Well, life took an unexpected turn. I started painting faces on little fridge magnets for a bit of fun and the next thing I know, I’m off on a goddess transcription portrait project. All thanks to social media postings, chit chat and my long-standing friend Shilpa. Shilpa, who lives in India, looks like a Matisse painting and has made a documentary about goddesses - has been the perfect muse, model and partner in play.
Shilpa and I started by compiling a shared album of goddess pictures and then we talked about them, which ones we liked and why. What they represented. We chose Kali as the most interesting goddess to channel, in a portrait of a strong woman but we’ve been on a merry dance and we’ve visited lots of gods and goddesses along the way.
I like the idea of lending character to a portrait like this. Giving modern faces, modern people a different context - referencing myths and stories, adding an element of fancy dress, magic - escapism.
I love the vibrant colours and the mixture of decoration and minimalism in the Indian paintings and tapestries. These bold, bright colours feel like the perfect antidote for grey, wintery, lockdown London. I’ve created a thumbnail gallery below of old Indian art, photos of Shilpa and my sketches of both. I have three finished canvases of Shilpa now and lots of sketches, exploring different aspects of her. This is the story so far.
I hope you enjoy our flavours of India. Cx
