Unexpected Street treat

 I came across the colorful piano at Durango on our trip last year. It was on the sidewalk outside a bookstore. While I was admiring the bold colors and designs, another tourist walking by stopped and put down her backpack. She sat down and played a beautiful melody expertly.  When done, she laughed happily, joined her partner and both walked off :) Later on, my research said that the ‘Durango Street Piano Project’ was by Zack Robinson. What a fabulous idea! I really enjoyed reliving the moment when I painted this later in my Travel Journal. 

My Art on Different Walls

Dip and Shake  watercolor By Meera Rao 

This painting juried into ´Fauna and Flora’ at the Capital Hill Art league DC show and all the paintings from my ’Artist of the Month ‘ exhibition at the Poquoson Public Library are back home now after good time away. I have been busy painting but forgetting to update my blog during hectic summer days. My other interests - mainly volunteering as a Virginia Master Naturalist, sketching/painting in art & travel journals, and reading, fill up my free time keeping me quite content! I am also happily guilty about checking out awesome art by many talented artists on social media and in I turn feeling inspired. I am yet to find a right balance to sneak in a pocket of time to post in my blog. Any advice ? 

Art wall with my paintings in August at Poquoson Public Library 

The butterfly counts 

not months but moments

And has enough time 

~ Ravindranath Tagore ~

Awesome Nature

Wilting shadow1 direct watercolor Meera Rao 

Wilting shadow2 Direct watercolor Meera Rao 

Wilting shadow 3 Direct watercolor Meera Rao 

Wilting shadow 4 Direct watercolor Meera Rao 

I admire people who can paint freely and directly seeing all the colors, values and composition well formed in their heads. Of course, I also note that some do the thumbnails and try out their visions and then plunge in with the brush.  I don’t do thumbnails - but play with my photo editor a lot. But I still find myself painting very carefully -tentatively ; ‘freely’ doesn’t seem to be my nature !!! This years June 30x30 Direct watercolor challenge has been so far may be 15/30 - the month turned out to be packed with travels, other obligations, fun and challenging in other ways ! 

These paintings are of a rose that was still a beauty despite losing most of its petals. When I took it off an arrangement and laid it on the counter, the glow and the shadows formed were just stunning. I wanted to capture that fleeting moment. 

My four teabag art At the Hill Center DC 

Four of my teabag art pieces were juried into the Capitol Hill Art League exhibition in May and will be on display until September 6 2026. If you are in DC do pop in -there are some awesome pieces in that gallery. 

 

Not Just a Tempest in a Teapot

Not Just a Tempest in a Teapot - It's a Great Wave by Meera Rao

Another used teabag upcycled !! This one, along with my three other teabag paintings, is in the Washington, D.C. Hill Center Galleries 2025 Capitol Hill Art League Juried Exhibition. The show runs from May 6 -September 6.  It has been a fun challenge to think up tea-related subjects to paint on the teabags.

A lovely teacup

Steeping leaves, the steam rises

Tempest? The Great Wave

~Meera Rao~

   

Float Like A Blue Lotus

Blue Lotus  page from my India Travel Journal 2024 by Meera Rao

 float like a blue lotus 

graceful, grounded 

and

unbothered by the mud 

The Blue lotuses bloomed in a mini pond on the balcony. They are small but oh so beautiful and graceful. I used my newly acquired Japanese Kuretake Gansai Tambi paints on this page and am very pleased with the results. I had penciled in the sketches in my Strathmore tan-toned sketchbook, and painting in the colors had to wait. 

Sereni-Tea

Sereni-Tea in Every Cup watermedia on Upcycled Tea Bag by Meera Rao 

There is nothing like reliving the memories of a trip than painting a scene from the days I spent traveling there. Trip to China was a few years ago but there were many scenes I have been wanting to paint - just waiting for the right time! In my series on Tea bag paintings, so far I have limited the subject to all things tea:) There were many tea ceremonies we were treated to -each extolling the teas from the particular region. The common thread though, was beautiful serene young girls in traditional clothing serving the various teas in a very relaxing and traditional settings with exquisite tea paraphernalia. I never tired of those moments of peace and quiet beauty. 

