Here's to Being Spontaneous!

So, after months of being away I've finally been able to paint again, so here's something I threw together. Basically, I tried my hand at something more abstract (I think I had some Pollock on my mind) and this came out.

Bathing Elephant Calf

Acrylic on canvas. The background is a mixture of pthalo blue, ultramarine, cobalt blue, and cerulean blue, with a hint of black. I wanted to get a dark velvety look for the base, and then i splattered it with gold paint. Over that is just a few simple brushstrokes to indicate the elephant. I chose this electric blue simply because, well, I love blue! The squirting water effect was achieved by putting a drip of very watery paint and then blowing so it spreads out (thank you Sanatan for your help with that). Very skilled technique, I know. A few more blue splatters, a bit of white for the eye, and voila! A fun painting completed :D

Enjoy.

New Painting!

After about a year I finally started painting again. It seems I took a break for a while to work on my drawing and sketching skills, producing artworks on paper using pencils and inks. I decided it was time to get back to paint on canvas and borrowed an easel from my future mother-in-law (who happens to be a wonderful artist!).

I began work on this miniature painting a few weeks ago and took photos of my progress as I went along. This is really fun because I get to see the development of my painting afterwards.

I started by applying a wash of reddish-brown acrylic paint on the canvas, to give the painting a warm undertone. Then I drew a rough outline with paint of what I wanted the painting to look like, as shown below.


After that, I began blocking in the background colours. I find it is best to begin with the background and then work towards the foreground of your painting, that way you give a good amount of attention to the background without dismissing it. I painted the sky, outlined some clouds, made a reflection on the river,and used a toothbrush to spray some paint on the ground to create "sand".


I then started working on the foliage, using blobs of grey-green for leaves. I also developed the sky and sun, using orange, yellow, and red to create a sunset. And I created my horizon on the other side of the river bank.


After I was satisfied with my sky I developed the trees and plants a bit more, and got to work on the under painting of the figures. I used this method of working from "back to front" in order to establish depth. The sky is behind the trees, which are behind the figures, everything is overlapping.


Then I got to work on the details of their faces and skin, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create depth. All the while working to enhance the background as well.


Then I began working on giving depth and detail to their clothes and jewellery, still working on their skin and the background all the time. For the flowers I paint white underneath before adding the pink, this helps the colours pop out from the background.


Finally I added detail to their clothes and jewellery, painted the finishing touches on the flowers and leaves, and signed my name. Here is the completed painting.

Radha-Shyamasundar
by Radhika Bianchi, 2009

Dance as a Form of Worship

Dance is an exquisite art portrayed through music and movement. It is a very involved form of expression which uses the heart, mind, body, and senses; and in the case of Vedic dance- the soul.
In India dance is a way of worshipping God. The dance is treated like an offering to God and the movements are like prayers to please the Lord. There are other dances that are more like dance-dramas, where the actors or dancers re-enact the pastimes and stories of the various gods.

There are several types of traditional dance offerings that come from different parts of India, such as Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Sattriya, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, and Kathakali.


Odissi

Odissi (oh-di-see) comes from the state of Orissa, in eastern India by the Bay of Bengal. It is a very ancient dance form that was traditionally performed in the temples of Vishnu by the devdasis (women who would spend their entire lives in the temple serving the Lord with devotional dance offerings). There is evidence of the antiquity of Odissi on the ancient temples in Orissa, where many carvings depict the dancers in various traditional Odissi poses.
The costume is unique to other Indian dances in that the jewellery is almost always silver, instead of gold, and the female dancers wear crowns of white flowers in their hair, and the sarees are cotton handloom in the traditional Orissan style. This dance is gorgeously graceful. A good Odissi performance will take the audience's breath away with it's beauty and elegance.
Watch an Odissi performance.

Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam (ba-raat-nat-yum) comes from the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. This dance is characterized by elaborate hand gestures called mudras, fast-pace movement, and stamping of the feet. The costumes are traditionally made of colourful silk sarees with elaborate borders. This dance is performed by both men and women, although women tend to dominate it.
Like Odissi, Bharatanatyam is a dance of devotion and it was originally performed exclusively in the temples as an offering to Vishnu. Over time the dance moved out of the temple halls and into the stages of the wealthy upper class of India.
Watch a Bharatanatyam performance.

Manipuri

Manipuri (maa-nee-poo-ree) comes from the state of Manipur in far east India. Manipuri dance is very sweet and graceful, and because Manipur is so close to China the dance has a hint of oriental style to it. The dancers wear elaborate costumes which are famous for the wide tube-like skirts and white veils. Most of the movement is in the hands and it is graceful like a flowing river.
Manipuri dance usually depicts Krishna and the gopis dancing together in the moonlight. This dance is called the Rasa Leela and is the most popular piece in Manipuri dance theatre.
See Manipuri dancing.

