Thursday, November 8, 2012

Color of Life

 India Art Journal Sept 12 2012 by Meera Rao 

  To search for the good and make it matter: this is the challenge for the artist. 
~Estella Conwill Majozo~

Advantage of jet lag is that even though I went to bed at 8PM in the evening, I was up around 11PM and happily watched the returns and the acceptance speech by President Obama.  I was glad to be back in the country in time (planned that way!) to do my little bit for the campaign ( made a few phone calls earlier in the day at the local center for Obama) and of course cast my vote!  

The other celebration is a personal one - I am excited to have three pieces in the exhibit Small Works: Miniatures by Hampton  Roads Artists at the Hampton Arts' The Charles Taylor Arts Center in Hampton, VA.  The exhibit will run from Oct 20- Dec 2.  I posted the paintings earlier under Moment of Miracle,  Awesome light, and Memories of a Bloom2 in Art is a Verb

The journal sketches for Sept 12-15 are all street scenes I encountered on my daily errands and walks.  A majestic old building with colorful window panels is now home for the birds that dart in and out of the broken window panes.  

The three wheel auto-rikshas can be seen parked around almost every corner waiting for customers. The drivers can be seen either taking naps in their vehicles during the mid-day heat, reading papers, or doing some repairs under the shade of the huge African-tulip trees in full bloom.  

 India Art journal Sept 13 2012 by Meera Rao

 The shops selling material for ladies dresses with colorful cloth draped mannequins (no heads!) line  most streets.  It is wonderful to check out the latest designs, prints and possibilities in fashion as you walk past the stores. Often, I stopped and touched a fabric or looked at a design with interest but unfortunately never had enough time to go in to make a purchase. 


India Art Journal Sept 14 2012 By Meera Rao

Along with color one gets assaulted with various aromas as we walk the streets in India.  The best of the smells are the hot 'pakoras' being fried right on the sidewalk. A bench, a simple stove and a couple of pans are all that are needed for brisk business in mouthwatering snacks!

India Art Journal Sept 15 2012 by Meera Rao

 India Art Journal Sept 12-15 2012 by Meera Rao

 Below are four more sketches from July in spotlight from the post Subtle Joys    Now that I am back, I am really thinking about what to do next - feeling a little lost! I have not really painted since I landed and feeling very guilty for not continuing to keep a daily art journal. I hope to expand a few sketches to full size paintings soon and would  love to hear any bit of advice and suggestions ! 

India Art Journal July 18 2012 by Meera Rao
India Art Journal  July 18 2012 by Meera Rao
 India Art Journal July 20 2012 by Meera Rao
India Art Journal July 21 2012 by Meera Rao

10 comments:

padmaja said...

Oh, you are back"home".. what a lovely creative time you Made for yourself when in India, I am sure it was refreshing for your mind. Love the hot pakora stall!
All the best with your shoe Meera!

S Salam said...

Dear Meera, went through your blog today;really happy to see all your posts. Why not bring it out like a Mysore
Diary-with your comments.I for one would love to have a copy-having been on some Mysore jaunts with you.Love, Suniti

Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

beautiful painting...

happy diwali..

thanks

Introverted Art said...

OMG, I am so glad I found you again. I realized I didn't follow you and didn't bookmark your page:P But here I am and glad to see you continue to create.

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Padmaja, I am one of those lucky ones who is 'home' both in India and the US ;) my long stay in India was definitely very special and helped me grow in ways i didn't dream in both artistically and spiritually for sure !

Meera Rao said...

Suniti. I really can't thank you enough for being such a good buddy during my stay! You know you kept me sane ;) great to know I will always have a friend in Maisuru!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Krishna! And happy Deepawali to you too!

Meera Rao said...

@introverted art, always happy to reconnect with a kindred spirit ;) thank you very much for you appreciation and support!

Unknown said...

congratulations on the exhibit! I would think they should ask you to do a solo show of your work. It's really wonderful, Meera, and should all be published in a book as a artist's view of this place in India. It would be a bestseller!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Katherine :) I don't know about a best seller but I think it will be nice to see the sketch journal in some book form. Still trying to figure out how I want to do that .

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