzEnn_S9iZBHc0DWP8IqywM4RUh2p6ELft-EU15Lb2DsYuz45VcfX3bTVx6FqjdUAirPw/s320/IMG_8471.PNG" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eco Art Box Side</div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8lShl15QHnIFUkoSXIxLX4APVXr5vLnrTQ0WKC-cdcaEDPucZOdmjHaswlV5_xpzOVT_95Hxgpe4ha16X0EBzd_TTugLqwP0FOroRq-j31r5ecBADIVD32-B9qFETbbQ5Y_vmVO-qqwaMCtZx1LjiPXteUxHxd33XsLG9XpLFnpXo48JdRDTrcwzoA/s1443/IMG_8470.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8lShl15QHnIFUkoSXIxLX4APVXr5vLnrTQ0WKC-cdcaEDPucZOdmjHaswlV5_xpzOVT_95Hxgpe4ha16X0EBzd_TTugLqwP0FOroRq-j31r5ecBADIVD32-B9qFETbbQ5Y_vmVO-qqwaMCtZx1LjiPXteUxHxd33XsLG9XpLFnpXo48JdRDTrcwzoA/s320/IMG_8470.PNG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eco Art Box Back Cover</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I found this beautiful quote on love said to be from <i>Ramayana.</i> But I could not find the original. I will grateful if anyone can enlighten me about it and please put it in the comments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Blow O Wind, to where my loved one is.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Touch him and come touch me soon.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I'll feel his gentle touch through you </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and meet his beauty in the moon.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>These things are much for the one who loves.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>One can live by them alone:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>that he and I breathe the same air</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and the Earth we tread is one.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>~Ramayana~</i></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-55305960593447727602023-05-09T09:26:00.000-04:002023-05-09T09:26:30.165-04:00Always Watchful <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyrS0sii9aqCPxOcgNePeFVjqjdYaf1m08_gSi0boY8bsl_8Dbdir2oeG7QVUQtwxrSpTvNxHVaSE7v0EQcHoMs_W_k1E486CIZEquGARlRMG16W72S1Ssehiia-ZHpx-zW2mTlInrkE5zNjnzK1fpgQAKUCOBDpe8hYwoncyck6D7J96ccy9lQdJGg/s3024/IMG_7869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyrS0sii9aqCPxOcgNePeFVjqjdYaf1m08_gSi0boY8bsl_8Dbdir2oeG7QVUQtwxrSpTvNxHVaSE7v0EQcHoMs_W_k1E486CIZEquGARlRMG16W72S1Ssehiia-ZHpx-zW2mTlInrkE5zNjnzK1fpgQAKUCOBDpe8hYwoncyck6D7J96ccy9lQdJGg/w400-h400/IMG_7869.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Watchful </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkss2_4iAVeykCrJe4G1aEVi4EI7NK-xDxhccNtv6lx9WzHylxCUAUjNMANwGqbKNF8a1dHlICezxN4ZPJJW6XixvQ-PjLLwbtbpCVmxTyTZbQbylw8gSC4I2pcSKtJC7PAQ2wQxBfoyzLjLofbEofxz7qMzAF1TfItFforIx5vnoWWbWCzNS3V4czng/s1440/2BBB8378-D97B-4019-ABC2-F9437141BE03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkss2_4iAVeykCrJe4G1aEVi4EI7NK-xDxhccNtv6lx9WzHylxCUAUjNMANwGqbKNF8a1dHlICezxN4ZPJJW6XixvQ-PjLLwbtbpCVmxTyTZbQbylw8gSC4I2pcSKtJC7PAQ2wQxBfoyzLjLofbEofxz7qMzAF1TfItFforIx5vnoWWbWCzNS3V4czng/w400-h320/2BBB8378-D97B-4019-ABC2-F9437141BE03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>'Watchful' </i>is coming back home after four months gracing the wall at the Hill Center Galleries at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington DC. This was a direct watercolor painting with no sketch done ahead of the time. I was pleased to be able to paint the likeness without a sketch :) Once again in June will be the month long challenge on direct watercolor painting! Hope to participate and sharpen my skills. I also force myself to paint larger than in my usual small sketchbook. I can only fit a small sketch book in my handbag. </div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-37199045481625519392023-05-01T08:49:00.006-04:002023-05-01T08:49:58.351-04:00Friendship Blooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy8WejPvgtwPssVk9X-WAMFvzyP6H02Uul7uV6wbetDI6GCJ3nlmGy8GD19dcVFQ-K6JxvBO1r8ctZKWIfNLfKKkJTOvtsMU9XVNjeEVzOUeJtKd9ewK_bAGRDMwfYXdGfsk1-nzCssO3Qklz466rsHv_rXcPUMOsqg6Isx6HiM7KDZZkFjnZuUcGwQ/s3641/IMG_6850.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2731" data-original-width="3641" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy8WejPvgtwPssVk9X-WAMFvzyP6H02Uul7uV6wbetDI6GCJ3nlmGy8GD19dcVFQ-K6JxvBO1r8ctZKWIfNLfKKkJTOvtsMU9XVNjeEVzOUeJtKd9ewK_bAGRDMwfYXdGfsk1-nzCssO3Qklz466rsHv_rXcPUMOsqg6Isx6HiM7KDZZkFjnZuUcGwQ/w400-h300/IMG_6850.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Floral friendship Cards watercolor By Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I painted these cards back in January during my trip to India/London. They were for my friends whose almost lifelong association has been a bright spot in my life. All four of us met and spent the day together once again in person after almost fifty years. These flowers were all in bloom in the garden in Bengaluru. I feel a part of me is always in my paintings and it felt just right to paint these for my friends as a token of my appreciation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The past few months, though sketching regularly, I have been remiss about posting on my blog. The trip changed my routine and getting back to it is something I need to work on! I do post often on Instagram @artbymeera. But I like posting on my blog as it makes me write down my thoughts.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS_dIvNXD2anAOLVHy3Fb7hD3MrOqj8R3E-SEKHSUCykc0vikP9eHWrygofleDhMw7W8Bl_Ruj1IqFu9eTaS-7guPKxh_XGC1vQ9Ixl-ALaUEjD82AG1pEO_g2NPZuwzaK9d7UT7T0GiHrewhsq-Ns4-kobz0LxvjnBYK9d7HX4m8za4sQW5wlXB-_Q/s2981/IMG_6852.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2236" data-original-width="2981" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS_dIvNXD2anAOLVHy3Fb7hD3MrOqj8R3E-SEKHSUCykc0vikP9eHWrygofleDhMw7W8Bl_Ruj1IqFu9eTaS-7guPKxh_XGC1vQ9Ixl-ALaUEjD82AG1pEO_g2NPZuwzaK9d7UT7T0GiHrewhsq-Ns4-kobz0LxvjnBYK9d7HX4m8za4sQW5wlXB-_Q/w400-h300/IMG_6852.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Oleander</i> watercolor by Meera Rao</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sSGbXHGcYvl7FPK7S4H5duD37XPBErMIgUBQuCwVeMww3WAiQ8r060R7ghvB-SWi1_hQ_zGIcpD2vxmWVk8LD2uIdkWYrNgYbb4njmta8wXBlZVAxJ3rsCCFC5ektz8rSQ5aeVh5nPC6H5PXhViQ08NH--dJ5hhPMrVMW0WhAOotyvAistrItAT_3A/s2767/IMG_6851.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="2767" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sSGbXHGcYvl7FPK7S4H5duD37XPBErMIgUBQuCwVeMww3WAiQ8r060R7ghvB-SWi1_hQ_zGIcpD2vxmWVk8LD2uIdkWYrNgYbb4njmta8wXBlZVAxJ3rsCCFC5ektz8rSQ5aeVh5nPC6H5PXhViQ08NH--dJ5hhPMrVMW0WhAOotyvAistrItAT_3A/w400-h300/IMG_6851.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Fuchsia </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2RmXxpraURTNiEXpELbA5Qyil4s7DxJfPnHZGFR1d5iHhF4hA7A6dbWErXMg1xTAzQluubAklarxwGvWaobh-pkk0qSzI0TFjw2bhNSwKQ8OiB3SA6YUr8CmIdY3A0kBbhb7dJuxAuswyOZKxj2HkXVyRu44l-G2d7c5UIP9yZVFvq-gkW4A0l8smQ/s2831/IMG_6853.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="2831" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2RmXxpraURTNiEXpELbA5Qyil4s7DxJfPnHZGFR1d5iHhF4hA7A6dbWErXMg1xTAzQluubAklarxwGvWaobh-pkk0qSzI0TFjw2bhNSwKQ8OiB3SA6YUr8CmIdY3A0kBbhb7dJuxAuswyOZKxj2HkXVyRu44l-G2d7c5UIP9yZVFvq-gkW4A0l8smQ/w400-h300/IMG_6853.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gazania</i> watercolor by Meera Rao </div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-67946089648129494122022-12-31T21:58:00.005-05:002022-12-31T21:58:39.542-05:00Bidding Good Bye to 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkskAM4uvZS062WLDvlmDweG9of_j2BXfbwytl1ziqVRyc97zkr6Vn-4WqnGO2SaxWxCR-bhj8RwmMaotnVB8-lhYUgWGcNuFkcbJF2PLIQEg9z2kFtw2-3Lh7SaPH1lKKxjRjLDId03mQCeMm2MZXnmhoysOqp__UQLEnFRY6Xq53HawEE1eKFjiHAA/s4032/IMG_5685.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkskAM4uvZS062WLDvlmDweG9of_j2BXfbwytl1ziqVRyc97zkr6Vn-4WqnGO2SaxWxCR-bhj8RwmMaotnVB8-lhYUgWGcNuFkcbJF2PLIQEg9z2kFtw2-3Lh7SaPH1lKKxjRjLDId03mQCeMm2MZXnmhoysOqp__UQLEnFRY6Xq53HawEE1eKFjiHAA/w400-h300/IMG_5685.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sunset </i>Photography by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">“For last year’s words </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">belong to last year’s language. </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">And next year’s words </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">await another voice.