Village Scene in Jharkhand

Another throwback memory of a village scene from Jharkhand during our visit to India in December 2016. This art shows life in a typical village in Jharkhand. The women like to decorate the outer walls of their mud hut with designs and figures using colored pigments derived from natural plant-based sources. The villagers love nature, wildlife and live a very simplistic life.

This artwork was inspired by tribal art displayed at Audrey House in Ranchi and was done on 8.5 by 11 inches pastel paper using a micron black pen, black graphite pencil, and pastels.

A Baul Village

 

The above oil painting on a 12 by 16 inches canvas is a throwback memory from 2008 when I had the opportunity to visit a Baul village in Shantiniketan in West Bengal, India. The painting depicts a typical Baul hut made with clay and a thatched roof. The walls were painted in a medium yellow color and had some graffiti writings in Bengali. I also got the opportunity to meet with some of the Bauls and hear their songs while visiting them. 

Bauls as some of you may not know are wandering minstrels from Bengal. They wear a distinctive saffron-colored robe holding a single-stringed instrument called Ektara. Their music is mystical and heartfelt and they wander from one place to another singing for people believing in the simplicity of life and love. Their earnings are mostly from alms received by the villagers and common folks.

A Basket of Flowers

 Knife painting with acrylics on 16" by 20" canvas. This was my last painting of 2020.