Author: Riya A

In light of a very stressful week for me full of exams and papers, I thought that I would do a short and sweet post today sharing with all of you another incredible artist that I found. Enjoy!

Hannah Jensen is a multidisciplinary artist most well-known for her carved work. She achieves her incredibly unique and bespoke artwork by applying layers of paint to a board before using printmaking carving techniques to create breathtaking renderings. The resulting artwork features images rendered in negative relief that emphasizes tonality between the different layers of paint she uses. Jensen uses anywhere from 40 – 80 layers of paint for each one of her carvings, creating pieces so deeply right in color and texture.

As someone who has dabbled in printmaking,  as shown in the image to the right, and absolutely obsessed with the process, the moment I saw Jensen’s work I was in love. I hope to spread this same beauty and love with all of you! Especially in times such as these where I am sure many of you are stressed and feeling the strains of online classes and COVID-19, I wanted to take a moment to share some art that made me smile. I have linked Hannah Jensen’s Instagram below and some of her incredible work here as well. Please feel free to check her out!

https://www.instagram.com/hannahjensenart/

https://hannahjensen.co.nz/

As always, if anything that I discussed in this post stood out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts.

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/

In honor of National Cancer Prevention Month, I thought that I would take a break from my regularly scheduled program of cultural stories to share a recent piece that I did commemorating one aspect of the difficulties that come with cancer.

For many people, hair can be a large part of their identity, image, and self-expression. Hair has a way of instilling confidence as well as portraying good health and hygiene. According to the Mayo Clinic, “You might not think about how important your hair is until you face losing it. And if you have cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy, the chance of hair loss is very real. Both men and women report hair loss as one of the side effects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.” 

In my recent art piece done in graphite and colored pencil, I wanted to capture this extremely painful aspect of cancer. Titled Stands of Me, the piece reflects on this challenging side effect of cancer treatments, personifying the emotional toll that it can play on anybody facing it. In this piece, I show a woman looking down at a hand full of her fallen out hair with tears streaming from her eyes. Wrapped around her is a pink ribbon symbolizing the universal symbol for breast cancer, adding not only interest to the piece but also charging the true meaning behind it. 

For many, the loss of hair is a symbol to the world that you have cancer. It is a very difficult thing that many people facing cancer have had to deal with. Facing already a physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing condition, changes in appearance due to cancer treatment can further perpetuate loss and pain. I wanted to capture this in my artistic representation of cancer. Though cosmetic, the loss of hair has implications that travel much deeper than the surface. It no longer becomes about appearance. The hair loss is a constant reminder of the internal struggle that so many face. There are many of us with people in our lives who have cancer, and the aspect of hair loss is something so emotional and in and of itself symbolic that I wanted to portray it in a raw way that hopefully strikes a chord in anybody who sees it.

To anybody whose loved ones have or had cancer in any form, I pray for you all and my deepest condolences. Having family struggling with cancer myself, this piece was extremely impactful for me to make. Though one of my simpler pieces, a lot of meaning went into it and I hope that any of you who are reading this felt something different from this week’s post.

As always, if anything that I discussed in this post stood out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts.

References: www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/hair-loss/art-20046920 

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/

“A work of art that did not begin in emotion is not art” ~ Paul Cezanne

The true reason why I have always been drawn to art, regardless of its form, is the depth of emotion that can be delivered. We have all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. For me, this adage is one that I make sure to always keep in mind when I am creating a piece. This is why I have always felt a strong disconnect from abstract, suggestive, and nonobjective modes of art. Rather, I divulge in conceptual art that strikes a different chord in every person.

For me, I feel connected to a creation when I am caught in the moment and experience something so visceral and real that I have to take another look, that I have to stare for just a minute longer. For me, this comes from art that has deep meaning and intent behind it. This pertains to any form of art whether it be music, dance, or painting. Something that is done with intention and feeling, that is something that deserves to be celebrated.

Art needs to be felt, not only seen…

Bête Noire is an original piece of mine done in ink, with dimensions of 8″x 11″. It was my dive into a literal form of expressive art. Dictated by a prompt given to me in my high school art course, I wanted to take my fear of spiders to a different level, a place where the viewer cringes and feels something deep within themselves. My goal in this piece was to not only develop my technical skills but also to create work that can evoke emotion.

My mother hates looking at this drawing and recoils, while my best friend winces but never diverts her gaze. As odd as it may sound, I have never rejoiced so much to have people look away when I showed them my art. How do you feel when you look at the drawing? Do you think that I succeeded in my goal?

As always, if anything that I discussed in this post stood out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts!

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/

5000 years ago, Krishna, whom you have all heard of at this point, lived in a beautiful town called Vrindavan. He descended from Vishnu to cleanse the Earth of all evil. These stories from Krishna’s childhood teach us to be pious, brave, and to stand up for what is right. Enjoy!!

Kaliya was a terrifying, many-headed serpent who was sent away from the mountain of Vishnu. As it turns out, he chose the banks of the Yamuna River near Krishna’s home, Vrindavan.

Kaliya was so venomous that his presence turned the water toxic, causing it to churn and bubble, turning black and killing every flora and fauna. Nobody in Vrindavan dared to visit the river or go near for fear of dying.