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"> And to make an end </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">is to make a beginning.” </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial;">~T.S. Eliot~</span></i></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-79303880427078002162022-11-20T21:37:00.000-05:002022-11-20T21:37:35.688-05:00Star And Warrior <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQIO-gLQJ2hLPmTeS0w25MQTBPnqPiYEhq4tbPUvVNpybVpgcY2XvU1cJ-5Q8k1MwQbBxDyKWdXWv1o10gdzcHeX7gRUHT1dSLArWJDIr04XzMXOouYUQtfeWMgUsqPJJwwrgKwqj4hlvIgtjy5mzUUn8jqPQM6MFOddUA3U-ZK1jFZ6dxhALQX32uA/s4032/IMG_3276.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQIO-gLQJ2hLPmTeS0w25MQTBPnqPiYEhq4tbPUvVNpybVpgcY2XvU1cJ-5Q8k1MwQbBxDyKWdXWv1o10gdzcHeX7gRUHT1dSLArWJDIr04XzMXOouYUQtfeWMgUsqPJJwwrgKwqj4hlvIgtjy5mzUUn8jqPQM6MFOddUA3U-ZK1jFZ6dxhALQX32uA/s320/IMG_3276.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Brand New Baby Grand Daughter </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The baby is a year & half and finally I get around to post this little sketch from 2021!! At least I did sketch it more than a year ago. I love it that this is being posted on the 14th Blog Anniversary! I wish I had a better image. I hope I will sketch many more as she grows up to fully realize her wonderful potential. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ycp8bCKRFieAHTjdpv8-gU2TJaayDL62m6We-lS1_u6r-HeIVkbQPxApZV4YuJ1bMah-ewQhW1l8kFCNDXk2cmTvd4WquCmk9MCXIfRPAoLoboi7egmcwyGil7wLMMJatFGsxlJWaDRKh_dviTzS0T7hTIpPO2XfUxRaoNlLwh5eQr_eQuK4qsVhgQ/s3965/IMG_3274.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2763" data-original-width="3965" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ycp8bCKRFieAHTjdpv8-gU2TJaayDL62m6We-lS1_u6r-HeIVkbQPxApZV4YuJ1bMah-ewQhW1l8kFCNDXk2cmTvd4WquCmk9MCXIfRPAoLoboi7egmcwyGil7wLMMJatFGsxlJWaDRKh_dviTzS0T7hTIpPO2XfUxRaoNlLwh5eQr_eQuK4qsVhgQ/w400-h279/IMG_3274.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 15 2021</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>The Kiowa Battle dress c 2000 </i>by Vanessa Jennings (Kiowa/Pima) is "<i>similar to those worn by female relatives of the warrior members of the Ton-Won-Gah, or the Kiowa Black Leggings Society. The yellow patches with the horse heads indicate a Vietnam War veteran from the US Army's first cavalry</i>." I actually had not paid any attention to this photo on the opposite page in the upcycled sketchbook - the Smithsonian Engagement calendar 2021- while I sketched my grandbaby. It is one of the very few times I totally ignored the image in the engagement Calendar until it was time for me write about it in the blog :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYD6jYnT7O0z-LNtmXrvzrzjbigebNOa3SkXx_fRd8rmjgCrY5exWMaPvzum_5Ab46ovXjriCyBt5Xme-s_M4KIAQe4TSjEW7xZ_jnOxJIvVU4jOwk9002_fmhSDsfYujWXdwcyIdTTq6cYAvhHx1knuhGmb1F1VY8EqLfonqHHiCn3LU1pcrJ92URw/s3841/IMG_3266.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3841" data-original-width="2881" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYD6jYnT7O0z-LNtmXrvzrzjbigebNOa3SkXx_fRd8rmjgCrY5exWMaPvzum_5Ab46ovXjriCyBt5Xme-s_M4KIAQe4TSjEW7xZ_jnOxJIvVU4jOwk9002_fmhSDsfYujWXdwcyIdTTq6cYAvhHx1knuhGmb1F1VY8EqLfonqHHiCn3LU1pcrJ92URw/w300-h400/IMG_3266.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Star Magnolia from Japan At the national mall </i></div><div><br /></div>We planned the visit to DC to coincide the cherry blossoms in full glory. As we were walking around checking out various pockets of cherry blossoms around the National Mall area, I came across this marker on on of the star magnolia tree marking the gift from Japan many many years ago! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOr99q5Zb9Dxon-AnviiBJw-pKF2-AuLyS4Vcdpv9AXCFK3MijT-ut5TcBbkEJwdh64mztCIr53FHrn3IbInVgiX4MmDdleVkEFmlKyIB5fTSn3wJFgXZCDAOVJvMqsMUupu2e_gieDeAJsLVOj7d159H3Hb3lfyoU8vRjuQba8_BVVoGmLfBNvnQ6g/s3965/IMG_3265.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2628" data-original-width="3965" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOr99q5Zb9Dxon-AnviiBJw-pKF2-AuLyS4Vcdpv9AXCFK3MijT-ut5TcBbkEJwdh64mztCIr53FHrn3IbInVgiX4MmDdleVkEFmlKyIB5fTSn3wJFgXZCDAOVJvMqsMUupu2e_gieDeAJsLVOj7d159H3Hb3lfyoU8vRjuQba8_BVVoGmLfBNvnQ6g/w400-h265/IMG_3265.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week 15 2022</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">"<i>The strappy petals of Magnoliastellata's flowers give this tree its common name- the star magnolia. Endangered in its native Japanese range, it is commonly planted in gardens for its beauty."</i> And I found this one near the Capitol grounds. </div></div></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-36693021499419291882022-10-05T22:45:00.000-04:002022-10-05T22:45:13.579-04:00Cycle of Life <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgud_VD-CGNC3d8Lwk__AkuB69H_8B4CmHbzkPl2I1oIkeOJ6yG-msbCcZO99_nxgyVrRfv1QXihKthQdqLgSPT1xGmpsYZxJ2rGck8KoGjRSXSuY_TV7zXvN5zC6CmQnt4ZR_XgPBJFsOm-bvx3ozE-IabOUCpv2bWJIfRzt2A2ubMusb6k0EHTiQ8lA/s3024/IMG_4491.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgud_VD-CGNC3d8Lwk__AkuB69H_8B4CmHbzkPl2I1oIkeOJ6yG-msbCcZO99_nxgyVrRfv1QXihKthQdqLgSPT1xGmpsYZxJ2rGck8KoGjRSXSuY_TV7zXvN5zC6CmQnt4ZR_XgPBJFsOm-bvx3ozE-IabOUCpv2bWJIfRzt2A2ubMusb6k0EHTiQ8lA/s320/IMG_4491.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Studying Skull Anatomy drawing </i>pen and ink by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I did not realize that I had been away from my blog for more than a month. I have been busy though with various projects and sketching almost daily. Some of it I post on Instagram as @artbymeera. Please send me a request in Instagram if you would like to follow and check my posts :) This month I am participating in the <i>Inktober</i> challenge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I am still plugging away at my sketching the pandemic years project! It just happened that this particular week in March/April, I was watching various videos and studying the anatomy of human skull to help me improve my portrait drawing and painting skills. For this sketch, the reference was by Vladimir London. It definitely pairs well with the mask pictured for the week in my <i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022</i> upcycled to <i>'Sketching the Pandemic' art journal.</i> It is '<i>Bo nun amuin' mask helmet </i>c1960 from Baule people <i>Cote d'Ivori, Africa. </i>The caption reads: <i> "The mask, carved from a single block of wood, combines a forest buffalo's massive horns, a snake, and crocodile's menacing and toothy maw to represent a powerful bush spirit. Meant to be worn horizontally on the head, these masks were donned by costumed dancers while performing at the funerals of elder men. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrjZ7ukGHQqDcO2T7lewSGVs0Y2zICadyd_xDWr9G7R2W0IopfRxAF4QKyihie9pBtzDXgqmWC1Zb3-imhZBkZBPELYwZRW-zdhfJZZlMRJQ_cYSf_qDlwDP9vqxNRlwLRlGlG4xHtFBmHCKzo2OMoGOD-xTagP7pV94d8mUC1Vo2wNUxC4bzRwTCKw/s3024/IMG_4490.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrjZ7ukGHQqDcO2T7lewSGVs0Y2zICadyd_xDWr9G7R2W0IopfRxAF4QKyihie9pBtzDXgqmWC1Zb3-imhZBkZBPELYwZRW-zdhfJZZlMRJQ_cYSf_qDlwDP9vqxNRlwLRlGlG4xHtFBmHCKzo2OMoGOD-xTagP7pV94d8mUC1Vo2wNUxC4bzRwTCKw/s320/IMG_4490.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 Week 14 March 27-April 2</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP1u18t8fWjGAMErCe3gsCvCOZtLlxGnblhhiZPOOybjMRhqmm5oDD906tkFAKuInENBaXm5vBm0PFZtP6UrDco-IdjgJgU8DIsKNN5x7rjr6c77EYQ_9A9PxdDdglzZqjUjz38jUOam2zOs8QDAgpsNwnYNZJs_ER4Ridriib4DN-IuXUVf-HheIiQ/s3024/IMG_4489.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP1u18t8fWjGAMErCe3gsCvCOZtLlxGnblhhiZPOOybjMRhqmm5oDD906tkFAKuInENBaXm5vBm0PFZtP6UrDco-IdjgJgU8DIsKNN5x7rjr6c77EYQ_9A9PxdDdglzZqjUjz38jUOam2zOs8QDAgpsNwnYNZJs_ER4Ridriib4DN-IuXUVf-HheIiQ/s320/IMG_4489.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Cherry Blossoms at Washington DC. </i>ink and watercolor<i> by Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Every year we try to visit Washington DC to admire the cherry blossoms around the Tidal basin and all over the city.<i> </i>Last year we were there during the peak blooming time. I was surprised to see the all the people who ventured out (including us) ! Most wore masks where there was a crowd and enjoyed the outdoors. The profusion of delicate pink blossoms is a sight that is awe inspiring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_spZIrpFSLGnh13RsciJ6tdvw4JT0YKV6t2yLRaxEcIdNKW5ypUWTFh0jkGIGZRjEAc6G4IVjggiH-oNov-WHrSDHvgdNtz_dHZdSlKgHgmYdTAxua8X8IEIjkCCrQGBaie_8yakCODDZIjjsZb-yPwzFHzc9K2fhIlzlDnyqX0SvWfSWJoCQLV4DQA/s3024/IMG_4488.