Sunday, June 5, 2016

Under the Mid-day Sun

Under the Mid-day Sun watercolor and ink by Meera Rao
India Art Journal 2015

To work under hot mid day sun is just plain hard work.  These two ladies were making plaster cast and clay statues for sale by a busy road side. They are migrants who traveled from northern states  to south in search for a better living. They had taken over the sidewalk, set up tents and a business. It is a difficult ethical problem - shouldn't the city evict them for blocking the roads for pedestrians like me who now have to walk on the edge of the road  with traffic whizzing by or do you applaud them because they are entrepreneurs  trying to make a decent wage by working and producing. For now, the only solution I saw was to capture them in my sketchbook.


Under the Mid-day sun 5.5x8" watercolor and ink on 140 lb Strathmore visual Journal



    

8 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Beautiful one Meera. I am amazed at how these women can sit like that and even the elder ones too. I am so arthritic and stiff I can hardly sit in a chair and get up never mind squatting down like that. I had to reach under my kitchen sink for something the other day and had to get down low on one knee and had the hardest time of it trying to get up again. Bless them all and I hope they enjoy good health all their lives.

Sadami said...

So, caring and sweet Meera! You've well captured the face expression and the body languages of the ladies. I feel the working lady's tough time in the heat. I also know it is not easy to sketch them, for an artist, you. Lovely, Meera1 Best wishes, Sadami

Meera Rao said...

Carol, I think their daily harsh and active life, sitting on floor always probably keeps their limbs and joints in working order longer than for those of us who sit on the chair for far too many hours!!! Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment -- you always make my day :)

Sue Clinker said...

I'm also amazed at how flexible many Indian men and women are - of all ages. We Westerners have definitely lost that ability.

Lovely painting Meera ... I'm looking forward to taking another trip to India and will definitely include Mysore as we really liked the people/area. Probably not until next year though

padmaja said...

Beautifully caught what you see all over Bangalore pavements now a days. Their living conditions are sad. They probably pay something to avoid eviction.

Meera Rao said...

Thank you, Sue. I read that sitting on chairs is what makes us lose the ability to squat and get off easily ! I am hoping doing yoga regularly will preserve that ability for me even though symptoms of arthritis are slowly creeping into my joints :( I liked sketching this vignette even though it was a challenge to pick out only 2 ladies and a few statues to represent the scene. There is always so much going on in Indian streets :)

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, Thank you. yes, I have only touched the tip of a iceberg of issues :(

Meera Rao said...

Oh Sadami, thank you so very much! You are always so kind and generous in your comments! --I really appreciate it. I know, these ladies are very tough to be working day in and out in the heat (and rain during the monsoons) outdoors ! Hard life !

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