Evil Eye, Hungry Mouth

India Sketch journal 2013 page 23 by Meera Rao 

Whether it is protection from evil eye or hungry cows and goats, there is a way to safeguard what you cherish - be it magic, superstition or a practical solution!

India Sketch journal 2013 July 21 by Meera Rao 

These red masks of fierce looking faces with horns and a scorpion on the tongue can be bought on the road side from migrant artisans who camp on the sidewalks, establish a workshop and a set up a retail outlet right there :)  The whole family pitches in to make the masks from molds to which they pour plaster of paris or clay, paint and then sell them in various sizes. The masks are bought to place on  houses, buildings, and new construction sites.  What caught my eye was that the sidewalk makeshift enterprise selling talisman masks had a classic talisman of its own - that of seven green chili peppers and lemon hanging so that no evil eye is cast on this thriving business ! Please do click on the colored phrases above and you will be able to see my sketches from my art journal 2012 :)

India Sketch journal 2013 July 22 by Meera Rao 

This is little sapling by the roadside had its own fence to fend off the hungry cows and goats that wander the streets.  The effort was worthwhile as the plant still had its leaves and was showing signs of growth! The tragedy sometimes is that the sticks from the little fence can also disappear - to be used for kindling by someone.   I was attracted to the geometry of the lines, the organic shapes of the leaves, the colors and had to record it in my sketch book. 

Art is Not What You See

Laundry  Watercolor on Yupo 3.4"x4.7" By Meera Rao 

Break time from Shoe Shine Watercolor on Yupo  5"x2.3" by Meera Rao 

Beverage Service Watercolor on Yupo 3.5"x4.3" by Meera Rao

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see"

~Edgar Degas~

I have three small paintings on Yupo in "Small Works: Miniatures by Hampton Roads Artists "  The show will run from October 12-December 1, 2013 at the Charles Taylor Arts Center in Hampton, VA. All the pieces had to be 20 square inches or under and it was fun to once again paint on yupo after months of only sketching in my sketchbook/journal! I am always amazed how vibrant and brilliant colors remain on the yupo unlike regular watercolor paper where the colors dry lighter than what goes on. I also love how the differently the textures and details show on the yupo. 

All three pieces are composites of my sketches, photographs and my imagination. So when I came across the quote by Edgar Degas, I chuckled and knew I had to include it here! Laundry is of course a scene from India, Break time from Shoe Shine is a scene I still see in some airports in USA and the  Beverage Service is from one of my airplane trips :) I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when all three were accepted for the show.  It is a beautifully curated exhibit with many wonderful pieces in all media.  If you are in that neck of woods do drop in and enjoy the creativity on display. 

Unspooling Beauty and Mystique

Photography By Meera Rao 

"Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

But to add color to my sunset sky."

Rabindranath Tagore,  'Stray Birds' 

Corner Florist

2013 India Sketch Journal July 19 Meera Rao

 

2013 India Sketch Journal July 20 Meera Rao

 

This corner florist really brightens up the dusty drab sidewalk with colorful and fragrant flowers. I was impressed by what a brisk business he had making flower bouquets and arrangements.  All he had was a bright blue tarp and a little shack with blue paint to match.  But it made for a lovely corner lifting my spirits every time I went by on my errands! I decided to sketch it on two days giving the corner and the shack its own space in my sketchbook :)

Different Loads

2013 India Sketch Journal Page 21 by Meera Rao

2013 India Sketch Journal July 18 by Meera Rao

Often I see men carrying a decorated shrine on their shoulders and on a pilgrimage.  They depend on the good will of shopkeepers and others for their meals as they walk toward their destination, a holy place or temple, as a personal penance.  I am not sure which deity he is carrying as the fresh flower decorations completely covered the icon. 

2013 India Sketch Journal July 17 by Meera Rao

This person was carrying a load of a different kind -- a cooking gas cylinder - to appease a different desire - that of the stomach.  It was uncanny how both had a look of determination as they walked. 

Shrines and Seams

2013 India Sketch Journal  July 14 by Meera Rao

Road side shrines dot the streets - some are just a small niche in a wall, or a small platform with an idol under the shelter of a tree, and some are little structures built with stones and bricks as proper miniature temples as in the sketch above.  These don't have a priest but the neighborhood community members take care of daily cleaning, adorning it with fresh flowers and keeping it spruced up. As always, these shrines are reminders of the spirituality, gratefulness for the benevolence of the Universe. Here  is a sketch of another shrine from my 2012 sketchbook if you are curious. 

2013 India Sketch Journal  July 15 by Meera Rao

Sewing Mends the soul - Author Unknown

There is such heavy demand for electricity that routinely people in India experience power outages. Bigger stores and offices have their own generators for times likes these but the little mom and pop stores like the tailor shop in the neighborhood still operate old fashioned sewing machines etc that don't require electricity to run. They can run their business and earn a livelihood. Check out the tailor using the old fashioned sewing machine here and a sketch of the UPS (universal Power Source) here 

2013 India Sketch Journal  Page 20 by Meera Rao

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel ~Anon.