Ganesh from "An Exclusive Expression of Indian Mythology"

The centerpiece of my recent solo exhibition "An Exclusive Expression of Indian Mythology" was the largest work featured - Dancing Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles. This painting of a Ganesha with twenty arms was a favorite of many attendees. Many folks even had their photos taken with it.

This acrylic painting was the culmination of an evolution involving several versions. The foundation is a yellow ochre hand blocked Kalamkari bedspread in a pattern named "Kensington". The fabric's border 

is used to create the illusion of the ground on which he stands. Huge golden medallions on either side of his legs replace the statue's small attendant figures, bringing the focal point upward. All twenty hands hold unique and symbolicaly meaningful objects. Among the objects we see he holds his broken tusk and a bowl of sweets.

Dancing Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles

48 x 48 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

The mixed media drawing below was the first version. I used a paper which was handmade in Nepal printed with a metallic gold faux bois (French for false wood) pattern.  I selected this wood grain pattern paper because it was visually similar to the striated layers in the stone from which this sculpture had been carved. 

The original statue on which this is based, is light cream colored limestone. In the drawing, variations in warm and cool tones are heightened to provide contrast and variation. The rear arms have cooler grey tones which helps them appear to recede. This also becomes a framing device for the warmer sepia colors in the foreground - especially the face.

Twenty-Armed Ganesha

26” x 20” image

conte and acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink

An oil painting utilizes a full spectrum of colors. Silver paisley shapes and lattice pattern are layered over an abstract arrangement of high intensity hues. A palette of pastel tints and earthy browns form the ganesha with the focus on light and shadow.

Here is a series of photos that show the steps involved with making on of my drawings. 

First, is a photo of statue which is at the Chicago Art Institute.

This photo shows the stencil I used to lay a basic design in acrylic paint. The gold ink printed on the paper creates a very slick surface which is very difficult to draw on because the chalk does not stick. I use some gold acrylic paint to make a "toothier" surface which will grip the chalks.

The stenciled design is subtle and will become hidden as the drawing develops.

With just a bit of light and shadow the illusion of a volumetric form appears.

I am satisfied with the way the golden patterned paper has contributed an ornate feel appropriate to character of the icon which inspired this finished piece.

Golden Ganesh

26” x 20”

conte and acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink

Shiva images from "An Exclusive Expression of Indian Mythology"

All of the paintings of Shiva included in my recent exhibition "An Exclusive Expression of Indian Mythology" depict the god with his consort.
Shiva is also known as Mahadeva "The Great God", who is one of the three major deities of Hinduism. He is the destroyer and regenerator of the universe and all life.

Shiva and Uma Seated on the Bull Nandi

48 x 36 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

Shiva and Uma Seated on the Bull Nandi is the third version of this image that I've worked on. The couple is shown in a loving embrace. Both figures smile tenderly as they gaze into each others eyes. These facial expressions seemed unusually natural, sensitive, and human compared with other representations of the gods. 

I allow the cool blue color of the fabric to work as shadow, and to contrast with the predominantly  warm fleshy tones.

The sandstone couple (in the Art Institute of Chicago) is surrounded with many smaller attendant figures, some representing their children. I find greenish patina on the stone fascinating. 

The preliminary drawing (shown in two photos below) was done on a paper handmade in Nepal, the blue-green color of aged copper printed with golden ink. 

Shiva and Uma

30” x 20” image

conte & acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink

(detail above, full image below)

An earlier version shown below (oil on canvas, 48"x48") was done on a multi-colored ground covered with a stenciled paisley pattern. Intense background colors are repeated in softer pastel tones on the figures in the foreground. 

Shiva and Uma 

48 x 48 inches

oil on canvas

Ardhanarishvara is a composite androgynous form of Shiva and his consort Parvati, representing both masculine and feminine energies of the universe.

Shiva as Lord Who is Half Male, Half Female (Ardhanarishvara)

50” x 36” inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

(detail below)

The Ardhanarishvara image shows the figure's right side as male, and left half female, included is Shiva's bull Nandi. It symbolizes the union of Purusha (the passive male force) and Prakriti (The active female force). It conveys that god is both male and female, father and mother, destructive and constructive and unifies all other dualities.

An 11th century sculpture from the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple resembles the sculpture in Chicago and uses similar iconography.

 Parvati is a more common name for the goddess Uma. She is the goddess of love, fertility, and devotion, divine strength and power. She is Shiva's wife and also the mother of Ganesha and Karttikeya.
The drawing below is based on a statue depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. A small Ganesh is seen in the lower left.

Click this link to read several versions of the story of the 

Marriage of Shiva and Parvati.

Marriage of Shiva and Parvati

26” x 20”

conte and acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink

I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog.

All of the paintings and drawings pictured are for sale. Prices are available upon request. I am able to supply higher resolution images to interested buyers. If inquiring, please leave a comment with your email address. I will immediately contact you and hide your info from public view.

Or email me at Cynthia.S.Hayes (at) gmail (dot) com 

Goddesses from "An Exclusive Expression of Indian Mythology"

This large statue in the Art Institute of Chicago depicts an early form of the goddess Saraswati, the Hindu goddess knowledge, music, and arts.

