Eye drawing, symbolism.

Hello, just popping in for a bit to share some line art I made the other day in my sketch pad. Lately, I've been thinking about the eye,  its shape, and symbolism. Drawing this is adding a new element to my art. Will this recur? I don't know, but the eye is certainly intriguing me a lot. 

After I made this line art, I went looking for more information on the internet and I stumbled upon a religious history expert Arnie Wiig (pity he has only a few English videos). Now for me I draw/ sketch first, then read into its meaning as I process the art work. I realised after hearing his video, presentation that I had included symbols of sacred geometry.  For e.g: the ancient symbol for the sun is a circle with a dot within, which looks so much like a pupil of an eye, and the ancient Egyptian God Horus was also depicted by an eye. (Forgive me if I make any mistakes here as I'm recalling from memory and more so I'm no history expert, just an artist trying to make sense of her art.)

The triangle is alsoaalso interesting symbol, it's three sides, points representing the holy trinity which is found in many cultures and religions, in Hinduism we have  Brahma, VishnuaVishnu  Mahesh, in Christianity there is the father, son and the Holy Spirit, and in Norse mythology - Odin, Vili and Ve.

In everyday context too, when weswe to someone proper eye contact is so important, it is like peering into one's mind or consciousness. 

Then there is the third eye, the eye that sees from within.

 This is just the tip of the iceberg,  and there's plenty more to think over a cup of tea, sketchpad and a pen in hand. If you know of any site I can read more on please do recommend.

Hope you are doing well as we slowly come out of this pandemic and start living a new normal. 

Bye for now!

Sabrina.

From Seed to Enlightenment.

Today I'm sharing a pencili art-work I made last  year, it  was exhibited in the Annual exhibition of Artists'
Centre in Mumbai, 2017 (27 × 38 cms).

 Recently, I've been enjoying working in a smaller format,  I wanted to try the medium of
Pencil  colours which I've used here. The colouring  process  is slow as you work with the tip of the pencil,
layering in the colour, the final result is a lovely, powdery finish, with the white and the grains of the paper
showing through.


The use of the lotus and myself in meditation comes from my practise of Vipassana, a form of Buddhist meditation,
which anyone can do and is open to all. In most images of deities, Buddha and Bodhisattvas, both  Hindu and Buddhist
you will find they are seated on a fully  bloomed lotus.
For me, the novice who has just begun on the path or taken a few steps, I find the lotus pod, holds great meaning,
first of all I love its shape, round and holding many seeds, so much potential. Recently, it has become a more common
motif in my drawings, and other works. Hence, I find it is a more appropriate symbol here.

The pod blooms into a lotus pod, resting in the meditator's hand,  when watered with meditation and teachings.  Above looms
 the lotus, a symbolic aspiration of any practioner~ nirvana/nibbana/ enlightenment.

The moon is something I like to watch and shows the passage of time, witness to the meditator's journey, which is sometimes
smooth and sometimes rough.


Hope you enjoy this little pencil work.

Do share your thoughts below in the comments.
For any inquiries  please email me.

Have a good week !

~

Mandala sketch ~ Guru Purnima

After returning from a transformative ten day vipassana course at Igatpuri in 2011, I spontaneously drew the above mandala which I have chosen to share in my first post. 

At Dhammagiri, the vipassana centre, attached to the dhamma hall, are individual cells for meditation. Architecturally the roof of each cell is shaped like a lotus petal, the plan of the dhamma hall is circular, and the rows of cells rise in a mound towards the golden dome of the Pagoda. Even now I can hear the wind-bells of its finial gently tinkling in the breeze, the only sound heard in the noble silence maintained during the course.


For a while now I have meaning to have a site where I can share my art, my thought processes, sketches, etc. The last two years were busy on the home front with the birth of my daughter, Mila Norzom. As all parents of new born babies and toddlers know, having a child completely changes your life...for the better, all my creativity was channeled into supporting a new life and taking care of my family. But more on that in another post on my other blog Turquoise Dreams. This year I have finally picked up my brushes and art materials and I'm ready to expand my creativity :)


Returning to vipassana, Guru Purnima is on the 31st of July and there will a one day sitting at the Global Pagoda, Gorai, I won't be attending the one day course,  I only make mention of it, as it is such an auspicious day to remember one's teachers, whether they taught you in school or in college or whether they are your spiritual guides, meditation teachers, all who have helped you along the way and to offer gratitude to them on this day. Just remembering my teachers, especially late S.N.Goenkji, the vipassana teacher and dearest Mrs.Sharda Sanghvi, Director of V.R.I (Vipassana Research Institute) whom we addressed as Sanghvi ma'm, it was she who convinced me to study Pali. She passed away quite unexpectedly and left a void in our hearts. It is quite extraordinary to think that she passed away during the midst of a long vipassana course! It is thanks to her that I joined the Pali diploma course at Somaiya.  In the few years I knew her she touched my life and inspired me to learn Buddha's teachings while also growing in meditation.

Much metta, to all teachers on this occassion of Guru Purnima.

Love & light.