My first creation in Atlanta

In Chennai getting the required resources are very easy and affordable. But over here in Atlanta its so difficult to pursue our interests specially with a single income. Still I could not leave it as I have much more time than I used to have before. I went to Michaels to get the paint and glass. Here there is not chance of getting the design in print and a proper glass liner was much more difficult to get. So I got a marker and drew the entire design and painted it.

Dasavatharam

Now that Lord Balaji was done, I had picturised a place in our lobby where my parents can hang him. But the problem was that the wall was too big and he would not look so great on his own. So another idea struck me. I thought I would do the entire Dasavatharam and hang them surrounding Lord Venkateshwara. Now that is quite a bit of challenge. Because we don’t get printed dasavatharam designs so I kept searching the internet for designs that I could use to draw into the glass using liner. I found all ten and started with them one by one. My mom wanted it done before the navarathri so that she could show her daughter’s creations with pride to whoever came home for golu.

Tirupathi Balaji

Lord Venkateshwara is my kula dhaiavam (family deity). I have a special affinity towards Lord Balaji and would love to go to tirupathi whenever I get a chance. I wanted to do a painting for my mom and dad and who else would be better than Lord Venki himself. So there I go off again with my painting spree and completed Lord Balaji reverse glass.

Krishna Premi

Like so many people in this world I love Lord Krishna. Just looking at his photos or paintings brings atmost peace to my mind that I have given up trying to comprehend the fact. Of my first two paintings I gave one to my brother and the other to my sister-in-law. Now something kept telling me that I had to do a painting of Aalelai Krishna next. But I am just at the beginning stage so how would I be able to draw so many intricate designs in glass liner. Then I went to t.nagar to my usual shop where I hunt for my resources and found him just sitting there waiting for me to come and take him. So I brought him home and started with my painting. I was in my mother’s place for few days then and was to go back to my in-laws before Krishana Jayanathi. This was my first Gokulashtami after marriage and I wanted to complete my aalelai Krishnan by then so that we could do pooja for him. Office was specially hectic that week but I came home so excited just to see his face and complete him that I did not feel the strain at all. Then within three days he was completed and looked so naughty and happy that I decided that I cannot let anyone else have it. He is mine and mine only. So after keeping him in pooja, I took him to Atlanta with me when I came. He is still here with me to cherish and enjoy. My dearest attai (aunt) also loves Krishna so I made her a similar one and gave it to her before I came here. But since that was my fourth one, he is much more charming, rich and glittering that mine. But its alright. Its not fair to ask for everything in life right!! 

Hands begin to Entertain the eyes

As a little girl, I used to draw sometimes. It was a moment of satisfaction and pleasure when I saw the completed drawings. I made greeting cards out of them or gave it to whoever I liked or stuck them in my cupboard. These drawings were cartoon characters like Winnie the pooh, 101 dalmations, chip and dale, the famous Mickey mouse and Donald duck, etc. As I started to grow and step into the whirlpool of Maths, Physics and Chemistry I could not afford to spend more time with Mickey and Donald and had to keep a full stop. Later after I finished my college and started to work, I found out something very interesting. It all started as a means to vent out my anger and frustration that you get so often in a software job but what do you know I seemed to like it more by the passing second. I had started to paint.

Now there are so many avenues and types in painting. What I do is the Reverse Glass Painting. I do it in two ways. I either get the printed reverse glass in the desired size and I paint. Or I mirror image of outlines, sketch them onto the glass using a glass liner and paint. However I do it, I find myself totally lost into it until my painting is done. The enthusiasm of creating a gift with your own hands and giving to those you love can never be explained. The power of creativity is such that it doubles when more and more people see and appreciate your work. Hence began my interest in doing reverse glass paintings.

The first few reverse glass paintings that I made are with printed designs.

1. Maapillai Vinayagar
2. Yashodha Krishna