Saturday, July 6, 2013

Fruits of Labor

2013 India Sketch journal June 17 by Meera Rao
The Monsoon is in full glory this year and jackfruit vendors are roaming the town. The jackfruit opened to reveal the fleshy edible part inside looks like huge flower arrangement! Jackfruit is native to Southern India and its fruits reaching upto 80lbs is considered one of the largest tree-borne fruit. And this time I have been lucky to savor specialty dishes made lovingly from the fruit by one of my special aunts! A very tasty dish is a sweet idli or dumpling steamed in teak leaves that gives it a beautiful red color and a wonderful added aroma!

2013 India Sketch journal June 18 by Meera Rao

Around the neighborhood where I am staying now are many vendors and artisans that work with wicker and bamboo.  They stake out a spot on the sidewalk and weave baskets, make ladders and mats for sale. They are busy all day and come back to their spots day after day - I do hope they make enough money selling their wares for a decent livelihood. I sketched a man busy making ladder last year- if you are curious, do check out the link :)

As always here is a look at page 6 of my 2013 India Sketch journal:  


12 comments:

Unknown said...

That would be fun to walk down your street and experience all those sights and sounds and smells. Your artwork conveys the atmosphere so beautifully! (that recipe sounds interesting, too)

Carol Blackburn said...

Thanks for the neighborhood tour, Meera. Love your sketchbook.

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Katherine! I am staying in the old part of the city which still retains its distinct flavor of slow timeless life style- and i am trying to capture it before it all vanishes with 'development.'

Meera Rao said...

Carol, thank you very much -- i appreciate your comments! it feels great to share too !

Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

beautiful paintings...

i like the second one...

thanks

padmaja said...

Hey, did u make an astral travel to my room, I am just finishing a piece that I titled fruits of labour!
The cane basket people have always been inspiring and it is one of the best handicrafts one can enjoy, the jackfruits are in plenty in Bengaluru now and I got to taste some!
Love
Love
Lovely sketches that make me homesick:-)

Haddock said...

That man making a ladder and the silk saree with the bangles look great :-)

Cynthia Schelzig said...


You show such wonderful work here on your blog!...thanks for visiting mine...I appreciate your input.

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Krishna! I am happy with the second one too :)

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, great mind think alike - he he ;) are you in B'loru now? Enjoy your stay! Come see me in Mysore if you are free- love to meet you :) look forward to seeing your "fruits of labor'

Meera Rao said...

Thanks @haddock! Glad you like those sketches :)

Meera Rao said...

Cynthia, the feelings are mutual! Thanks for visiting my blog too !

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