Smile

For my painting class we finally explored translating a picture reference to a painting. We had to select an Iconic Figure and interpret it in our own way. I choose Mother Teresa as my iconic reference. As a part of interpretation, I selected a monochromatic photograph and decided to add my own colors to it. While browsing various pictures of her, one thing became certain: I wanted to preserve her positive energy and vibe she exudes. The depth in her eyes and long life evident by her wrinkled face were other things that captured my attention. But her brilliant and infectious smile is what I wanted to translate the most! I hope I have done some justice in doing so...

Mother Teresa, 18" x 24", Oil on Canvas

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love"

-Mother Teresa

...so here's to spreading smile and love!

Cheers!  

Human Form

I see a human figure

Full of vigor 

She stands proud 

Between the crowd

She is being observed

Every inch covered

We steal a glance

During the artful dance

To do her justice

I must practice

Right proportion and angle

Are the key to untangle

Her body's mystery

Hiding, layers of history

Connection

There are so many forms of connection
Physical, emotional, verbal, or just one's presence
Our cells, even at nanoscale level, know this phenomenon.
Without a connection, there is no communication
Without communication, there is no action
Without an action, there is no moving forward.

An abstract version of nanotubes connecting human B cells (Inspired from an actual EM image) - Acrylics on paper - 9" x 12"

On this sacred day, we are all connected by faith and festivity. Just by being, wherever we are in this big wide world, we are connected. I hope each one of us has had a wonderful day with friends, family and loved ones. May all your days be filled with much joy and happiness. Merry Christmas!

Light and Night

All alone, in this dark night

O lord! Shine some light!

Let an angel come to me,

Like my mom, who will hug me.

Today is bright and light,

But who do I share with, this sight?

Let me meet a companion, a friend

Journey then we shall, till the end!

Impermanence

Impermanent, are friends

They come and go

Some stay longer than others

No one but your shadow,

Stays, from start to finish 

Impermanent, is love

Falling in and out of love

Arduous yet beautiful, 

Is the journey of love

Total trust is the basis of love 

Impermanent, are emotions

Anger, delight, annoyance, 

Envy, pleasure, satisfaction, pain,

How long do they last?

Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? Years

So what is 'permanent'?

You! (But who are you?)

Unexpected Phone Call

Its a weekend again, and I am down with fever, cough and a ton of phlegm stuck up my nose!! (Sorry does that sound too gross? :P) On top of which I have a presentation due on Monday, a midterm on Tuesday, an assignment due on Wednesday and a proposal due on Thursday!. I also had work lined up on Sunday, which I cancelled. (Phew!) In the midst of all this I get a phone call late last night, almost asleep, whining in my misery, from an aunt of mine.

I have been in the US for 4 years and she has called me twice, maybe thrice, all in the past 6 to 7 months. We were never close as such. There is a generation gap to consider as well. But something changed earlier this year. I did something which generated a common interest between the two of us. She could connect with me despite the age factor and vice-versa. I took a course in Vipassana. My aunt has been an avid follower and practitioner since decades!

So anyway, she called. I didn't recognize her voice right away, but when I did I was so pleasantly surprised! (Such a simple gesture such as picking up the phone and calling someone can a profound effect on that someone... ) Talked about the usual, how are you? etc. Told her about my stuffy nose. She told me take care. Blah blah. Then she asked about my meditation practice and I felt a bit guilty for not being consistent with my practice. But she didn't seem to care much about it. She told me just keep doing it whenever I feel like it or have the time for it. Every time she talks to me, I can *feel* her positive energy flow into me! Literally!

She also informed me about another family member who recently did the course as well and how thrilled she was. She gave me credit to having "re-initiated" the desire to take such a course, within our family/friends. How sweet is that? Needless to say, I am elated for my other aunt who just completed the course. There will be some exciting conversations next time I meet her!

All in all, I felt light after talking to my aunt and slept relatively well despite my health. I want to thank her for just calling me, out of the blue, and blessing me all the time, and for all the positive-ness she radiates from within her! :)

Sculpted Woman

Sculpted woman of the 16th century India - "knowing love I will allow all things to come and go, to be as supple as the wind and take everything that comes with great courage...Kama Sutra by Mira Niar" - Charcoal and Graphite

I drew this sketch from the movie Kama Sutra by Mira Nair. I could relate to the sculptor when he says 'something is not right' or 'she doesn't feel right' after I drew this. Eventually he got it right, but this is all that I could manage. She still didn't feel right, but I gave up. :)

Sculpting is getting very close to your art work I think. Both painting/sketching and sculpting use hands (among most art forms and creative work) and the beauty of it all lies in how we translate what we see using our hands! 

The movie truly is a remarkable love story, very enticing! What really caught my eye was the protagonist (Indira Varma) and her saree. Really redefines how you look at saree. Varma carries herself so well in the movie, so elegant, almost floating in the costumes designed for this movie. Some scenes are so raw and others so ornate. 

This one up here is a screen shot a took during the movie. The saree is so simple but I think she looks gorgeous! This is the rawness I was talking about. Beautiful cinematography too! The picture below is ornate in comparison. Although not the best picture to describe what I mean, its the only screen shot I have, that comes close to what I am trying to say.

Yet another example is provided by a picture below where I think she is full of "hidden power". It kind of relates back to what I was talking about in my other post 'Eyes'. Although here the red spot on her forehead represent a sacred mark for love. Her lover dies and she has tried to erase the mark in this particular screen shot. Notice also the hair and the color of her saree. Everything is symbolic. Yet again, the saree just stand out for me. Simply beautiful!

At this point in the movie is when she says, "knowing love I will allow all things to come and go, to be as supple as the wind and take everything that comes with great courage..." Love literally and metaphorically sculpted this woman; this is probably true for most, if not all women even in real life.