Sattriya

Sattriya is a dance from the state of Assam, in far east India. I don't know much about this dance form, in fact I only heard of it when I started writing this article! But I had to include it because it is one of the 8 classical Indian dances, and after watching a few videos I decided I like it.
Sattriya dancers wear traditional Assamese outfits with colourful prints and designs. The movement of the dance is soft and graceful, with many hand gestures and no stamping. It is a very elegant and gentle form of dance.
Watch a Sattriya performance.

Kathak

Kathak (kaa-tuck) comes from northern India. Kathak dance is different from the other types of dance beacause it has both Hindu and Muslim influences. Some say that the style of dance was a fusion of Indian and Persian culture and this is evident in the costume. Female Kathak dancers generally wear long flowing skirts over trousers and kamis tops, which are typical of Muslim outfits. The style of this dance has a lot of stamping with loud bells on the feet and and many pirouettes and spins. Kathak is especially famous for its spins. The dance is very fast pace and energetic. When the dancers spin their skirts flare out beautifully. A good Kathak dance is quite a spectacle.
Watch a Kathak performance.


Mohiniattam

Mohiniattam (mo-hee-nee-ah-tum) comes from the state of Kerala in south-west India. This dance is traditionally performed by women wearing beautiful white sarees with ornate gold borders. The costume is unique in that the women always wear their hair in a large bun to the side of their head.
Mohiniattam means "dance of the enchantress". It is given this name because the dance is inspired by the goddess Mohini, an avatar of Vishnu, who used her charms to enchant the demons and keep them away from the nectar of immortality. Therefore, the Mohiniattam style is identified by the slow, seductive movement of the hips and upper body, sweet smiling, and coy movements of the eyes.
Watch a Mohiniattam performance.

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi (koo-chee-pu-dee) comes from the state of Andhra Pradesh in south-east India. The dance costume is very similar to that of Bharatanatyam, and the dancers are usually tall and slender (compared to Odissi dancers). The movements are quick and rounded. Kuchipudi is very unique in that the dancers sometimes dance on brass plates, balancing on the raised edges.
Kuchipudi also has devotional roots and is something of a dance-drama. The dancers perform tales of Shiva, Krishna, etc. with dramatic expressions and movements.
Watch a Kuchipudi performance.

Kathakali

Kathakali (kaa-ta-kaa-lee) also comes from Kerala in south-west India. Kathakali is more of a drama than a dance, but is performed to music and rhythm. The Kathakali costume is very colourful; the actors paint their faces in bright colours, wear large heavy headresses, and huge fluffy dresses. The actors are usually men.
Kathakali performances re-enact stories like the Ramayana, Krishna Leela, and tales of various gods and goddesses.
Watch a Kathakali performance.


There are other types of dance that sprout from India, many having roots from vedic literature.

Apsaras

Apsaras are celestial nymphs who dance in the court Indra, the King of Heaven. They are famous for their talent and extraordinary beauty.
In Cambodia and parts of Indonesia there are women called Apsaras who are trained to dance gracefully and beautifully. They wear gorgeous crowns and slim, body-fitting dresses with gorgeous ornaments and flowers in their hair. This type of dance is very soft and gentle, most of the movement is in the hands. There is absolutely no stamping feet and jumping around, the girls remain poised throughout the dance.
Watch the Apsaras performing.


The Rasa Leela

The Rasa Leela is a dance which was originally performed by Krishna and the beautiful gopis of Vraja about 3000 years BC. This is the most famous dance in all of India and different variations of it are performed by the different schools of dance. Folk dancers generally perform the Rasa Leela using wooden sticks and tapping them together. This is a very sweet and simple dance, and became famous worldwide due to the film Lagaan, which has a Rasa Leela stick dance scene.
Watch the Kuchipudi version of Rasa Leela.


One of my drawings, the painting of the dancer above is also done by me.

Dancer in Vrindavan

*All photos are taken by Sanatan John Howchin.

The Amazing Amar Chitra Katha Comics

Amar Chitra Katha is a company that publishes comic books about Indian legends, history, folktales and fables. The artists and writers take pains to be as accurate as possible, and stay true to the stories and histories of India's magnificent past. For decades it has entertained and educated children (and adults) all over India. Now, with the invention of the internet, it is much easier to distribute these wonderful books worldwide.