The pointed Gothic arch shape and simple geometry of the circular areole behind the head and the solid geometric forms of the cylindrical crown and spherical breasts contrasts with the complexity of the intricately carved jewelry. 

Because the model is so complex, I spend time analyzing the sculpture by making preliminary study drawing. This helps familiarize me with the figure's proportions and distill the most important information.

I select a salmon colored handmade paper from Nepal printed with a metallic gold ink. The reflective quality of the gold is gorgeous in person, but is exceptionally difficult to photograph. The gold looks greenish in contrast to the warm pinkish salmon. 

Four-Armed Sarasvati

26” x 20” image

conte and acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink

The metallic ink has a rather slick surface. It is a struggle in the beginning to get the conte crayon to stick, but I like the pattern remains evident. The zigzag pattern gives an almost "tribal" look to the icon. The finished drawing has a strong resemblance to Inca or Aztec art. I'm not exactly sure why, but I believe it is because of color and pattern associations.

A large acrylic painting follows the drawn study. Rather than working with a zigzag pattern background, I am inspired to use a block-printed fabric from India. This fabric panel is authentic, hand made Kalamkari cotton fabric from the Andhra Pradesh state. The word Kalamkari (or Qalamkari) is derived from the Persian words ghalam (pen) and kari (craftsmanship), meaning drawn with a pen.

This Kalamkari drapery panel has a medallion that is smaller than most found on bedspreads or tablecloths. Imperfections of the design are inherent to hand blocked fabric. the slight mistakes happen in the placement of the hand carved wood blocks  (registration) as each color is separately printed. 

This fabric design incorporates both the geometry of the large circles, organic floral and vine lattice, and paisley shaped forms. Persian influence can be seen in this tradition patterning. 

After stapling the fabric on a wooden stretcher frame, I lightly draw a vague contour of the figure in pastel chalk. I've decided to try stenciling another vine and leaf motif design in several places using an iridescent silver acrylic paint. I think this will bring out the cool blue colors in the predominantly warm palette.

I find the patina of age on the sculpture fascinating. An array of rust, brown, and grey colors mingle. By using transparent washes of paint, I am able to allow the pattern of the fabric to show through in parts of the figure. I am happy with the illusion of a shiny surface on the knees.

Working with the fabric design has allowed me to incorporate the pattern in unusual ways. I have placed the very tip of the nose at the center of the concentric circles. It is a coincidence that the edge of the lower lip, necklaces, and a ridge on the crown also follow other circles as they radiate out from the center.

Paisley shapes in the fabric seem to look a lot like the jewelry. Finally, dark washes create the illusion that the sculpture is casting shadows on a backdrop. 

Saraswati, Goddess of Learning

48 x 36 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

Durga is the principle form of the Goddess in Hinduism. She is the supreme soul or Shakti (power) who is responsible for all creation, existence, and destruction. By the blessings of  Durga Shakti, man is able to receive salvation or enjoy his daily activities.

Goddess Durga Seated on a Lion Throne

48 x 36 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

The image above shows Durga seated on a lion throne, though she is often depicted riding a lion.

Goddess Durga

36” x 36”

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

The fragmented statue of Durga that inspired the painting above, has the eight arms more commonly seen in popular contemporary images of Durga worshipped today.

Manasa is a Hindu goddess of snakes, worshipped mainly in Bengal and other parts of northeastern India mainly for the prevention of snakebites. She is also an important fertility deity. Manasa is ceremonially worshipped on Nag Panchami, a festival of snake worship. Women observe a fast (vrata) and offer milk at snake holes. 

Snake Goddess Manasa

48 x 36 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

I use a predominantly red Kalamkari fabric for two paintings depicting Yamuna, the goddess of a river that runs parallel to the Ganges. The terra cotta color artifacts are very similar to the background color of the fabric. It might be a challenge to use a very limited palette of subtle tone on tone.

River Goddess Yamuna with Attendants I

48 x 44 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric 

The figures stand on swirling forms representing waves in the river water.

River Goddess Yamuna with Attendants II

48 x 44 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric 

Brahmani is the kind and benevolent Divine Mother. She is associated with the Hindu creator god Brahma, and like Brahma is depicted here with four arms and four faces looking in the four directions.

Mother Goddess Brahmani

36 x 48 inches

acrylic on hand blocked fabric

A Lingam is an iconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva, often interpreted as a phallic symbol. The drawing below is based on a Mukhalinga - a lingam with a face (one, four, or five faces).

Five-faced Lingham

26” x 20”

conte and acrylic on paper printed with metallic ink 

The five faces represent Shiva's five aspects that compose the entire universe. Though Shiva is a male deity, the goddess Parvati (Shiva's wife) faces north and represents water. The east face is Mahadeva, representing the earth. The west face is Nandi  Nandi (Shiva's bull) denoting the wind. Bhairava looks south (fire), and a fifth face looking up is (rarely depicted and not shown here) represents the sky.

Thank you for visiting my blog!
All of my paintings and drawings pictured are for sale. Price available upon request. I am able to supply higher resolution images to interested buyers. If inquiring, please leave a comment with your email address. I will immediately contact you and hide your info from public view.

Or email me at Cynthia.S.Hayes (at) gmail (dot) com