India Art Journal Sept 20-23 2012 By Meera Rao
On this Thanksgiving Day, I am excited that I have been able to blog for four years now! My blog anniversary was on Nov 17th and I almost forgot about it :) I also noticed this is my 302nd post! I am grateful for all my readers for your support and encouragement! A huge heartfelt 'Thank you' to all :)
India Art Journal Sept 20 2012 By Meera Rao
This sketch was one I wanted to do for a while but I avoided going down this particular street that sold live poultry and fresh meat etc. It was difficult for me to see them in the cages and I always wonder if they are aware what fate awaits them! Finally I managed to walk by hurriedly to take a couple of photos as references! What will I do without my little camera?
India Art Journal Sept. 21 2012 by Meera Rao
New vehicles soon after they are purchased are usually taken directly to a Ganesha Temple and 'blessed' before they are driven anywhere else. On this particular day there was a line of Auto-rickshas, a few cars and motorcycles fully decorated with colorful flower garlands waiting for the priest to bless them. The priest says a prayer of safety for all, chants blessings in sanskrit, a coconut is broken open, vehicle is sprinkled with holy water, and then anointed with red kumkuma and yellow turmeric. A lemon is placed under each tire and the vehicle is driven over and off by the proud new owners!
Indian Art Journal Sept 22 2012 by Meera Rao
I regularly bought bananas from this lady. She would decide for her customers what kind and how much they should buy!!!! She was very particular about what she sold and made sure I tried a variety :) And she carried a variety of delicious bananas! I had to stand my ground sometimes and insist on what I would rather buy! As I became a regular customer she started putting a few extra bananas into my bag after she had weighed and I had paid her. In the beginning she was quite gruff and I was quite weary of her but as the days rolled by her attitude softened a bit. Her whole family pitched in at the banana stall on evenings and sundays and I would see her very smart and sharp grand-daughters and their Dad working by her side. I hope I have captured her proud strong personality in my sketch.
India Art Journal Sept 23 2012 by Meera Rao
From my balcony, I had a great view of this family's front porch and they did spend a lot of time there. Every morning I saw the grandmother sweep the front yard, decorate it with a beautiful white rice powder rangoli design, gather the jasmine flowers from a big bush in the yard for the morning puja, and a little later comb her grand-daughter's hair as she got ready for school. The young girl stood very patiently with her eyes closed and seemed to enjoy the attention :) There was such tenderness in the way her grandmother combed her hair and I feel happy to record it.
Below are the sketches posted individually from my post Honest Work and Steadfast Faith.
India Art Journal July 26 2012 by Meera Rao
India Art Journal July 27 2012 By Meera Rao
India Art Journal July 28 2012 By Meera Rao
India Art Journal July 29 2012 By Meera Rao
6 comments:
I admire your creativity and energy. Happy sketching!
Thank you, Irina! I am blessed to have supportive blogger friends like you!
Congrats on completing 4 years! It is a big task, keep going with the same kind of energy and enthusiasm Meera!
My aunt used to comb my hair like that just before leaving for school, haha! enjoyed every bit of the medley!
How many sketches have you done in your India journal? Each one is so special and very educational to those of us that have never been to that part of the world. You have come a long way in your sketchbooking!!!
Padmaja, thanks:) I think lots of us can relate to getting our hair combed by someone else before school, no? I am very glad you are enjoying my sketches. I hope to keep up with my blog --blog friends like you make all the difference here :)
Thank you Kathy! I have done 124 sketches for my India Journal- very first and last day have two sketches each since traveling across the globe/time zones made for extra long days :)I was in India for months and am very pleased that I did not miss a day of sketching there. I am very happy you find the sketches useful too. Sketching everyday was the best decision I made for my trip.
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