This is an 8'' by 10'' acrylic on canvas. It can be any generic peak but the reference to do this one has been taken from the memories of my trip to Leh, Ladakh, years ago. It was a sunny day and the snow on the mighty Himalayas was melting a lot, creating quite a lot of patterns. I thought of doing away with my brushes for this work . I have used wet paper towel to do the sky and a palette knife and a roller for the texture of the snow on the rocky surface.Ladakh is in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The flight from Delhi to Leh was mostly on mountains . Scared stiff of heights, I felt like jumping out of the plane and was pleased to end the journey to descend on a place that looked like God's heaven!
The towering mountains seemed to touch the sky. The snow, the air, the aura around was just an out of the world experience. Time seemed to stand still with the ringing bells of the monasteries and the rhythmic chants of the Buddhist monks.
We traveled by car and it was an off season, not a soul to be seen anywhere around except ourselves. The drive to Khardungla Pass, the highest motor- able road in the world was completely spent with my phobia for heights, the roads curving down around blind corners and embracing steep mountain cliffs . What did I fear for? My life? ! May be it was God's way of saying that whatever difficulties you may encounter upon your path, your strength and courage should remain unshakable like His creation of mountains. I did not give it a thought at that time. But today, I would love to go there again and enjoy for what it is meant to be because I am more mature (seems like!) and have conquered (almost) the fear of heights and anything else :-) Introspecting on one's own behavior after many years is so good, it helps to know how far we have traveled in life!
Padmaja, this painting is a dream. How beautiful and how wonderful to hear of your memories and impressions of this gorgeous place!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. The painting is wonderful, and the account of your day in the mountains is very interesting. So many of us are on the same journey in our lives... Glad we can share with each other!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting, your mountains are so full of texture! I love it!! Awesome account of your travel, you took me right there with you, I too could hear those bells and smell that crisp clean air....how exhilerating! Great comparison, thinking about the strength of the Mountains as an example of how we should face our fears.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a pictures.. Such a gorgeous painting..
ReplyDeleteWonderful painting Padmaja!!...and your story reminds me our long...long...drives through Himaliyas!!..missed those days in India/Delhi :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog...till no improvement!...
Regards
Sanghamitra.
Terrific painting... I used to get that feeling when I lived in San Francisco and drove to Mt. Tamapais, in Marin county, north of S.F. not exactly what you have here, but remembering what I felt then... Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful painting, Padmaja! That you did it without a brush is even more impressive.
ReplyDeleteThis has wonderful perspective Padmaja. It looks cold and very high!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting. It's wonderful what kind of art can come out of an adventure.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!!
The textures have really worked very well for the mountain.. A special painting.
ReplyDeletelove the textures, color and your technique!!!! And it always amazes me as to how far we are capable of traveling in life - which in turn excites me about future :)
ReplyDeleteI have travelled only till Sonmarg and going to Leh?ladhak is still a wish. Nice painting
ReplyDeleteMy trip to Leh didnt materialise last week due to overbooking :-( Your painting and write up just makes me determined to visit it some time later! interesting techniques... beautifully executed.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. It is great that you carry this image in your memory. Your painting evokes a mood I can't quite identify. For a rather simple image, it is very exciting.
ReplyDeleteWonderful painting and story. I liked that you use other creative techniques to paint this painting.I can almost feel the ruggedness of these mountains.I can relate to your fear of heights. I too have almost out grown mine :O)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, this is an absolutely accomplished memory painting. I have only painted a few this way and am in awe of the shapes that you have designed as well as the believability of the scene, Padmaja. I like all the swooping angles contrasted with the dabs and streaks of snow. Your sky is feathery and beautiful as a backdrop just as you describe in your post as it being heaven-like. I like this scene very much. :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautifully textured, Padmaja.You seem to be so well-travelled!I like the use of knife in creating snow on thoose high peaks..great effect!
ReplyDeleteYour painting captures the craggy majesty of the wild mountains. Loved your comments on how you achieved those effects... mastered your fear of heights. It is satisfying to reflect upon one's self and see some growth, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love mountains love being in them and so I find this artwork very interesting thank you.
ReplyDeleteI would like to got there, too! It´s very nice and realistic. Greetings from Luzia.
ReplyDeletePadmaja, this work brought back nostalgic memories. I have flown extensively in these magnificent mountains. They taught me to respect nature. You have managed to captured the enormity of these mountains beautifully. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWow...the fear of heights is dispensed with in an allegorical way with your method of painting the image. Looking at the world with heart eyes, the tools change.
ReplyDeleteThat is a fine looking mountain, atmospheric clouds, running snow, height magnificence.
I love the whole story of this image. Our ability to expand our perspective and see how the fear looks to the mountain?
Thank you for another inspired inspiration post Padmaja!
Your blog is so interesting! Wonderful paintings. I love your technique in painting these mountains. I find them very difficult to paint..you nailed it. You painted The Grand Canyon perfectly..brings back wonderful memories when I visited it...so peaceful..so emotional.
ReplyDeleteThe snow in the valleys is so convincing, Padmaja!
ReplyDeleteHi Padmaja, this is really nice painting giving real view of the snow covered mountains .. i have seen some photographs from one of friend's trip to Himalayas (Everest Base camp) and your painting reminds of those views ..Thanks ..
ReplyDeleteI Like This post very much,the way you used your towel and knife is Brilliant Padmaja.
ReplyDeleteThe writings made me to think a lot in our lifes,yes our travels broden our mind and life.
And the moonson melody is awesome.
ReplyDelete