(an old sketchbook-2000)
On the front page of every sketchbook I write a blessing or prayer where I invite the god/goddess of creativity into my art and my writings. This is the Hindu god Nataraja who embodies the whole process of creativity. Each prayer that I write has different words/invocations...this one says "Nataraja...Creator..Destroyer...Please bless my thoughts, my work, my creations. Work through me. Create through me with passion, love, thought. Let Mother India shine in my work" I absolutely love writing these special words because they are powerful beyond measure. I also love looking back through the years and reading them...they let me know where I have been; signposts on the journey.
This drawing with wash never turned into a painting but I absolutely love drawing...the whole process is challenging, joyful and meditative all at once. I still may paint it one day.
(Female Ganesha, watercolor and gouache, 18' x 24", 2006-SOLD)
This is a sketch that turned into a painting. As you can see, I changed some things from idea/sketch to completed painting but the essentials are the same. Of course not all my paintings start out as a sketch but lots of them take root here...in words, poetry, concept. Thanks so much for looking...I have enjoyed sharing this very personal and deep part of mySELF.
11 comments:
So gracious of you to share your sketchbook with us! It is a very vulnerable thing, isn't it? Your work is so beautiful and thoughtful.
This is fabulous!! My daughter and I just bought tiny sketchbooks!! I am committed to using it, filling it up along with dozens more...thanks for sharing yours...it's so fascinating:)
Love,
Leslie
By the way...that girl you sketched...she is beautiful:)
Soraya, beautiful images and I love your blessing idea! I do not have sketch books because I cannot draw, but I have a ton of journals and the collection is growing! I never feel that I can throw them away and truthfully, it is fun to look back. I can get totally caught up in this and lose a half a day if I'm not careful!
I love the idea of invoking a deity in the pages of a sketchbook! That is so powerful. I love my sketchbooks too, I keep one near my favorite chair and do my best work when I wasn't expecting to do anything at all!
Soraya, I love your sketchbook, and thank you for sharing those with us. I love the idea of writing a blessing or prayer on the first page, that makes it even more special. And you know what? That elephant is cute!
Dearest soraya, i am loving your sketchbook so much!! very inspiring and it's so sweet of you to share it with us! I really LOVE the idea of how you would write a blessing or prayer at the front page of your sketchbooks. Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!
your drawings are fabulous
A stunning watercolour sketch of the young Indian woman! Your idea of writing blessings in your sketchbooks really appeals to me and will stay with me for the rest of the day. Thanks dear Soraya.
wow- thank u for sharing that!
my journals are just words, words and more words. i sometimes wonder why i hold on to them- my whole life i've kept diaries or journals. not sure i'd want anyone but me ever reading them so i sort of fear the idea of "leaving the behind" for someone to read one day...
Yum. I LOVE your work - so elegant.
thank you for sharing it!
Post a Comment