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_spZIrpFSLGnh13RsciJ6tdvw4JT0YKV6t2yLRaxEcIdNKW5ypUWTFh0jkGIGZRjEAc6G4IVjggiH-oNov-WHrSDHvgdNtz_dHZdSlKgHgmYdTAxua8X8IEIjkCCrQGBaie_8yakCODDZIjjsZb-yPwzFHzc9K2fhIlzlDnyqX0SvWfSWJoCQLV4DQA/w400-h400/IMG_4488.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021</i> Week 14 March 28-April 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> '<i>Little Hills in April</i>' c1923 -Color aquatint etching on the opposite page of the <i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021</i> week 14 is by Beatrice Levy. The Smithsonian coordinated a 1932 exhibition of her art that included this artwork prepared using three color intaglio plate printing system. It is now in the collection of National Museum of American History. </div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-45636172537091999892022-08-17T12:35:00.002-04:002022-08-17T12:35:41.859-04:00If Then She Can<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNm_Xd2fphpzujSrlu9ykoqOHjOEDmFu468YBmGfSShxJVy0bssjN95y8yw6dUMrJrn-8P_Tbqs3c_Y1XzRw6vpwV_LbKUfzmmlzeV4PRLrbh3t7-RrFh9khabvGEtfCU0baeFXtKN51K0-tdO78IiKdSnn6BlTv_GAj3Upj_Y93auk5LTZ-dx1xIdg/s4031/IMG_3261.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4031" data-original-width="3023" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNm_Xd2fphpzujSrlu9ykoqOHjOEDmFu468YBmGfSShxJVy0bssjN95y8yw6dUMrJrn-8P_Tbqs3c_Y1XzRw6vpwV_LbKUfzmmlzeV4PRLrbh3t7-RrFh9khabvGEtfCU0baeFXtKN51K0-tdO78IiKdSnn6BlTv_GAj3Upj_Y93auk5LTZ-dx1xIdg/w300-h400/IMG_3261.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">#<i>ifthenshecan</i> sketch pit markers and ink by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When we went for our walk in the National Mall in Washington DC, I came across a few orange life like statues scattered around Enid A Haupt Garden by the Smithsonian Castle. Turns out, #<i><a href="https://ifthenexhibit.org/" target="_blank">ifthenshecan</a>-the exhibit “is the largest collection of statues of women ever assembled together, to be installed on and around the National Mall. The 120 life-size 3-D printed statues are of a diverse coalition of contemporary women STEM innovators and role models leading a variety of fields, from protecting wildlife, discovering galaxies, building YouTube platforms, to trying to cure cancer.” </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had picked the two statues by the castle entrance to sketch because they were the first ones I came across! Yasmina Pressller PhD is a Soil Scientist and an Educator, and Jessie Rack PhD is an Ecologist, Environmental Educator and. Naturalist. These statues were among the many in the Garden. Later when I got home I read that during the opening weekend earlier in the month, visitors were able to explore all the 120 statues placed in the castle, garden and AIB. Starting March 7, select statues were then spread out to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and National Air and Space Museum along the National Mall through the end of the month. #IfF/THEN is an initiative of the Luda Hill Philanthropies designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwfyVRXVrhT8kFajyWPtalugl0S19wKTPQwWiLApYAqxnPF_K554BV4fy9TrDuZkHyoxs8EXnUBlrr36F2JYTe7NXr1ZMPOFZ8JH4lWOyhMA-eC57x2kpsb41UmtKEkVYsM_FXyTzXBcQGmTnGXSGb9ONjIhEiBYxwSGcPnPRmD97b_8rEGTRaE50xQ/s3834/IMG_3262.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2681" data-original-width="3834" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwfyVRXVrhT8kFajyWPtalugl0S19wKTPQwWiLApYAqxnPF_K554BV4fy9TrDuZkHyoxs8EXnUBlrr36F2JYTe7NXr1ZMPOFZ8JH4lWOyhMA-eC57x2kpsb41UmtKEkVYsM_FXyTzXBcQGmTnGXSGb9ONjIhEiBYxwSGcPnPRmD97b_8rEGTRaE50xQ/w400-h280/IMG_3262.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week13 March 20-26</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I think it’s pretty interesting that the photo in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 13 is from an Smithsonian traveling exhibit that explores how another minority in USA, Latinas and Latinos have used baseballs to chase their dreams, challenge prejudices and build communities. The photo is of Filipe Alou baseball card 1963, produced by Topps Company Inc. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4fmjq-sIk4ko2ZuNThEtk8MEOYICHf1OVGbA6UkzMQmWaMOVRvlHSJYsPIq_qGxfr6IPoxLtZTIXyFzKihrUtXMhOksFM54bUlK2lT4tkdOKzL2jkSGe1u0cZoQ4Irzp2Qv_RoKPHpaOPrXwBJBImuIKslobL5YATRpS10flboYeRwF3yDT6JTBRXQ/s3750/IMG_3258.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2639" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4fmjq-sIk4ko2ZuNThEtk8MEOYICHf1OVGbA6UkzMQmWaMOVRvlHSJYsPIq_qGxfr6IPoxLtZTIXyFzKihrUtXMhOksFM54bUlK2lT4tkdOKzL2jkSGe1u0cZoQ4Irzp2Qv_RoKPHpaOPrXwBJBImuIKslobL5YATRpS10flboYeRwF3yDT6JTBRXQ/w281-h400/IMG_3258.HEIC" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Northern Mockingbird </i>ink and graphite by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We have a sunroom and glass doors, windows on the back of our house and have taken care to not have birds crash into it. Unfortunately once every few years a bird does fly into it the glass and gets stunned. This mockingbird stayed still for an hour or so on the deck and then slowly recovered and flew off. I watched the bird to make sure it was ok and sketched - as it is not often I get to see a live bird sit still for any length of time. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8SSYwJJyYyFVOqRdikePawM7aEl62lM-u9spuvCxWxniUJsOhd8D2PxXAYPAgcJr_mw6wWTO1u0fJd8LZoLcDFhEPZAjrP6ICUcXAGKoCnfmcBWiwpdyS7Rbps0mPbroIWip9Xk-b5PpLINzjFpJFoTMNjXOPz_go2FduOjeTSFHTvubMS29gFXm0g/s3595/IMG_3257.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2494" data-original-width="3595" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8SSYwJJyYyFVOqRdikePawM7aEl62lM-u9spuvCxWxniUJsOhd8D2PxXAYPAgcJr_mw6wWTO1u0fJd8LZoLcDFhEPZAjrP6ICUcXAGKoCnfmcBWiwpdyS7Rbps0mPbroIWip9Xk-b5PpLINzjFpJFoTMNjXOPz_go2FduOjeTSFHTvubMS29gFXm0g/w400-h278/IMG_3257.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 13 March 21-27</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The 54-48 million years old bird fossil pictured is on the left in the Calendar is of <i>Primobucco mcgrewi from Green River Formations WY -</i> now at the National Museum of Natural History. According to the information in the book “<i>The fossil from Cenozoic era is an extinct relative of modern Coraciidaerollers, so called for the intense rolling dives they perform to attract mates and intimidate threats to their territories. Unlike its descendants </i><i>Primobucco mcgrewi had shorter wings that would have made such aerial feats impossible”</i></div>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-1774497200732179272022-08-04T13:43:00.001-04:002022-08-04T13:43:29.870-04:00Backyard Bird Bulletin <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ5wtqpzB3JtMU8g-ENVEJwyxiHhAEkIUUgLC8B3lnUW77cpheQ0T8Tu-EpCNGwEC6R1_IiRt_9LKCwGoUMbkbSwWRxzSNP-mq_SEfOfPuCeyzi1_0QHpnVYBN4b-r4A1RvJNz69llojzCgGisoZX0753S1_dK9wWW9Afr8h_hGhDncO7gHD6sZVKBg/s4032/IMG_3256.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ5wtqpzB3JtMU8g-ENVEJwyxiHhAEkIUUgLC8B3lnUW77cpheQ0T8Tu-EpCNGwEC6R1_IiRt_9LKCwGoUMbkbSwWRxzSNP-mq_SEfOfPuCeyzi1_0QHpnVYBN4b-r4A1RvJNz69llojzCgGisoZX0753S1_dK9wWW9Afr8h_hGhDncO7gHD6sZVKBg/w300-h400/IMG_3256.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Camouflaged Baby Birds in the Nest </i>watercolor and ink by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I have to catch up with my postings - I am a year and some months behind with posting the 2021 sketches and about 20 weeks late with 2022 sketches! But I am sketching :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I always get excited when the sketch of the week serendipitously matches the concept shown in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar that I have repurposed for sketching the ongoing pandemic years!! For this week it is birds and nests. It is not a surprise that spring days means I will find a nest or two tucked away in the trees and bushes in the yard. I am not sure if the four baby birds I saw in this nest in the holly tree are Carolina wrens or Northern Mockingbirds - both were near by chirping away. So I am sure there was another nest near by as well. I was being very careful not to disturb the chicks or alarm the parents but hearing the birds call insistently I guess that did not work! </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sSJ3bAhyK_Jhvnlt2Qu-fFafht5rqGGYn7uoA0RHnFG1zeP524xy-qKjhH-PDlA-YqjaEFjOq0l3c4XyyRT_nhSTGTyP0YCEns_67Sgy8Ksse_3p9EwGKC5kFH9vOM4YXN27NK20ujTVAuy3Fy3ffsjyCe2EYF7Sxi96hPXD5jHVHMJkpWCrrY-fw/s3526/IMG_3255.