This is an acrylic on a 20''x24" stretched canvas.I am back to my roots with this one for a commission. She is Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge,music and arts in Hinduism. For my readers out side India, here is a small brief up about Saraswati. She is depicted as a beautiful woman, shown to have four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. Dressed in white,( Mine is wearing green, thanks to my artistic license!). Saraswati holds a rosary and sacred scriptures, indicating knowledge. She usually has a swan next to her and sits on a lotus while playing music on veena, a string instrument. My imagination has run wild and I have added a dancing Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who is dancing to her music.These kind of paintings are seen on the walls of old temples in South India and the subjects are from Hindu mythology.I have done quite a few of such paintings on the walls of my home and basically my painting journey started from there! It was a nice feeling to go back to my roots and I feel happy to post it today, when Hindus are celebrating Saraswati Pooja (worship) all over India.
This is so wonderful. What a profound, rich and beautiful tradition.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Saraswati Pooja! Great piece of art.
ReplyDeleteStunning piece! Such beautiful colour, shapes and details! I very much enjoyed reading about Saraswati, and her symbolism. Thank you for sharing, Padmaja!! I always learn so much from your posts.
ReplyDeletePadmaja, this is gorgeous! Reminds me of Tibetan Thangka paintings. Love the colors.
ReplyDeleteI can see that you had a great time depicting this story! It is a subject with potential for detail, so I am glad that you worked in so many of the elements of the story. Thank you for the lovely explanation too!
ReplyDeleteVery nice painting, Padmaja. Interesting to look at and to read the description of Saraswati.
ReplyDeleteAmazing piece Padmaja. Interesting to read about Saraswati. The detailing and colors that went into this painting is beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting, Padmaja. I had read about Ganesha but not Saraswati. I like it that you took artistic license with this and that it represents something mythical and cultural. The colors are rich and engaging as is the figure. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous painting, so full of joy and life ! I love the dancing Ganesha, and all the details - and it was really interesting to read about Saraswati. Thanks for sharing this, and let your imagination run wild often !
ReplyDeleteOn my want list..
ReplyDeletebeautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI admire your patience with such a detailed piece. It was interesting to read your description. A lovely painting.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely facinating, Padmaja. So much beautiful color and detail. I love your explanations, too.
ReplyDeleteWow,Wow,Wow its wonderful Padmaja,the Saraswathis face looks beautifula and the Ganesha is briliant.....nice and wonderful painting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful way to go back to your roots! The painting is beautiful in sense of color and creativity.I liked the way you tilted her body to one side - it gives the painting a ryhthm, a motion.The deep blue looke good against the red of background.Very nice!
ReplyDeletePadmaja, I love the colors! It is a departure from the traditional depiction of the goddess, but these colors are so intense---lovely! Also love the batik -like details in the background.
ReplyDeleteYour roots are deep and sometimes so complex, but the images and stories they evoke are quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLovely detailed work.The smile on the face seems to speak a lot.One definitely need a lot of patience to come up with such piece of work.Congrats!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors and your detail work is outstanding! Reading your explanation is as enjoyable as viewing the art. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGreat colours , amazing work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Padmaja. The painting is so serene and divine in its beauty.
ReplyDeleteThe fingers appear to playing the veena, Ganesha is dancing, yet we know the painting is in still form. You have captured eyery nuance, every expression, every detail in the eyes that speak, in the smiling face...omg i could spend hours waxing on the details...
Simply divine, and spreads the positive energy...kiss those beautiful fingers...
The col
Love,love,love it...the colors, the motion, the energy- the best among all your traditional work- you are on a roll!
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful, I could look on it for hours... As a lover of all art of Indian culture I look forward to all of these type paintings from you. I collect fabrics from India and hope to go back there this year... Phyllis O'Shields Fine Art Daily Painters International
ReplyDeleteThe detail in this - incredible. You did such a wonderful job. I could look at this for an hour...I might come back and do just that. This is spectacular. I love this kind of art.
ReplyDeletePadmaja, I admire your paintings and writings. This is a wonderful piece. The colors are divine and feelings behind it too. Goddess Saraswati's face is so calm as well as shows happiness. Heartiest Congratulations on this piece.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully painted, Pad! I clicked to get a close up ... and wow! what an awesome painting this is!
ReplyDeleteIt is so Bali-nesque... what inspired you for this? Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting story and painting. Your love of your "roots" really shows in this painting.Wonderful! I don't know if you are familiar with Deepak Chopra, but he is one of my favorite authors and I am currently reading some of his books.
ReplyDeleteA very graceful picture. I really like all the vibrant colors used in this paining!
ReplyDeleteamma says
ReplyDeleteits amazing!! :) and so do i!! :)
Padmaja, this is one awesome pic..fell in love with it the minute I saw. Happy Diwali!
ReplyDeleteVery fine work and really very well done... I really loved this painting ...Wish you very Happy Deepawali ..
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ReplyDeletewonderful..
ReplyDeleteTruly exquisite!
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