Power of Chhota Bheem

"Chhota Bheem" character is an unusual inspiration for the kids today. If you are surrounded by kids in the age group of 2-5 years old, I can bet you can always strike a conversation with them regarding Chhota Bheem. The kids can recall the stories related to him in daily life and love this icon of theirs. Birthday parties themes, door stickers, and merchandise are some of the ways the kids patronize this special character in their life.

Chhota Bheem

During my childhood days, I cherished a secret dream of becoming a cartoonist since I was, and I am still, extremely fond of cartoons. I like to update myself regularly with the latest popular cartoons. The best part about the Chhota Bheem story is that it is depicted in the backdrop of Indian village Dholakpur with modern outlook and right morals which really helps the child imbibe certain morals unconsciously. 

This one is dedicated to my three and half year old niece who is a die hard fan of Chhota Bheem!

Blue Pottery Fascination

I have been extremely fond of blue pottery. I already possess collection of blue pottery from Jaipur and to add to the collection came the Chinese blue  pottery which I recently got during a month long trip to China last month. Well another reason for my absence on my blog besides the unavailability of internet while travelling was shopping! My fetish for tea set collection got boosted in the midst of Chinese ceramics.

Blue and white porcelain dates back to several centuries ago in China when there was a mass production during Yuan Dynasty which passed down to several dynasties in succession. The origin of blue pottery was an amalgamation of Chinese and Islamic trades. The expensive Cobalt blue exported from Persia and the translucent Chinese white porcelain gave rise to excellent quality blue and white wares. The motifs were highly inspired by Chinese dynasties and also Islamic culture. It originated at Jingdezhen centuries back in China and till this day it witnesses the superior quality production of the exquisite blue and white wares. After firing in the kiln at suitable temperature, the decoration is either by hand, by stencilling or transfer printing and other mediums.

The  art  of  glazed  blue  pottery  came  to  India  through  Persia. Rajasthan being the hub of blue pottery, Jaipur  became  a flourishing  center for  blue pottery in the mid 19th century. These days of course blue pottery is available everywhere but the exclusive blue pottery wares found in museums and certain specimens at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur displays fine art and cultural Indian history which is embezzling.

My quest for knowledge about Indian art and culture continues while I pay a humble tribute to discoverers and makers of blue pottery through my artwork.

Blue and White Pottery

My Pets Party

 I really loved my pet dog who passed away a year ago. She had a couple of friends in my neighbourhood and I used to organize pet parties' for her and her friends so that they don't miss out any fun in their life. She was a well groomed pet with a caring attitude. I used to brush her hair and tie ribbons...she was a graceful gurl with a high style quotient and made sure she had all the fancy accessories as she loved wearing all of them...:)

Pets Party

The get together with other pets was always a memorable one with their favourite dishes like biscuits, milk in tea pots served in giant tea cups, sugar free cakes and the list was endless.

My painting is a tribute to her remembering all the great parties and fun! 

Vintage Tea Party

Who would not endorse "Apne Ghar ki Chai" if you are a tea lover to the core? Its fascinating that even the use of exactly same ingredients in the tea brings out completely different flavours and aroma at different households. The level of customization for preparing a simple cuppa tea, comprising of four major components - water, milk, tea leaves and sugar differs for every household. And, its almost a family tradition to literally pass the tea recipe to the next generation to keep the same 'family tea taste' alive.

Vintage Tea Party

Besides enjoying the flavours of tea, I also believe in having the right company and/or perfect ambience. My favourite vintage tea set collection helps me create an ambience which is truly enduring. My vintage tea party theme has become immensely popular amongst my friends' circle. Actually, the tradition of high tea goes back to the 19th century British style of convening mid-afternoon tea and snacks. It may be a fancy concept for some but if you are a part of the party, its extremely refreshing although it promotes indulgence. The typical menu for the high tea party includes cookies, cupcakes, macaroons, butter flavoured croissants and sandwiches. If you are lucky to have a garden, you may organize the party there but if you stay in small matchboxes like myself, even then there is a lot of scope to have the same feel. Crisp bright white table cloth spread along with the cup cake stand, fresh flowers and the cutlery being set to perfection on the table is all what you need to do. Serving varied kinds of teas like hand picked green tea, oolong tea, flavoured teas of apple, lemon, ginger, mint etc as per the preferences can be really good healthy options too. If you are thinking its one of those parties where only gurlz and ladies are invited then you are highly mistaken. Infact its a friends' gathering irrespective of gender. Its a big break from the regular 'dinner with friends' parties at home and gives a chance to everyone to look forward to something different. Of course high tea doesn't have to be grand affair; one can always tweak the concept and customize to the guests' taste while the fun of being together remains priceless as usual. 