One day, Krishna and his friends were playing near the banks of the river. While playing, their ball fell into the river. Krishna jumped into the water after the ball. His friends tried to call after him, warning him about the terrifying serpent.

Krishna ignored all of their warnings and cries, making sure that he could retrieve the ball for his friends. Everybody in the village rushed to the river, terrified for Krishna, but nobody could go into the water.

Under the water, Kaliya attacked Krishna. He tried to dig his fangs into the Krishna and eject him with his poison. But Krishna, being all-powerful dispelled the venom. Kaliya wrapped his body around Krishna and dragged him deeper into the river, trying to crush him. Krishna grew to be giant, forcing his release.

Krishna dragged the serpent to the river surface, started playing his flute, and danced on the head of the monster. He assumed the weight of the entire universe in his lotus feet. Kaliya started to die, vomiting venom and blood. Kaliya’s wives came to Krishna to beg for his life. Krishna granted mercy after Kaliya understood the error of his ways, he begged for forgiveness and left, never tormenting anybody else ever again.

The waters cleared up as Krishna walked through them. Every living thing came back to life, blossoming with the beautiful power of Krishna. I captured this story in a recent piece of mine done in mixed media ranging from ink and colored pencil, for the foreground, to acrylic for the background. I hope you enjoyed this week’s story and art!! As always, if anything that I discussed in this post stood out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts!

References: https://www.tell-a-tale.com/kaliya-daman-krishna-tames-serpent-kaliya-indian-mythological-story/

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/

The thing that I have always loved the most about art is how many forms it can take. Art can be timeless, shifting, ever-adapting. Today, I learned about another form of art, an ancient Indian method of adornment, a mode that I found was incredibly cathartic and peaceful to create.

In the Hindu culture, today is Lori, a festival marking the end of the winter season in India and bringing in the new year. Traditionally, during this holiday, homes and temples are decorated with beautiful mandalas on the pavement and tiled floors called Rangoli. This art form is traditionally created using materials such as colored rice, colored sand, quartz powder, flower petals, and colored rocks. Generally, natural and pure products are used to create these beautiful designs. Today, I used a paste made by mixing rice flour and water to create a bright white rangoli design on the tiled floor of my local temple.

The ancient Hindu texts explain that families should wake up every morning to wash the pavement in front of their homes and adorn the ground with rangoli, welcoming the new day and good fortune. This is still done in India today. The purpose of rangoli is to bring strength, good luck, and generosity. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore, and practices that are unique to different regions. Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, or floral designs, but they can also be very elaborate designs created by numerous people.

The type of rangoli that I did is called Kolum Rangoli, a type of design that is purely white without the colors that are generally associated with the art form. I’ve shown a picture of my first ever attempt at rangoli on the side and a few other designs I thought up as well. I think that it turned out pretty well! What do you think?

I will always love art for its ability to be so expressive and powerful, effective, and multi-faceted. Today I learned about a new art form, something that I knew existed but never partook in until now. I encourage everyone to try new forms of art without any expectations or preconceived notions. You may be surprised by the result…

As always, if anything that I discussed in this post stood out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts! I hope you enjoyed this week’s look into the breadth of art! Looking forward to next Sunday.

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! After my two week hiatus, I decided to provide a quick update and story before the start of the new semester. I have a few new pieces in the work that I look forward to sharing with you all in the coming weeks. In this post, I wanted to share another tale…

Now that I have told you a few stories, I’m going to share something much greater and more beautiful than anything you have ever heard before.  The proper way to pronounce it is Radha and Krishna; however, because they are just so deeply in love, their names are often combined into one. Incredible. I know. 

Radha and Krishna were one soul, soulmates if you may. When Krishna was young, he would sit under the Banyan Tree and play his flute for the grazing cows. When Krishna played the flute, everyone and everything was put in a trance. All of the women would stop what they were doing, find Krishna, and start dancing around him in his love. Thousands of girls would run up to Krishna while he played the flute, trying to woo him.

He was the best-looking man in the world.  He had monsoon-blue skin, almond-shaped eyes, lotus-pink lips, curly black hair, a chiseled body, and a few peacock feathers in his hair to tie up the look. Krishna was also very naughty. He would flirt back with the girls and fulfill their desires. However, one girl, Radha, truly captivated him.  The whole universe yearned for Krishna but he yearned for Radha.  She was gorgeous, she had the purest heart, and the way she danced when he played the flute put him in a trance.

The problem was that Radha was married.  The worst barrier that could have risen! She tried to submerge any feelings for Krishna and love her husband but it was no use.  Eventually, she accepted her devotion to Krishna. She thought about Krishna every second of the day. However, Krishna was a King and had duties to fulfill so he was never able to marry Radha.

Radha and Krishna’s love wasn’t about being married, it was about being completely connected. They thought about each other every moment of their lives that they became one being in two bodies.  Whenever you hear the flute play or see a dance, Radha and Krishna are there invisibly enjoying themselves, too.  You cannot say Krishna without saying Radha, and you cannot say Radha without thinking of Krishna. Any picture you see of Krishna will never be complete without Radha.  Their love is an undying flame that will continue to burn.

So, as always, if anything that I discussed in this post stands out or if any questions arise please feel free to comment and share your thoughts! I hope you enjoyed this week’s story! Looking forward to next Sunday.

~ Riya

Personal website:   https://riyarts.weebly.com/