Old Couple Walking during Fall Season

I wanted to do a Painting Project and my husband suggested that he would give me a theme and I should bring his imagination to life. I took it as a challenge. He said the following.

Fall Season
An old Couple walking down the street

Man holding an Unbrella in one hand and holding wife's shoulder with the other hand.

Both are turned the otherside.

It was a wonderful theme and I had to show it in Painting and I did it today.

Here is the rough Pencil sketch of the project.

Here is the actual Painting, all Acryllic and just Strokes. It took me about a couple of hours right from Start to Finish.

Rajasthani girls

Rajasthani Girls, a very colorful piece of Art. It took me about 4 hrs from scratch to finish. Painted in Acryllic and enhanced the costume with glitters, this Painting is one of my best projects.

Sri Siddhi Vinayakar

We are really fortunate to have Temples to worship our Hindu Gods in America. One such temple is Sri Siddhi Vinayakar Temple in Sacramento. Monolith Statues of Sri Siddhi Vinayakar, Lakshmi Devi, Saraswathi Devi and other Gods and Goddesses Adorn this Temple. The speciality of this temple is the Navagraha Gods are seated with their wife.

We had a great privilege in attending the Temple’s Kumba Abhishekam in 2002, and were fortunate to see the Big Statues being Installed. When we lived in Sacramento, we used to visit this place very often, almost every weekend. It’s a beautiful temple situated in 4679 Aldona Lane Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: (916) 483-4760. Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Cultural Center is the official name of the Temple. You can visit http://www.svcctemple.org for more details. Every Hindu Festival is celebrated in a grand manner. We used to take Prasadam during lectures and Milk, Buttermilk and Orange Juice for Abhishekam of Lord Sri Siddhi Vinayakar. Below are some of the Pictures that I shot in 2003.

Sri Siddhi Vinayakar Swamy

Lakshmi Devi

Saraswathi Devi


Sri Subramanya Swamy and Shiva Limgam

Baby Krishna

Here is my another 'Painting Project'. I like to draw and paint the works of famous artists. And this Particular Artwork is one of a famous Bengali artist Sri. Jamini Roy's folk Arts. I have also done a few other projects of Sri Jamini Roy's. I like his simple but bold strokes. The Cow and Baby Krishna is one of my favorite Paintings. [ I have only copied the outline sketch. The colors I used are solely my choice ]

Sonoma County

Trip to the Sonoma County

A trip to the Sonoma county of California was very relaxing. We enjoyed the drive in the Scenic route of Hwy 12. This county, being the Wine Capital, we went past a number of Vineyards. The long stretch of the Vinery was a wonderful sight. Both the sides of the Freeway were enveloped with lovely colors of the fall and were a treat to the eyes. Beautiful and Colorful Flowers decorated the Vineyards. We visited the Kenwood Vineyard and the Chateau St. Jean. Both the Vineyards owned acres of Vinery. Below are the Pictures I took in the Vineyards. I liked the Chateau Vineyard, which displayed a real Chateau with a lovely garden. (Chateau means an impressive country house or castle in France). The Tall Palm tree in the middle of a green lawn was a wonderful sight.

We also made a trip to the Burbank Home and Gardens located in the Santa Rosa. This too showcased beautiful flowers and landscaping.

Gunaseelam

Gunaseelam is a small hamlet, about 16 Kilometers away from Tiruchirapalli on the banks of the holy river Cauvery, on the Salem – Tiruchirapalli Road. The Lord here is known as "Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal" and it is believed that those who are not able to visit Tirumala can obtain the grace of Venkatachalapathy here. I visited this Temple in June 2006. The photo below is the gopra above the Sanctum Sanctoram of Lord Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal at Gunaseelam. It is also believed that the Lord here is the Elder brother of Lord Venkatesa Perumal of Thirumala. So, A debt ( Bedikkai in Kannada and Nethi kadan in Tamil ) to Lord of Thrirumala can be settled in Gunaseelam and not Vice versa.

My Paternal side's family deity ( kula devuru ) is Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, and I have visited this Temple a number of times since childhood. We used to have Lord's dharshan and picnic on the Cauvery banks. I lived in a joint family, we all would make a trip to this Temple very often. My Mom used to make delicious Chitra anna and bagala bath (curd rice) and some savories. She used to make sondigai ( vadagam) and a sweet too, specially for the trip. We usually hire a van for the day and travel to many pilgrimage places like Namakkal, Gunaseelam and Sri Rangam. And sometimes samayapuram too. The trip will take an entire day. We will reach home at around 9 pm. This year June, I visited my hometown and my Parents took Me, my husband, and my daughter to Gunaseelam. It was a memorable trip. We had very good Dharshan of Lord Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal and we also visited Namakkal, Sri Ranagam and Samayapuram too the same day.


A Very Nostalgic trip to Gunaseelam. Even though they have renovated the temple, I still can remember the temple structure during the good olden days.

Radha Krishna Painting

Well, today, I am displaying one of my best Drawings in a 12x16 Canvas, Painted in Acryllic. Let me describe the painting, its Radha standing behind Lord Krishna, and both playing the Flute simultaneously. This painting took about 4 hours on an average from start to finish. I am not convinced with the finishing, and hope to do well in the future paintings.

Yellow Hanging Flowers

Recently, I had been to a place called Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz,CA. It was a beautiful place amidst the thick forest. Tall trees all around and Colorful Flowers to beautify the place more. I caught glance of this Wonderful, Big Yellow Flowers hanging downwards. I am not a Botany student and don't know its botanical name. Just named it "The Big Yellow Flowers". Click, and here is that beautiful sight I saw.