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2486" data-original-width="3526" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88sSJ3bAhyK_Jhvnlt2Qu-fFafht5rqGGYn7uoA0RHnFG1zeP524xy-qKjhH-PDlA-YqjaEFjOq0l3c4XyyRT_nhSTGTyP0YCEns_67Sgy8Ksse_3p9EwGKC5kFH9vOM4YXN27NK20ujTVAuy3Fy3ffsjyCe2EYF7Sxi96hPXD5jHVHMJkpWCrrY-fw/w400-h283/IMG_3255.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 12 March 14-20 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The hand colored lithograph shown in the Calendar is by John Gould(1804-1881) from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives: Campylopterus delattrei Plate 42 from <i>A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of hummingbird,</i> <i>vol 2</i>, <i>1849</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">"<i>The five volumes of Gould's 'A Monograph of Trochilidae feature breathtaking illustrations of hundreds of hummingbird species. Gould was a prolific British ornithologist known for identifying 'Darwin's finches.' For this book Gould drew and lithographed all the plates with British printer Henry Constantine Richter (1821-1902)"</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I hope some day I will be able to check out the lithographs in person! </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQmadTzqPud98cLpcxYHj8qARBh82n3cXTlg0YMtdrirqcFjHte1iD_E9lch6c_dE9rkiHrANKe-9GS_-I45GRXRF86NiKtOMVfe-v98GwbLVPiRira-K5nZASG-nmQ9ro-yk8p0fGvPm4l3j9zUdWCx4onn9MS3zDvHz9ydp4WpqTPRoL-s5YqFFVQ/s3939/IMG_3259.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3939" data-original-width="2912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQmadTzqPud98cLpcxYHj8qARBh82n3cXTlg0YMtdrirqcFjHte1iD_E9lch6c_dE9rkiHrANKe-9GS_-I45GRXRF86NiKtOMVfe-v98GwbLVPiRira-K5nZASG-nmQ9ro-yk8p0fGvPm4l3j9zUdWCx4onn9MS3zDvHz9ydp4WpqTPRoL-s5YqFFVQ/w296-h400/IMG_3259.HEIC" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>The Osprey Returns! </i> Ink and watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had marked on my calendar to check for Ospreys' arrival and they migrated up north a week earlier in March. They started work on their nest right away, finishing it within two days. They nest on the same post in the river every year. They had to build the nest from scratch this year as the nest from past years had been blown away in one of the storms earlier in the year. I was delighted to find the Osprey in its perch on the pine tree in yard where they regularly enjoy their meal of freshly caught still alive wriggly fish held securely in the claws. (Unfortunately, we lost that tree couple of weeks ago in a storm and now his/her new perch can't be seen from my kitchen window.) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxY82Ms2i3bRed6ryc4oVHuMzO90B64jeory0tNO7_8qZn7WxxlpuINhlJPiwrfD-P3j-0VFMeNXeTfnE7o0_ixpmNUDIgpWFSYMxVSjlkpuMeGbOZ6L6IBn_Xk9w1wmnGxj0DNnCoA73VmycecbXlfcGbpSEvRY3YgqLbkRLN-SYoJj8s-7OuqVaFg/s3788/IMG_3260.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2841" data-original-width="3788" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxY82Ms2i3bRed6ryc4oVHuMzO90B64jeory0tNO7_8qZn7WxxlpuINhlJPiwrfD-P3j-0VFMeNXeTfnE7o0_ixpmNUDIgpWFSYMxVSjlkpuMeGbOZ6L6IBn_Xk9w1wmnGxj0DNnCoA73VmycecbXlfcGbpSEvRY3YgqLbkRLN-SYoJj8s-7OuqVaFg/w400-h300/IMG_3260.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 12 March 13-19 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Red eyed tree frog <i>Agalychnis callidryas ,</i> digital photograph by Steve Paton, November 2019 is from the collection of Republic of Panama Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. "<i>Red-eyed tree frogs distract predators by flashing their bright red eyes, orange webbed feet, and blue and yellow racing stripes. whether they survive habitat destruction is another story, one in which Smithsonian research plays a leading role.</i>" I doubt though that the fish the osprey catch get any kind of warning signs before they are scooped up!</div></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-41935693307629186852022-07-16T12:12:00.003-04:002022-07-16T12:12:42.928-04:00'Girl is Not a 4 letter Word' <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5sCoceizy3EDTRjwKG1IP9yVD_IujgvtcR1fu0LLifYJLqE1wRLHHGt1JhWCRl9DL_CM_BcDMzJYVq-W2k3fWgg0FgmViIzBJpLqJObFJBTWi-xfp5yWQ4AYrzWNThuTLi7ixqvsrgf5fTbTRLQPlxA_lmU5eKXk8V_VXfyOyH6wzHJQ4pNszuqpTw/s4032/IMG_3240.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5sCoceizy3EDTRjwKG1IP9yVD_IujgvtcR1fu0LLifYJLqE1wRLHHGt1JhWCRl9DL_CM_BcDMzJYVq-W2k3fWgg0FgmViIzBJpLqJObFJBTWi-xfp5yWQ4AYrzWNThuTLi7ixqvsrgf5fTbTRLQPlxA_lmU5eKXk8V_VXfyOyH6wzHJQ4pNszuqpTw/w300-h400/IMG_3240.HEIC" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Ukrainian Soldier with blue and yellow sunflower in her hair</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>sketch by Meera Rao from a twitter photo</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfYTmWD3_iEAgaE0t7zR_f29k1_9lku0j_MyDYTCAtA4gHnuqKWFADhoTfbHoFc1uN8JzvoQpYzTsTMfEZQRdJmprpAXevIUAX2XB2HnS7sK7jspE9Y6jbAJmQFSyRNMlnRS3mqHXiCbrfBk9TYZEMuc3AxImPJbGqmdM8VsohfVax08oRKaurVRhcA/s3575/IMG_3239.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="3575" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfYTmWD3_iEAgaE0t7zR_f29k1_9lku0j_MyDYTCAtA4gHnuqKWFADhoTfbHoFc1uN8JzvoQpYzTsTMfEZQRdJmprpAXevIUAX2XB2HnS7sK7jspE9Y6jbAJmQFSyRNMlnRS3mqHXiCbrfBk9TYZEMuc3AxImPJbGqmdM8VsohfVax08oRKaurVRhcA/w400-h284/IMG_3239.HEIC" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week of March 6-12 2022 Week 11</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted on twitter that more than 15%of the regular Ukrainian Army are women.<i> Girl is not a 4 letter word!!! </i>How true - these women are taking their unique feminine qualities to a tough fight. Who knew then there is going to be so much destruction and blood shed ? I pray for a peaceful resolution for Ukraine and for the rest of the world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The skateboard is a prototype designed by Cindy whitehead in 2013. "<i>Professional skater Cindy Whitehead designed this skateboard with just the right blend of edginess and bling, showcasing her original artwork as the signature product for her 'Girl is not a 4 letter word' brand. Geared toward women and girls, her products were among the first from a woman-owned company to offer inclusion in the male-dominated sport of skateboarding."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLuT995BtentcqCp6m4ET-FKPcWNsxRotJa2jrStvrlk4l6Kk_HZh4Dmwy_dcLof0i5M3L8TBb99CuoH-5gmPLa2PAGs_5-ZzWcX9JJPb-f-WVSmLHzMECRfcGvewW6HLppySJvgqmqgglNeGBp1zbQ-xlmll6liWTda5JuapC3bULWlKTQaRM0WStQ/s2046/IMG_3243.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLuT995BtentcqCp6m4ET-FKPcWNsxRotJa2jrStvrlk4l6Kk_HZh4Dmwy_dcLof0i5M3L8TBb99CuoH-5gmPLa2PAGs_5-ZzWcX9JJPb-f-WVSmLHzMECRfcGvewW6HLppySJvgqmqgglNeGBp1zbQ-xlmll6liWTda5JuapC3bULWlKTQaRM0WStQ/s320/IMG_3243.HEIC" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Phyllis Wheatley pencil drawing -</i>copy by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3zU75YvwlrtuHYeynwuIWW3VOZX6oXHFv7p6jSPNC40mVXaNFKonCMyo-q2cWR4LB43zWtX3FR-QnwLCj2whll-g7DewlqsIP91W4A_xGzu82nzTMTW-gNSxal6mPZIuwYUmh9FsUijzZM3SYL90ue_XqNM-N4dQ6lCkoCL-rc1bJCGvZbpSURUMmg/s4032/IMG_3241.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3zU75YvwlrtuHYeynwuIWW3VOZX6oXHFv7p6jSPNC40mVXaNFKonCMyo-q2cWR4LB43zWtX3FR-QnwLCj2whll-g7DewlqsIP91W4A_xGzu82nzTMTW-gNSxal6mPZIuwYUmh9FsUijzZM3SYL90ue_XqNM-N4dQ6lCkoCL-rc1bJCGvZbpSURUMmg/w400-h300/IMG_3241.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar Week of March 7-13 2021 Week 11</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When I saw the photo of 'Poems of Phyllis Wheatley' I realized I had never read any of her poems and knew very little about her. So I went googling her and her poetry. This is probably the first time, my entry in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar is not by chance but by design. I also found a drawing of her done 50 years after her death at the National Museum of African American History and Culture- I used that sketch as my reference wondering the whole time if it was really her! The Poems of Phyllis Wheatley is from 1909 and is displayed in the museum. "<i>In 1773, Wheatley became the first African American to publish a volume of poetry, which she did while enslaved in Boston. A version of the poet's portrait by enslaved artist Scipio Morehead(active 1770s) is depicted on the cover of this 1909 edition of her poems."