Durga, 1988

Oil on canvas, 124×109 oil on canvas

This painting depicts the Goddess Durga’s many forms. The painting is an attempt to portray Durga at her most powerful as she begins to set the many energies synthesised in her being in motion.The interplay of emotions across her face  are representative of her dual nature: destructive and compassionate.

The interplay of emotions across her face  are representative of her dual nature: destructive and compassionate.

Her arms flow in all directions and give the painting a three-dimensional effect. The goddess has the red glow of baked earth and radiates a warm golden shimmer,  she is an earth mother.

One evening as I was almost finished with this painting I  left my son’s bedroom where I had been painting earlier, turning off the light in the evening twilight, only to return about 10 minutes later.  As I was looking for the light switch I turned and saw my Goddess glow in the darkness as if she was alive, that was a special moment. 

She’s a Leopard Too: Tapestry

My mother, who is a tapestry weaver, really liked this painting. She made a beautiful tapestry based on it that is just the same size as the original. It is included here.