Tag: <span>jaali</span>

How to draw? Click here.

My love affair with geometric drawing continues with this recent rendition of a jaali screen with ‘tabla’ (drum) design found in Akbar’s Tomb, Northern India.

Drawing out dual-level patterns is another level of complexity that can be frustrating and satisfying at the same time.  Over time it’s easy to train the eye to see different levels or layers and inscribing that on a 2 dimensional piece of paper using just a compass and straight edge.   Measurements not allowed.  I completed the pencil drawing early May.  And then, as usual, it sat there, unpainted and ignored for months.  Each time I saw it in my unpainted stack I waited for inspiration to come.  I’ve looked at thousands of pictures of patterns and their coloring, or lack of.  So many possibilities!  Choosing colors is the best and most confusing part….there’s a beauty in every color when used creatively.

Then, after a stressful week of turmoil, grief, and exhaustion, I needed to play with my watercolors.  Just watching the water carry the pigment around is meditative and soothing.  No ‘trying’ to “paint a picture”.  Recognizing my turbulent mental state, I decided to limit my palette to only three colors. Structure helps.   However, at the very end of this process/painting I did add those antique gold lines for just a little bling.  Otherwise, it’s all about: Ultramarine Blue,  Yellow-Deep,   and Burnt Sienna  mixed in varying proportions. A lovely neutral palatte that eliminates all that unnecessary picking and choosing of what to dip the brush in….just mix…add water….paint…..repeat…    and there are no freehand or biomorphic swirls here either,  just lines. Follow the lines.   A Mindless, Magical, and mesmerizing meditation to paint.

It is all about the process and breathing thru it.  Yoga & Art…  Within each layer are mistakes, judgements, opinions on how it’s coming.  My attachment to ‘outcome’ rears it’s ugly head at times.  And, then I remember.  The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.  The difficulty lies in when to put the brush down?  When is enough?  There is a line between too little and too much.  Looking for that middle ground where balance and harmony co-exist.  That’s art.

namaste, everyone.   stay safe.

Dharma Geometric Art StudioIFC Watercolors

Drawing lines is (sometimes) easier than writing words. So I’m posting these pictures to show you what I’ve been doing  This video tells the whole story in 30 seconds.

The artist is Richard Henry and I’ve been taking courses at his school since the pandemic locked me down.  There’s something very soothing and fulfilling to drawing lines, straight & curvy.  Using a straight edge and striving for perfection can be easily witnessed.  And, letting go brings joy.   The whole of the process can be, and frequently is a meditation.

This particular geometric pattern falls into the category of 8-fold.   It’s a common pattern seen  and pictured here in an archway at .Humayan’s Tomb,  Delhi, India .

Often, it is used as a pattern for a jaali screen.  Here we use shades/blinds/curtains to adjust the amount of sunlight that enters a space.  In other places……jaali screens.    

This is as far as I’ve gotten.  Soon, it’ll be transfered to watercolor paper and then the fun really starts!

It’s a full moon…….  See the Light.

ps.  see that shaded out shape.  It’s called a tabla.             

Om shanti,

 

Geometric Art Watercolors Yoga