anticipation 

tea steeping serenity

swirling aroma 

~Meera Rao~

Reliving the Memories

 Misty Paro Tatsang Palphug -Tiger's Nest Monastery 

watercolor by Meera Rao

Happy New Year!! The year has started in full swing - a continuation of the busy days of the past year. The sketch above is from the inspiring, and unforgettable trip to Bhutan last year. The monastery is perched  precariously on a cliff at 3,120 meters (10,240 ft), about 900 meters (3,000 ft) above the Paro valley, on the right side of the Paro Chu (‘chu’ in Bhutanese means ”river or water”). The hike up to the monastery was arduous - nearly vertical!  But walking slowly and steadily (it took me almost 3 hours each way!), enjoying the breathtaking views was a gift. Of course, the view from the Monastery, and time inside the monastery(just about an hour) were awe-inspiring. 

In fact, I have been energized by all the wonderful sights at home and from our trips this past year to various places in the US and abroad. Observing nature, learning, doing my small part in preserving and passing it on have become my passions. It is helping me stay sane in these tumultuous days I see all over the world. I have enjoyed reliving the experiences as I was finishing my travel journal to Bhutan. I eagerly look forward to finishing half-done entries in three more journals from the other trips. Sketching and painting is my way of journaling my days :)

“Art is the stored honey of the human soul.” 

~Theodore Dreiser~

  

A Busy Year

 

Waiting for Lunch watercolor pen &ink by Meera Rao

Boarding in 15 minutes watercolor pen &ink by Meera Rao

This has been a very busy year - lots of traveling, happy meetings with far away family, too many photographs, as many sketches as I could squeeze in, a few paintings, good number of shows, but not enough blog posts! I am way behind in posting my sketches and paintings and hope to get back to regular schedule (I know I sound like a broken record!!)  I ought to make creating and sharing a priority in the coming year. It is always a issue to post when traveling and that seems to carry on when I return. But I am grateful for a full life and continued creating in my life. 

'Being behind' is not real

We are simply where we are 

~Trish Blackwell~

Showing My Art

Showing my art at the Poquoson Public Library August 2024

Showing my art at the Poquoson Public Library August 2024

Showing my art at the Poquoson Public Library August 2024

Showing my art at the Poquoson Public Library August 2024

Showing my Art at AKKA - Association of Kannada Kootas in America World Conference

at Greater Richmond Convention Center Aug 30-Sept.1 2024 

Showing my Art at AKKA - Association of Kannada Kootas in America World Conference

at Greater Richmond Convention Center Aug 30-Sept.1 2024 

The above photos are from two of the four venues my art has been on exhibit in August 2024. I am grateful to the Poquoson Public Library for the opportunity to hang my art on their walls as the Artist of the Month for August. 

Two paintings: Changing Blooms, and Koi at the Temple  are also on exhibit at the Hill Center Galleries at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington DC . Scroll down at the website to see the paintings in the show :)

In the Fireside Gallery at the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center, I have a watercolor painting "Hide and Seek Turtle' together with its inspiration source photograph in the From Camera to Brush and Beyond show.  

I hope to go check out both the shows soon and post the photos from the show in a blog post.

"A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness"

~Joan Miro~ 

 

Oyster Parade

Oyster Parade watercolor 11x14” by Meera Rao 

I started this last November and finally got around to completing yesterday.  I used many photographs that I took of  oysters by the River bank and hours of observation to cobble together a composition. I decided to capture the oysters in the glowing early morning light.  Due to sundry reasons, the painting took me a while to complete but so far I am satisfied it.  

Meanwhile, I discovered some interesting things about Oysters: 

• Oysters have three-chambered hears that pump colorless blood throughout their bodies. They breathe with the gills, just like fish. Wild oysters can live 25 to 30 years but typically most dońt live past six years.  
• A healthy adult oyster an filter the amount of water it takes to fill a small bathtub every day.  oysters feed by pumping water through their gills and I. The process capture algae and other particles, sort of like a strainer. So by cleaning the water, oysters help maintain the balance of their ecosystems. 
• Oysters change gender. Most start out as males, but some change to female after they spawn once or twice ! 

“So have heard about the oyster who went to disco and pulled a mussel”  ~ Billy Connolly  :)