When I was a child I collected Amar Chitra Katha comic books. I had quite a big collection by the time i was twelve, and I loved these books so much I could read every book over and over again. I used to look at every picture and I would think that someday I would be able to draw like that. My style of art is really inspired by these comic books.
To be honest, it was by reading these comics that I learned many of the stories about Krishna and his associates. Amar Chitra Katha have a vast collection of stories from India's ancient past, and have even made comic book versions of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita.
It was by reading Amar Chitra Katha that I learned about the descent of the Ganga, the story of how Parvati won Shiva's heart, how Ganesha appeared, the story of Mirabai, how the Pandavas won back their kindgom, and many other tales about India's heroes.

Unfortunately I lost all my books when I moved, but I've started my collection up again. At the moment I only have 6 Amar Chitra Katha comics:

• Mirabai: The story of the princess who became a saint and could not be stopped from worshipping her beloved Krishna.

• Krishna and Rukmini: The story of how Krishna rescued a princess from a horrible marriage and took her for his own (very romantic).

• Anirudha: The story of Krishna's grandson and a great battle that began as a result of his love for the beautiful princess Usha.

• Ganga: The story of the Goddess Ganga and how she came to earth.

• The Ramayana: A comic book version of Valmiki's great epic.

• Heroes from the Mahabharata: A collection of tales about certain individual heroes who participated in India's great epic battle at Kurukshetra.
  

It's not so easy to get these books in the west. I've only ever seen them for sale either in select Indian shops or on the web. But you can get them in almost any bookshop in India.
These books are really great. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to know a little more about the stories of ancient India in a fun, easy-to-read way. And of course, the illustrations are fabuloso!


Click here to get a collection of Amar Chitra Katha on amazon.com

A Poem and a Painting

This is a poem I wrote describing Krishna. It is written from the perspective of his mother, Yasoda. Dusk has fallen and Krishna still has not returned from the pastures, so Yasoda becomes anxious and begins to ask of Krishna's whereabouts, describing Him to everyone including the plants and animals.

Krishna

I’m looking for a little boy.
Have you seen him today?
His eyes are bright and filled with joy,
They look just like a summer’s day.

His skin is blackish, tinged with blue,
A monsoon cloud up in the sky.
Soft lips display a reddish hue
And on his bamboo flute they lie.


With peacock feathers in his bun,
And pearls adorn his long black curls.
His smile is brighter than the sun,
It steals the hearts of all the girls.

A garland swings around his neck
With flowers fragrant and sweet.
With gold and jewels he is bedecked,
And tinkling bells around his feet.


His cheeks are pinkish, soft and round
Like roses blooming in the spring.
With lotus eyes so deep and brown
He makes the hearts of Vraja sing.

His face is bright like the full moon,
Framed by earrings that glisten.
When on his flute he plays a tune
Even the birds sit still and listen.

Who is Radha?

Srimati Radharani, or Radha as she is more affectionately called, is the ideal woman, and Krishna's most beloved consort. She is loved and revered by many devotees all over the world. In fact, she is so important that whenever people say the names of Radha and Krishna, Radha always comes first. It is said that if one wants to get to Krishna, one must seek the blessings of Radha first.


A Little Bit about Radha's Background

Radha is the Goddess of Fortune. Laxmi, Sita, and all other goddesses are expansions of her. She lived in the beautiful hills of Varshana, in the land of Vraja. Millions go to her temple in Varshana annually to pay her respect. Her father is Vrishabhanu, the king of Varshana, and her mother is Kirtida, the Queen. Radha has a brother named Sridham and a younger sister named Ananga Manjari.

Even though Radha and her family are cowherds they are very wealthy. In vedic times the cow is given much respect, and much wealth in the form of milk, butter, cheese, ghee, and yogurt is traded for silks, gold, and luxurious items. Therefore, though Radha is a milkmaid, she is a princess and wears beautiful silk clothing, precious gems and gold jewellery, and is always decorated with gorgeous flowers, being the sweet country girl that she is.

Above is a one of my drawings of Radha balancing a pot of yogurt on her head (as is the tradition with the milkmaids of India) and the pot is decorated with brightly coloured paint. Radha is decorated with bangles, gold earrings, a nosering, a tika (heapiece), a jewelled belt, choker necklace, and beautiful flowers in her hair. Her forehead is decorated with a bindi and her hands are painted with alta (red dye). She is wearing a silk outfit with traditional patterns and prints.

Radha is the foremost of the gopis, and she has 8 main gopi friends who always do whatever they can to ensure that Radha is united with Krishna. These gopis are named Lalita, Vishaka, Champakalata, Indulekha, Chitra Devi, Ranga Devi, Tungavidya, and Sudevi. They all live near Varshana and are very dear to Radha.


Radha's Divine Birth in this World

Radha was born in Varshana or Rawal, just south of Delhi, India. Her birthday is celebrated by millions all over the world and is called Radhastami. This day usually falls sometime in September, but because the vedic calendar follows the moon instead of the sun the date is variable.