Even the kids have lots of fun in such parties as they love to hog on the marshmallows and cupcakes along with gettin a chance to be involved in games played by adults. Rather than having a stereotypical birthday party of your kid at pizza hut or some other fast food joints, children's tea party is a great idea to bank on if you don't have time and space constraints. Mini cupcakes, mini burgers along with hot chocolate (surely preferred over tea by kids) and other goodies can work wonders to make your kids birthday party special and distinct.

My fascination for vintage tea set collection goes as far as scouting and collecting them from the different places I travel across the world.  They are also an inspiration for my painting and complements the tea party.

Vintage Tea Party

Vintage Tea Party

Cutting Chai

The Legen....wait for it... dary silver grey aluminium kettle and cutting chai takes me back to my college and mba days when a refreshing 'chai ki pyali' did wonders at any odd time of the day and night. I could never ever forget the Ram bhai's Ketli popularly known as "Ketli" just outside the IIM Ahmedabad campus which used to be the favourite hang out place with friends. Besides Chai it was also the Sutta joint for many; as true for other chai wallah stalls.

The maggi and anda bhurji served at the ketli near my hostel have come across as saviours several times for hungry souls, like me and am sure many, who feel hungry at all the odd hours. And coupling it with cutting masala chai was like the cherry on the cake. Somethings never change like that typical aluminium kettle tea served at every chai wallah near you doesn't change...thank god!!Just love that style. I still haven't lost touch with that kettle not even in my art and also during my break time at the chai wallah at workplace.

Cutting Chai

Parenting by kids

Kids are a source of fun for everyone. Parenting has become one of the discussion topics for all grown up couples bearing kids or planning to have one. Every couple strives to be perfect parents and try their best to raise a perfectly well behaved child. We often think stiff competition is felt heavily in academics or corporate life, the newest entrant giving stiff competition to these areas is "Parenting". There is so much pressure on parents to live up to the child's expectations, to learn from their own parents' experience, to sail through the peer parental jealousies and comparisons to become the best parents. Every child is special to their parents but suddenly there is more emphasis on 'parenting' which must have existed in earlier times too but is definitely more vocal and much talked about topic. 

Why is parenting a hot topic of discussion? Is it because of increasing working mothers (since they feel guilty of not spending much time with the kid), technology exposed kids, booming economy (saying just because of mall culture)? The reason could be any and many but every parent is somewhere competing with other parent in the race of having a unique experience with their respective children. They want to be the best parent around wanting their child to look the best, perform the best and have the best toys, getting admission through the best school, best sports coaching and the list is endless. Its not that our parents never thought about all these things; its just that they were not so vocal. The social media is another big steering wheel to the new age parenting. You log on to social networking website and there you have dozens of babies and kids photos all over. Call it sharing or flaunting, its just one way of accentuating the fact "I am a proud parent."

This is the era of smart kids; they know what they want and they know how to get it too! They watch the ads on tv carefully, visit the malls regularly with parents, get inside the toy store to buy the toy they want with confidence and finally get the toy they want either through persuasion, tantrums, emotional blackmail or loud howling (to make sure the parents are embarrassed and get dirty stare from the junta inside the shop).

Parenting is definitely a vast topic to explore and to master for lots of couples across the world. How much to pamper your kid, how much to give into his/her demands, is the child getting spoilt or pampered??...these are some of the questions which hit every parents' minds but of course there is a very thin line separating these concerns and so every parent claims to define the limit depending on the nature of child and circumstances. Well, I am not a parent yet, so there is a disclaimer that these views are entirely based on my observations and may or may not hold true for many. All these experiences gave me inspiration for my kids art that is dedicated to the parents of all kids out there who are willing to go to any stretch for inculcating good values in them...Happy Parenting!!!

Kids Delight

Vintage Vanity Dresser

Are you one of those who fancy vintage furniture especially the typical vintage style dresser. Oh come on, if you are a lady fond of vanity, you would be definitely swayed by the vintage style dressing table. Agree or not, its always a dream of a woman to have a dressing table with a huge shining mirror to admire her beauty and if its a vintage one, its simply awesome! Well, I love the vintage look be it in the reality or in my painting.

My painting tries to capture every woman's vanity fair; be it the oval mirror, cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, jewellery boxes, flowers and the list goes on. It turns out to be the perfect dressing up experience when you have such a fancy dresser. Not everyone possess a vintage dresser who wish to have one. But what is preventing them to have a painting like this adjacent to your vanity dressing  or in the walk in wardrobes so as to create the right ambiance and feel. I am telling you, it works. So let the vintage feel be part of your dressing. Ultimately the idea is to Feel beautiful!!..Isn't it??

Vintage Dresser