</i></div><br />Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-57377203267333073552022-06-21T20:59:00.000-04:002022-06-21T20:59:15.210-04:00One of a Kind <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQdLudMtqvrgxYFp-M1bZrOQnmiRO85sQRdo8uL7eHkidrbiOACyOzt3wO2gaWYjEg8SHyCx9laTTfRqJqWC5v_YwvK9wAg5JuFriDXLHKKAvLD9HVK7j9xxBvu6IpPq3a6knuu052yDm6eCRQEeIlns-XrdpYdbDSKBaoqolXaH1Lbb9RtWn2Th4Iw/s3622/IMG_2953.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3622" data-original-width="2884" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQdLudMtqvrgxYFp-M1bZrOQnmiRO85sQRdo8uL7eHkidrbiOACyOzt3wO2gaWYjEg8SHyCx9laTTfRqJqWC5v_YwvK9wAg5JuFriDXLHKKAvLD9HVK7j9xxBvu6IpPq3a6knuu052yDm6eCRQEeIlns-XrdpYdbDSKBaoqolXaH1Lbb9RtWn2Th4Iw/w319-h400/IMG_2953.HEIC" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>An Unlikely Hero: Noor Inayat Khan WWII uniform at the Spy Museum in Washington DC </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was surprised to read about and see the uniform of Noor Inayat Khan at the Spy Museum in DC. which we visited with our grand daughters. Its a treasure trove of history and innovations and surprises like Noor Inayat Khan. I learned that she was a musician, author, princess, and a secret agent for the British during World War II. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Wanting to<a href="https://london.ac.uk/news-and-opinion/leading-women/musician-author-princess-spy-noor-inayat-khan" target="_blank"> know more about her</a>, I followed up later : "<i>Perhaps best-known by her Resistance code name ‘Madeleine’, the story of Noor Inayat Khan is unfamiliar to many today, but contains so many extraordinary elements that it’s incredible she isn’t more widely recognized. A staunch pacifist regarded by her captors as a fierce and dangerously uncooperative spy, an outspoken supporter of Indian independence who gave her life fighting for the British, a children’s author, musician and princess (descended from Tipu Sultan of Mysore), Noor is also the first - and so far only – Muslim woman to be honoured with a statue in Britain." </i>And her service as a spy was very impressive: "<i>In the early hours of 17 June 1943, Noor became the first woman agent to be parachuted behind enemy lines in France (previous women had been sent as couriers). Her task was to maintain radio contact between Britain and the Resistance in Paris. This was an unbelievably dangerous job – radio equipment was bulky and hard to conceal, and staying on air for more than 20 minutes at a time risked detection by the enemy. The average lifespan of a field agent was just 6 weeks. </i><i>Noor evaded capture for three months, as the Paris Resistance network – which had been infiltrated by double agents more deeply than anyone had realised – began to disintegrate during the summer of 1943. In October, she was arrested at her Paris flat and taken to German security headquarters. </i><i>Noor made two immediate escape attempts (and refused to sign an agreement with her captors ruling out a third). Regarded as a particularly dangerous prisoner, she was kept in solitary confinement in Pforzheim prison for 10 months. Finally, Noor was transported to Dachau concentration camp, where she was executed in September 1944. Her last reported word was ‘Liberté’."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was her uniform that was on display at the Spy Museum (I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The image on the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 for that week is a Kimono c1955 japan, Cotton with <i>shibori</i> tied resist patterning indigo dyed from the collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Shibori is "<i>a complex technique which selected areas are bound with with thread to resist the penetration of dye. The medium blue areas are composed of hundreds of small white circles created with kanoko shibori or tied resist while the petal like forms are nuo shibori or stitched resist. "</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This page spread is dedicated to 'one of a kind' :) </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6GQHg02yf7F1-t3vtFyo9cB4YQZfGcVWlLVgsFfRr2iQQzfwnXalYY9znteoVvpY4Sb7ZzjRD08wjRLSP5fleWlv82HDnCytxxs9U045I5-n5Zarq6olBPchMczZfmbJtiFxWFN9SB9pNkqEFmggZUtAgRNhdOt6EXzPn4dofTBXdx1eE9YSVpxTGA/s3856/IMG_2952.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2891" data-original-width="3856" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6GQHg02yf7F1-t3vtFyo9cB4YQZfGcVWlLVgsFfRr2iQQzfwnXalYY9znteoVvpY4Sb7ZzjRD08wjRLSP5fleWlv82HDnCytxxs9U045I5-n5Zarq6olBPchMczZfmbJtiFxWFN9SB9pNkqEFmggZUtAgRNhdOt6EXzPn4dofTBXdx1eE9YSVpxTGA/w400-h300/IMG_2952.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 10 Feb 27-March 5</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAS-BRqBt7uNl85Oxbp05uERoaHfrywzKwYBt0Yl7y3elaC2jXQ5IvX0LzX-dvtKf4kklAvTpoF7p_TS5w_Yr7m2Aj46MQ6sHycO1hUMj0feaUw5Dhi2oTF1XSXni4oUPYvLKsiY3cLyFAWOX9R98NjTRHUJqfYDhHaczr-FpO-_Efdkq6vygX8_b9vg/s4031/IMG_2951.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4031" data-original-width="3023" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAS-BRqBt7uNl85Oxbp05uERoaHfrywzKwYBt0Yl7y3elaC2jXQ5IvX0LzX-dvtKf4kklAvTpoF7p_TS5w_Yr7m2Aj46MQ6sHycO1hUMj0feaUw5Dhi2oTF1XSXni4oUPYvLKsiY3cLyFAWOX9R98NjTRHUJqfYDhHaczr-FpO-_Efdkq6vygX8_b9vg/w300-h400/IMG_2951.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Bald Eagle Silhouetted on Pine Tree</i></div><p>There is a bald eagle family in our area and the birds regularly visit our yard. They sit on the branch and eat the fish caught from the river or just take a break. That tree is in east/south east section of our yard and from my kitchen window I always see the birds in the mornings as silhouettes. The painting on the opposite page for the week in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 prompted me to paint the scene with black brush pen. That hanging scroll, ink on paper painting is by Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924) <i> Su Dongpo in a borrowed hat 1912, Meiji era.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMH0ng-kooFf6SaaStCIcycjRjVtC1upSz6Et8Vrzi3fxESYiby_ptehnabnMWwBfzHj6czdwt6ISB1DUzq0Tx26Stw4eJ1qocOXUdeIxaMqOA567ne088qs9gu2sUO2LpBI5_P94HAcAyofpg1jRKmMoI6pGtu8wWIUTXRUalxpTYcaxi4V9XEeAHw/s3707/IMG_2950.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2732" data-original-width="3707" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMH0ng-kooFf6SaaStCIcycjRjVtC1upSz6Et8Vrzi3fxESYiby_ptehnabnMWwBfzHj6czdwt6ISB1DUzq0Tx26Stw4eJ1qocOXUdeIxaMqOA567ne088qs9gu2sUO2LpBI5_P94HAcAyofpg1jRKmMoI6pGtu8wWIUTXRUalxpTYcaxi4V9XEeAHw/w400-h295/IMG_2950.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 10 Feb 28-March 6</div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-17325155674577220462022-05-15T17:33:00.001-04:002022-05-15T17:33:45.763-04:00The Power of Words and Images <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2OLp6itKzyDjKj2CapwjM4i_BNOs33kkK11tpF2hQh8HHuWXaTCaFGhrV-bgyqF-XStvgQCB8i2IINWHjlo7ph3SSXQgsoBCK2RECuS317IM7kImpP2P99_qgnUSaD25CKog3vkrYTUVfEVStu53ks5rmULc53KOeem-rgpx7Od-RyC_Fr5ZqyHMaQ/s3024/IMG_2548.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2OLp6itKzyDjKj2CapwjM4i_BNOs33kkK11tpF2hQh8HHuWXaTCaFGhrV-bgyqF-XStvgQCB8i2IINWHjlo7ph3SSXQgsoBCK2RECuS317IM7kImpP2P99_qgnUSaD25CKog3vkrYTUVfEVStu53ks5rmULc53KOeem-rgpx7Od-RyC_Fr5ZqyHMaQ/w400-h400/IMG_2548.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Jaume Plensa’s Silver Adagio at Planet Word </i> pen&I know and watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We went to the Planet Word museum with our 8 year old granddaughter who was excited to show off the place. It’s a really fun ‘museum where language comes to life’ and is perfect for language/book nerds :) There are unique interactive exhibits on various topics like history of English, languages around the world, language of humor, poetry, advertising, music, children’s first words, and more! There is playful poetry written on the bathroom walls ! Our granddaughter‘s favorite was a ‘secret book room’ in the museum that is ‘hidden’ behind a wall of shelf :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At the entrance is a sculpture ‘Silver Adagio’ by Jaume Plensa. It is made up of stainless steel symbols from ‘9 different language systems : Latin, Greek, Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil, Chinese and Assamese’. I was impressed there were three languages from India in that sculpture! It was fun to find them ! I read that Plensa’s sculptures often focuses on what it means to be a human ‘particularly in an increasingly globalized world. The meditative pose of the figure reminds us that we are not merely bodies but spirits that use languages to express themselves and connect to others.’ </div><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; min-height: 29.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvmJJ02j5lrvJVPtpEOKBGLuV-7eA-IA-1RA0RUtPF35lH5ebLJ1hK9ePf10M7nwLeoMzlvztZHq5NvH4bYDi4xqFc_Ea4DjQcXog8sOyiWq8XCCk-LX0c-psM22u657tqreS_HGs6UCbypi1Q2bQsxNAJDP_u04HIZXnp0LL4oSlOoFinXWSQDO5oA/s3024/IMG_2547.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvmJJ02j5lrvJVPtpEOKBGLuV-7eA-IA-1RA0RUtPF35lH5ebLJ1hK9ePf10M7nwLeoMzlvztZHq5NvH4bYDi4xqFc_Ea4DjQcXog8sOyiWq8XCCk-LX0c-psM22u657tqreS_HGs6UCbypi1Q2bQsxNAJDP_u04HIZXnp0LL4oSlOoFinXWSQDO5oA/w400-h400/IMG_2547.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 9 Feb 20-26</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The photo of the pin back button ‘Black Lives Matter’ is from the ‘<i>Million Man March 2015’ </i>that commemorated the 20th anniversary of the first <i>Million Man March </i>on the National Mall in Washington DC. It is from the collection of National Museum of African American History and Culture. Thousands gathered and marched demanding an end to violence against black Americans. The button “features the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ which has become a movement and a rallying cry against racial violence and injustice. Plensa’s sculpture ‘speaks’ to the very same issue. <span style="text-align: left;">I could not have planned the pairing for the week - pure serendipity! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kI6YwqU3b5XjDKqge1MBEdmq4oiPKHroMFk0uMOqjTRNQlEBZKxgq1Yff00FncmfTKAxjzuTZ7XYpEJxMOV2gLXMlxkTQft0TGpvDydRzvRWNszoRZt4FLroXQpUZLYDoR7kW2WIZKdL2g_DnyWeIQTsQk7r9bQtIG8wIdViMXBczuL-r2swfrHBdg/s3024/IMG_2596.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kI6YwqU3b5XjDKqge1MBEdmq4oiPKHroMFk0uMOqjTRNQlEBZKxgq1Yff00FncmfTKAxjzuTZ7XYpEJxMOV2gLXMlxkTQft0TGpvDydRzvRWNszoRZt4FLroXQpUZLYDoR7kW2WIZKdL2g_DnyWeIQTsQk7r9bQtIG8wIdViMXBczuL-r2swfrHBdg/w400-h400/IMG_2596.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Palm Tree Brings Nostalgia </i>watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sheltering at home during the pandemic has meant that I looked out the windows and door at various times during the day and saw my own yard with new eyes ! Watching the way the sun shines and wind rustles the palm fronds on the tree near our front door brings back memories of areca nut and palm trees near my childhood home. On this particular day I felt an acute tinge of nostalgia. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMriLw13fqpWOKm6p_4HdJHJArZR_twWb-s7MjMgUdCBs9NKbDrCPiA9Euqy2j05Tnbtp3V-DzOxQ4k2DcXNA8EILU4_6pDKNZJmRjqryhY6acOXx3vXCXW_Jv0wWpyDy7n-C9v3Xw12sdlPVCTFvCsjZBQSQR_LqYKzvg0eidEzgadZykqsPSs3fTSQ/s3024/IMG_2595.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMriLw13fqpWOKm6p_4HdJHJArZR_twWb-s7MjMgUdCBs9NKbDrCPiA9Euqy2j05Tnbtp3V-DzOxQ4k2DcXNA8EILU4_6pDKNZJmRjqryhY6acOXx3vXCXW_Jv0wWpyDy7n-C9v3Xw12sdlPVCTFvCsjZBQSQR_LqYKzvg0eidEzgadZykqsPSs3fTSQ/w400-h400/IMG_2595.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 9 February 21-27</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 for week 9, is the ‘<i>Portrait of the Artist’ </i> an etching by Shahzia Sikander. It is from the collection at the National Portrait gallery. That etching spoke to me differently than the explanation given ! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p></div>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-77976335755571397022022-05-03T20:17:00.002-04:002022-05-03T20:42:26.812-04:00Colors in the Sky and Garden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWDdZZjWTDmM394-AhMm9YDRMdZqVjgq0vwyiDRmDD8yecAosS1GjBuFf1FvDyEzOUg17FK4Nu37c-4f4_Tnxr3GU21EkRBAC5Mvy0mvQkOzSxjK18jMNKW0d31nzD4psj9AeOTC397X2fEsN0_pz5FGkF0_F5QPq77fwXocGZC6iTv9c_ccfAKPeAw/s3024/IMG_2471.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWDdZZjWTDmM394-AhMm9YDRMdZqVjgq0vwyiDRmDD8yecAosS1GjBuFf1FvDyEzOUg17FK4Nu37c-4f4_Tnxr3GU21EkRBAC5Mvy0mvQkOzSxjK18jMNKW0d31nzD4psj9AeOTC397X2fEsN0_pz5FGkF0_F5QPq77fwXocGZC6iTv9c_ccfAKPeAw/w400-h400/IMG_2471.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Flying Colors watercolor by Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://www.birdcount.org/" target="_blank">The Great Backyard Bird count</a> </i>this year was on February 18-21 and the website says '<i>the world comes together to watch, learn about, count and celebrate birds.' </i>I observed, counted and reported the birds I saw in our backyard. Over the course of four days, armed with a binoculars, I was lucky to see herons(great blue and night), an egret, ducks, ospreys, bald eagles, northern mockingbirds, cardinals, finches(purple, golden/yellow and house), pine warblers, mourning doves, Carolina wrens, sparrows, pelicans, cormorants, tufted titmouse, chickadees, woodpecker, red winged black birds and many crows. And I also heard one owl at night! I feel fortunate to have so many different kinds around our neighborhood. The birds I painted in the repurposed<i> Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022</i> though, are not true to what I observed - but mainly my experiments with painting them in direct watercolor without prior sketching. I am pleased how they turned out :) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5YjgONNrfBtXb78X-Sji0zniL08mPKpBy3DpUYqzIfia6r25rGRtcGysCj4f4fEytxj0hu-Zvfky7xHpkFMzOeyVOYXwvxjZ5yFQqDvQm6TPUisKF5hP2IzDmfKtZQwskKivhY9hiQ6AbcODOZp0FV0KtckHuPjbEhNEWbLwv4gc7qQtfAzb0doLw/s3024/IMG_2470.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSo5YjgONNrfBtXb78X-Sji0zniL08mPKpBy3DpUYqzIfia6r25rGRtcGysCj4f4fEytxj0hu-Zvfky7xHpkFMzOeyVOYXwvxjZ5yFQqDvQm6TPUisKF5hP2IzDmfKtZQwskKivhY9hiQ6AbcODOZp0FV0KtckHuPjbEhNEWbLwv4gc7qQtfAzb0doLw/w400-h400/IMG_2470.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 Week 8 February 13-19</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It is indeed a fantastic coincidence that the photo opposite is a different kind of colorful flyer : Boeing Stearman N2S-5 Kaydet at the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and space museum. "<i>More than 10,000 Stearman trainers were built by Boing, which had purchased the Stearman company in the late 1930s- Kaydets, along with Fairchilds and Ryans served as the backbone of US army and Navy primary flight training in World War-II. This Kaydet was used to train naval aviation cadets until 1946. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytjUgR53ZwM4kwIP_xQEa-dDnSWt0Ge_GNJBne_3RatxE50m8GbD5rltCYTl11ZyJZM49-DnrirqlIs_p8zjs8IehUMqfwr_Ynoyu41p5PXGEgw5TXzDNF19UJlzlWcUU4PeiLGRHuwt0Mbfdke-S266jzU1UnW0DHT6_Ar8dV8v0eSrxs3JVZpwzNw/s3024/IMG_2473.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytjUgR53ZwM4kwIP_xQEa-dDnSWt0Ge_GNJBne_3RatxE50m8GbD5rltCYTl11ZyJZM49-DnrirqlIs_p8zjs8IehUMqfwr_Ynoyu41p5PXGEgw5TXzDNF19UJlzlWcUU4PeiLGRHuwt0Mbfdke-S266jzU1UnW0DHT6_Ar8dV8v0eSrxs3JVZpwzNw/w400-h400/IMG_2473.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Tasty Beauty </i>Watercolor by <i>Meera Rao</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The '<i>Beautification of America' </i>6c block of four stamps January 16, 1969 on display at the National Postal Museum matched well with the beautiful yellow mustard flowers from our garden during this week in February 2021. But then we grow them also for the tasty leaves for cooking :) It is always exciting to get fresh greens in February from the backyard! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>"The stamp block, designed by Walter Dubois Richards, was part of a commemorative set in recognition of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson's 'Natural Beauty' campaign. These stamps honored the accomplishments of Mrs. Johnson's initiatives which encouraged involvement from government and local community organizations. They proved popular with the general public and the initial printing of 120 million stamps had to be increased to 170 million."</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XJNBuM_jxVywQSxUTxswROjwNJ4QY5TgyPOfZcGILkyIUXU55mSC8dVGWyhfpPL0kfEhOspVs_XjQ_FMNaefW199zZZrv5w8NAfVVh8ksZM1Os2R2kB9nXYvb2qxkoJnOiLFbonL21QXaUZ6ytVVG09CTRyeG5WK_M9bJ6tRhPCEZyiP-9X5BvJzaA/s3024/IMG_2472.