As the story goes, when Radha was born she could not open her eyes. When the people of Braja were invited to the celebration of her birth they saw the beautiful golden-complexioned baby girl. Baby Krishna was also brought to the celebration and when he approached Radha she suddenly opened up her eyes and looked at him. Radha refused to open her eyes because the first person she wanted to see was Krishna, and as soon as he was close enough she opened up her gorgeous lotus-like eyes.

Radha's beautiful lotus eyes always recieve much praise. Radha's entire body is incredibly beautiful, and she is perfect in every way. Her skin is like molten gold, her lips are reddish and lush, her hair is thick and silky, her waist is small and her hips are round and perfectly curved. When she walks the sounds of tinkling ankle bells fill the air and her gorgeous hips sway to and fro. She is the epitome of beauty.

Here is a pencil drawing I have done of Radha and Krishna in the forest. She's being coy :)



The Transcendental Qualities of Srimati Radharani

Radha has many many transcendental qualities, and she has numerous talents. There are 25 top transcendental qualities, some of which are:

• She is sweetness personified
• She is always brightly smiling
• She is expert in the art of singing
• She is expert in presenting feminine attractions
• She can speak very nicely and sweetly
• She is transcendentally cunning
• She is situated on the highest devotional platform
• She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees
• She always keeps Krishna under Her control

Radha can also be quite fiesty and when she has a quarrel or argument with Krishna she becomes fiery and hot-tempered. When Radha becomes angry Krishna becomes appreciative of her gorgeous expressive eyebrows. Even in a bad mood Radha is still incredibly beautiful. These quarrels are part of the nectar of Radha and Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavan.

Radha has many talents, some of which are:

• She is an incredible cook.
• She is expert at arranging flowers and making flower garlands.
• She is a talented musician and singer.
• She's an amazing dancer.
• She is clever and quick-witted.
• And she knows how to please her beloved Krishna.

The Glorious Beauty of Srimati Radharani

This is a painting of Radha I did using acrylics on canvas. It is part of a set, the other being a painting of Krishna looking towards the right at Radha. I consider this one of my best paintings, and I love Radha so very much.
Some people look up to some celebrity or famous humanitarian for inspiration, and that's fine, but to me Radha is the ultimate idol. No one is better than her.

All glories to Srimati Radharani!

More pictures of Radha

The Beginning

Hello, and welcome to my blog!

I think since this is all about my "art and mind" I should begin with some of my artwork and what its all about.
I am an artist and I paint all kinds of different things, but my heart will always be with Radha and Krishna: the most beautiful, most divine couple in the universe and beyond.

Let me explain. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (aka God) and is usually associated with the "Hindu" (more specifically Vaishnava) tradition. He has many names and many incarnations: Vishnu, Rama, Buddha, Balaji, Govinda, Jagannatha etc etc. Krishna means "the all attractive one" in sanskrit. All over India, and now in many countries all over the world, Krishna is worshipped lovingly and devotedly in His many forms.

Radha is Krishna's divine energy, or His female counterpart. She also has many forms and incarnations, like Lakshmi and Sita. Radha and Krishna are completely in love and devoted to each other, and this love is more beautiful and true than anything else in the world. It is this love that has me completely enchanted, and this is why I must always paint and draw Radha and Krishna in their many different forms.

So, that's my really brief intro, but I will be writing lots more about this as I go along. I will also share all the beautiful stories I know about Radha and Krishna so I can help others understand why I love them so much.
I will also be writing about lots of other things that may or may not relate to this subject, whatever is on my mind at the time. Hopefully someone will find this interesting.

Okay, now that I've done that little intro I'll show you some of my artwork.


Krishna Plays His Flute for Radha




Here are two verses from the Brahma Samhita (the song Brahma sang when he saw the beauty of the spiritual world: the world of Krishna) describing Krishna (Govinda).

Text 30

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids."

Text 31

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest."

More Brahma Samhita



As you can see, I've done my best to follow the scipture and paint Krishna exactly how Brahma describes. In this painting I've portrayed Krishna in a relaxed position, leaning against a tree by the banks of the river Yamuna (more on her later). Radha is sitting opposite Him, listening intently and captivated by the beauty of Her beloved.

It is said in the Krishna Book (tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, a vedic text), that when Krishna played His flute all the animals, trees, and creatures would stop moving and just listen in bliss. When the gopis (cowherd girls) would hear the sound of Krishna's flute their hearts would melt and they would stop all other activities just to listen to the wonderful music. The sound of Krishna's flute would drive them mad and they would run away from their homes in search of Krishna.

Such was the nectar of Krishna's pastimes.