Maa Durga

''Maa Durga''

Pencil on acid-free, medium surface, heavyweight (150g/sqm.) paper

Two A3 sheets combined

The quintessential 'Tiya-pakhi' or parakeet sits in the upper left corner.

A huge marigold flower gives him company.

The ''Laal-jhuti kakatua'' or the red-tufted-cuckattoo adorns the upper right corner.

He sits next to another exotic-elaborate-fragrant flower.

My first elaborate Durga drawing could not be complete without the fish motifs!

After all, just as Bengalies cannot do without their adoration for Maa Durga,

they are just as incomplete without their sweets and fish-curries.

So, for the lower corners, I chose the fish motifs, also to signify the

all encompassing presence of Durga maa in the world that we live in.

Durga puja is a time when everything around is in celebration!

Finally, a very interesting detail, for me at least.

Vineeta from Artnilght had made this post in April about the lions of Mehrangad Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The photographs she posted stayed with me, in fact, I had commented on that post that when I draw Lions, I will use these as my references,

they are so wonderfully folk and rich in detail.

So, there you go, my inspiration for Maa Durgadevi's Lion!

I am happy with this.

Now, I am tempted to try to colour the white background with acrylics

and see how the different mediums, namely, pencil and acrylic paints, look against each other.

I am a little anxious that this experiment may spoil the pristine quality about this sketch.

Do you think I should try that or just stop here?

Finally , I have to start rendering this in canvas.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on the Maa Lokkhi post. I really enjoy reading your feedbacks and consider myself lucky for the fact that inspite of my irregularity in posting of late, you guys have been patient with me and came back to write when I finally did.

Have a great weekend everyone!