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XJNBuM_jxVywQSxUTxswROjwNJ4QY5TgyPOfZcGILkyIUXU55mSC8dVGWyhfpPL0kfEhOspVs_XjQ_FMNaefW199zZZrv5w8NAfVVh8ksZM1Os2R2kB9nXYvb2qxkoJnOiLFbonL21QXaUZ6ytVVG09CTRyeG5WK_M9bJ6tRhPCEZyiP-9X5BvJzaA/w400-h400/IMG_2472.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 Week 8 February 14-20</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-63040045663014237742022-04-17T20:40:00.000-04:002022-04-17T20:40:23.327-04:00Water, Earth and Sky <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW9ZbsCH8fhWQ72-cQHGfITr20dShWNWmnphCqbx1bD_GdJ2TfeDwJp1ZzMQOpGDRS6hPKdrGx-HNxfXjTg6jywKxqQvrwEVxbYrXhPrHaqJejekIA65ZyozKqNPVvrNHKqZw2BKi8Thh8MGx9S9hZBmJUyVZ1KDwxQM_CLLyT7P59QXeldnelTafSA/s3024/IMG_1677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW9ZbsCH8fhWQ72-cQHGfITr20dShWNWmnphCqbx1bD_GdJ2TfeDwJp1ZzMQOpGDRS6hPKdrGx-HNxfXjTg6jywKxqQvrwEVxbYrXhPrHaqJejekIA65ZyozKqNPVvrNHKqZw2BKi8Thh8MGx9S9hZBmJUyVZ1KDwxQM_CLLyT7P59QXeldnelTafSA/w385-h400/IMG_1677.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Watermen </i>watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Late post! This is from February - week 7. We see watermen in the river early morning. My research says they are harvesting oysters during February. Later it will be blue crabs and fish. As I am a vegan, until now I never bothered to look up what they were harvesting! Their bright orange and blue outfits and yellow boat are easy to spot even when its foggy and misty. I love to watch them working and moving about in the waters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTByl0M7bt0rqagBHkXe-p4UX7ry6NJ4u-qgYm-DArc3MUgTcQ89mVULz7Gpvk02ODFt_zcSjSXiJZ70h_V4VaFgQmRNrqs-KZxHhSJFwvnHjKiHoeFaGl7sbHqMGsWq2d1sonw5m8p8Bs6zyjpEK4Stc3Obaz3sQoPDksck46p4rDXept7JU9Hjz-w/s3024/IMG_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTByl0M7bt0rqagBHkXe-p4UX7ry6NJ4u-qgYm-DArc3MUgTcQ89mVULz7Gpvk02ODFt_zcSjSXiJZ70h_V4VaFgQmRNrqs-KZxHhSJFwvnHjKiHoeFaGl7sbHqMGsWq2d1sonw5m8p8Bs6zyjpEK4Stc3Obaz3sQoPDksck46p4rDXept7JU9Hjz-w/w400-h400/IMG_1676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 Week 7 February 6-12</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The photo in the <i style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 Week 7 February 6-12 shows "Raft used by Cuban 'balseros' in 1992" </i><span style="text-align: center;">now at the</span><i style="text-align: center;"> </i><span style="text-align: center;">Anacostia Community Museum. <i>'This small craft, handcrafted from scavenged materials, buoyed two men on their journey from Cuba to the US in 1992. Styrofoam blocks are adhered to a wooden </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><i>substructure with tar and held together by the Tarred cloth that wraps around the hull. the two men in the raft were spotted by a Florida based non-profit during a flyover of the ocean and then rescued by the US Coast Guard.'</i></span></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqqTqcUsKu4zKbyR5RfdFJb8Jz_WNi0jMnUVhV5HDaIMOJNOpIuTl4ANa9ITLT8JnLed1SVIX96jsEJJ2Z_bmJl9j30GTrqHw7vmov8hiWTAX7E05ebeomdvw-wt_nb8j8usR7XIgJPS2vafGnFpdPMB1yJdoyiPLz1n8_a_apNVnMsP8QrQ3nNdCyQ/s3024/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqqTqcUsKu4zKbyR5RfdFJb8Jz_WNi0jMnUVhV5HDaIMOJNOpIuTl4ANa9ITLT8JnLed1SVIX96jsEJJ2Z_bmJl9j30GTrqHw7vmov8hiWTAX7E05ebeomdvw-wt_nb8j8usR7XIgJPS2vafGnFpdPMB1yJdoyiPLz1n8_a_apNVnMsP8QrQ3nNdCyQ/w400-h400/IMG_1672.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Discarded Fish Heads </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are about 5 bald eagles and a pair of Ospreys that have claimed our backyard as a part of their territory. The bald eagles are year round residents but the Ospreys usually migrate around mid March to nest in the Chesapeake Bay area and fly south for winter in September. The bald eagles don't eat the whole fish - they usually drop the fish heads to the ground and its feast time for the fish crows and turkey vultures that always show up as soon as the Eagles or Osprey land on the pine tree branch lunch spot with their catch. With osprey though, the crows have to contend with bits that fly off while tearing into the fish. There is always lots of drama as the crows try to steal from the Eagles or the Ospreys and the Eagles go after Osprey with the fresh wiggly fish in its talons!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lPVKGKGChA6L1obu_-O_JniPM7KBhuZyAWt_Sg8MeF_EC8D5kf2z_GuaKfXrmm93xYGnNmQm3-ADYjEXtP6VxUiHk4EGx1qCuc-XV_-lmpCLWh_HSvm7sYK_cWK8aLdCEn2d8sEb5qnFUsjvelkw0CSKGMp94p5HpvtxT90MmrAvMX2hpxTkVIZ-DQ/s3024/IMG_1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lPVKGKGChA6L1obu_-O_JniPM7KBhuZyAWt_Sg8MeF_EC8D5kf2z_GuaKfXrmm93xYGnNmQm3-ADYjEXtP6VxUiHk4EGx1qCuc-XV_-lmpCLWh_HSvm7sYK_cWK8aLdCEn2d8sEb5qnFUsjvelkw0CSKGMp94p5HpvtxT90MmrAvMX2hpxTkVIZ-DQ/w400-h400/IMG_1678.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 Week 7 February 7-13</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The pottery shown in the <i style="text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 Week 7 February 7-13, </i><span style="text-align: center;">is by Jeri Redcorn (Caddo/Potawatani) and is at the National Museum of the American Indian.</span> "<i>Like her ancestors, Jeri Redcorn(Caddo/Potawatani) gathers clay, makes her pottery by hand, and rather than using a kiln, fires it in a pit using wood for fuel. Though many of her designs and forms draw inspiration from those her ancestors used hundreds of years ago, they are, in themselves, unique works of contemporary art." </i>I learned that the art of Caddo pots were lost for more than a century until Jeri Redcorn revived them after seeing the pottery exhibited in museums. These pots were used ceremonially and may have been used to accompanied the dead to the next world. Seems appropriate to pair them the fish heads I find in the ground around the pine tree in my backyard! </div><br /> <p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-39396964170696665752022-04-01T22:03:00.000-04:002022-04-01T22:03:35.589-04:00Paradise on Earth <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnZNmgrKrFnE2BQ84huEEl_kmKGvpH3N3MN5BOG8Etc0KiPAuLqwFYnTtQ8cGCrRCSo7RDEP6YgvuAMDaepdWSHYQRHXLIVwPoOq4QePZNvoUaLskwJiM9KtA2MZOvQYUjgTVpwM8s5NwfRt5Q8ivrxjEpG0xu1qZqpw0VSU2P7iWd9E74ZrEOGiIqA/s3024/IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnZNmgrKrFnE2BQ84huEEl_kmKGvpH3N3MN5BOG8Etc0KiPAuLqwFYnTtQ8cGCrRCSo7RDEP6YgvuAMDaepdWSHYQRHXLIVwPoOq4QePZNvoUaLskwJiM9KtA2MZOvQYUjgTVpwM8s5NwfRt5Q8ivrxjEpG0xu1qZqpw0VSU2P7iWd9E74ZrEOGiIqA/w400-h400/IMG_1673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Bird of Paradise </i>watercolor by <i>Meera Rao </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">These stunning beauties belonging to genus <i>Sterlitzia </i>bloom every February in our sun room bringing joy and color in the middle of winter ! They look like birds in flight as their name suggests. As a matter of fact, they are also known as ‘crane flower.’ They symbolize in loyalty, success, royalty, and of course, paradise on earth in various cultures around the globe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> As luck would have it, in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar that has been up-cycled into a sketch book / art journal chronicling my images of these pandemic times, the photo for the week is the equally colorful ‘<i>Earth Spirit Tomb Guardian -zhenmushou.’ </i> It is a late 7th to mid 8th century Earthenware from Tang Dynesty in China with three color lead glaze.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DI3nLDWE4NPOYVkc3LkeCRxySelLeu5Y0uWDEGozSlZ-Sh_4pSle3a4OTt_pb6OhyX3b-2R6qrrVZRRqkzItkSKyeFTNe0Yn0lQ6pt_CFptH0iyLHips5bBtkTCMBJgz64YklvH7Dum-zj6h10Sa1kYiTptPFMJjGv_IjLEaEWiYa8fuqjWOKDFnWQ/s3024/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DI3nLDWE4NPOYVkc3LkeCRxySelLeu5Y0uWDEGozSlZ-Sh_4pSle3a4OTt_pb6OhyX3b-2R6qrrVZRRqkzItkSKyeFTNe0Yn0lQ6pt_CFptH0iyLHips5bBtkTCMBJgz64YklvH7Dum-zj6h10Sa1kYiTptPFMJjGv_IjLEaEWiYa8fuqjWOKDFnWQ/w400-h400/IMG_1675.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 6 January 30-February 5 2022</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">According to the write up : <i>‘During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pairs of these fearsome composite creatures known as earth spirits were interned in tombs of elites. Charged with preventing the deceased’s soul from leaving the tomb to wander among the living, these ceramic beasts also warded off tomb robbers and evil spirits. Chinese potters exploited the random patterns of the runny glazes in cream, brown and green to accentuate an aura of supernatural energy and crafted the plinth to resemble a mountain top, the abode of protective deities.’ </i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-wiTj-GKM0VIVam7-T_McxE-PPXnd1sGNNR5ARBBraUMRtKqKvkTYI5PgfkZVPs6tAxs1dOpB2FFLHyUTxWruwJZmnVy27BA80VqClbcrLmLyYBiINy5i1jwyu_wCQ85fECqoe3qDYTmH-YMrMjhZMhJkBG8zmdtRnkbGnJSIR0Zwvxm7w-B8zj7GA/s3024/IMG_1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-wiTj-GKM0VIVam7-T_McxE-PPXnd1sGNNR5ARBBraUMRtKqKvkTYI5PgfkZVPs6tAxs1dOpB2FFLHyUTxWruwJZmnVy27BA80VqClbcrLmLyYBiINy5i1jwyu_wCQ85fECqoe3qDYTmH-YMrMjhZMhJkBG8zmdtRnkbGnJSIR0Zwvxm7w-B8zj7GA/w400-h400/IMG_1679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Winter Lines </i> watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Week 6 photo in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 was an untitled work by Avery Singer. <i>‘Pushing the limits of painting Avery builds compositions with 3-D modeling software and then uses computer-controlled, industrial-scale printers to airbrush them on to canvas.’ </i>After checking the photograph, I went through my camera roll for the week zeroed in on a shot. When<i> </i>I looked up, outside my window was the same image: beautiful lines created by the winter branches of the trees. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-_OZ4lGoese0-iYTefdGtmFuaRJbU-onv4evuQvAe-jCPMbBggWK5LI2-o5OPvQjJX4xcbBtK9fDhaK30-GqM2dHh63W4exupZ1uSM0TKBZbL4IXwowHhB3xbpsjhJbsPMy9EwUXlPrbLEBogynpn-7heGe1VgGO8SvKDGbWBy_5qCn6hy9JmCljRg/s3024/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-_OZ4lGoese0-iYTefdGtmFuaRJbU-onv4evuQvAe-jCPMbBggWK5LI2-o5OPvQjJX4xcbBtK9fDhaK30-GqM2dHh63W4exupZ1uSM0TKBZbL4IXwowHhB3xbpsjhJbsPMy9EwUXlPrbLEBogynpn-7heGe1VgGO8SvKDGbWBy_5qCn6hy9JmCljRg/w400-h400/IMG_1680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 6 :January 31-February 6 2021 </i></div><br /> <p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-76106443933127785492022-03-03T21:15:00.000-05:002022-03-03T21:15:53.500-05:00Icicles and Blooms<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGBerRwmSEORlJ3dEqmGMyCv_EG2DifFlfn90U6Khr9cQQX09qwLH2k72V25Nl8INFfdvDqIM6sOMqb8_I5f1Rso5lfDzlO1WPryKaO8h2QWvt2K7C9gx1gyU2qz1F2GySdi8b59wIVYS6SNPVeZ69P1CYRkB1ujeqkjhhIA9CPz6TxxLYuf3d1OH9Ag=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGBerRwmSEORlJ3dEqmGMyCv_EG2DifFlfn90U6Khr9cQQX09qwLH2k72V25Nl8INFfdvDqIM6sOMqb8_I5f1Rso5lfDzlO1WPryKaO8h2QWvt2K7C9gx1gyU2qz1F2GySdi8b59wIVYS6SNPVeZ69P1CYRkB1ujeqkjhhIA9CPz6TxxLYuf3d1OH9Ag=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Icicles </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In the last week of January this year, we saw some heavy snow fall and with it very interesting icicle formations as the snow melted slowly from the roof top. It is indeed serendipity when I paired it with the photo of the week in the <i>Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022.</i> Debra Baxter's <i>Devils Horns Crystal Brass Knuckles(Lefty) 2015</i> made with Quartz crystals and sterling silver was exhibited at the Renwick Gallery, Washington DC. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6gwFD-POyxdMhA-9bXwSsMTjCqt8f36PGuhvCMjE4rvYMh5o5nHxTET_sO-7ZERquktt6kZUwaL2dxV1I1BZydvOLnR1CETYp5yOgIEpPEjIxWHwxBBUKhqDNzkx-4yJ0Vd2LDUkTUt6JO2dFf5qA8ZI4ran4GiIrFwWnwICmEEvD96YThvoo1AB5qQ=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6gwFD-POyxdMhA-9bXwSsMTjCqt8f36PGuhvCMjE4rvYMh5o5nHxTET_sO-7ZERquktt6kZUwaL2dxV1I1BZydvOLnR1CETYp5yOgIEpPEjIxWHwxBBUKhqDNzkx-4yJ0Vd2LDUkTUt6JO2dFf5qA8ZI4ran4GiIrFwWnwICmEEvD96YThvoo1AB5qQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2022 week 5 </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0UzMDQhvWUMWoFnxSK29Y9WAJN-KNIdC7kq88RX0Dg1iMK3pekYTnj_3fojINsknPiPB2q5huKkm0qHtMWvDAP1vDmgYiHsnTPrfcml64omqQh94EAG9eVYo699RijGDfBn2HHQtXRUaZWusC8NEk7uGBHx8DhTS7mXuRhPZFDj4qoI8KBb48hhiiEQ=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0UzMDQhvWUMWoFnxSK29Y9WAJN-KNIdC7kq88RX0Dg1iMK3pekYTnj_3fojINsknPiPB2q5huKkm0qHtMWvDAP1vDmgYiHsnTPrfcml64omqQh94EAG9eVYo699RijGDfBn2HHQtXRUaZWusC8NEk7uGBHx8DhTS7mXuRhPZFDj4qoI8KBb48hhiiEQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Relief in Full Bloom </i>Faber Castell PITT Artist pen by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Spring came early for us last year on January 27, when we received our first shot of Covid-19 vaccine! It was indeed relief in full bloom! We then waited eagerly for the second shot scheduled in three weeks :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAbuluBG6UjaH_D9F__eC-r7j9uX_iHZlX5DlPT24fvLr1KKQLpJKDrhCdPhELVPcprb7jT0hxyRWuxEnK3crwHvKLgYl0FAdptXllyrvz2gahJPPYtaTm-X7m0D7aVDxqEX2W2J2mNemJWUb9-NpEuyNPLLcGC3WIp_XlwTgR5phnvNQ2Ly8TPUre-A=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAbuluBG6UjaH_D9F__eC-r7j9uX_iHZlX5DlPT24fvLr1KKQLpJKDrhCdPhELVPcprb7jT0hxyRWuxEnK3crwHvKLgYl0FAdptXllyrvz2gahJPPYtaTm-X7m0D7aVDxqEX2W2J2mNemJWUb9-NpEuyNPLLcGC3WIp_XlwTgR5phnvNQ2Ly8TPUre-A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smithsonian Engagement Calendar 2021 week 5 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Japanese flowering apricot <i>Prunus mume '</i>Peggy Clarke' in the Smithsonian Engagement calendar 2021 is a digital image by Hannele Lahti from March 2019 at the National air and space Museum, Washington DC Smithsonian Gardens. <i>'This deep pink, double flowered cultivar of the Japanese apricot is easily mistaken for its botanical cousin the Japanese flowering cherry. Flowering apricots are the first sign of spring, blooming before cherry blossoms have even begun to open.' </i></div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-51761074263638697332022-02-23T20:58:00.001-05:002022-02-23T20:58:15.710-05:00Little Sister <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG238ysPWr-waXxeS3NEzXyYbeSj6RGpdV54ajgQhb7QjcIrATm1CSMeYwDenbpUixCfFyk_hqvh3pBcoJD4lAcCMjThS91y2zhfZ65qEx0Y66nQSI7-LL-ozsBv1SgC1ZwRo7Yl4wvHzlTb-nnqPvIabo7E3WrfcW3LRGM_CpxA4QsNVOkxVIzvCpNg=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2908" data-original-width="3024" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG238ysPWr-waXxeS3NEzXyYbeSj6RGpdV54ajgQhb7QjcIrATm1CSMeYwDenbpUixCfFyk_hqvh3pBcoJD4lAcCMjThS91y2zhfZ65qEx0Y66nQSI7-LL-ozsBv1SgC1ZwRo7Yl4wvHzlTb-nnqPvIabo7E3WrfcW3LRGM_CpxA4QsNVOkxVIzvCpNg=w400-h385" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Little Sister </i>watercolor by Meera Rao</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This special little baby girl was a pleasure to paint. When it is hard to visit grand babies because of the pandemic, painting them has been a truly unique gift for me. It also gave me an excuse to watch her baby videos on loop and cherish the play time with her on video calls. While painting this portrait, I could almost feel her ‘baby smell’ and soft skin with each brush stroke :)</div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860695810666667033.post-8090756375822709142022-02-22T13:56:00.000-05:002022-02-22T13:56:03.759-05:00Blissful Baby<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja9LJcHspB3IOpVFKRtvgRCbFFWcTJkVk_myznxPgJoVGn9kStc6Fl8YlImAjV79A-7nh2-p9l_GMz4dxy1x0B15umKdwUr9KNfYV-jYsyB0fMcL9wZMBODC3f7qPIixymIdJx3U3wQ1O65HdiWjR7DRxbD--Zu9RJh7TVkhkxMtl56-kQvDy_xcgWpA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEja9LJcHspB3IOpVFKRtvgRCbFFWcTJkVk_myznxPgJoVGn9kStc6Fl8YlImAjV79A-7nh2-p9l_GMz4dxy1x0B15umKdwUr9KNfYV-jYsyB0fMcL9wZMBODC3f7qPIixymIdJx3U3wQ1O65HdiWjR7DRxbD--Zu9RJh7TVkhkxMtl56-kQvDy_xcgWpA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blissful Baby</i> watercolor by Meera Rao </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I finally finished the baby painting of my grandson. It was really long overdue (five+ years!). I was somehow never satisfied with my earlier attempts. This time, as preparation, I watched many of his baby videos. That made it a lot more fun, felt a little bit easier and natural to sketch and paint. I am sure sketching consistently over the past few years also helped! In the end it turned out to be an immensely rewarding experience. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>If you could say it </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>in words</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>there would be no reason</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>to paint.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~Edward Hopper~</div><p></p>Meera Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15578893085543656099noreply@blogger.com2