Departing Friends

As the International Art Meet in Kolkata winds down, each artist is catching their departure flight. They have disappeared one by one over the last two days. It is sad to see them go. I am already missing all of my new friends already. Some have already reached home. I still have another day in Kolkata to soak in the sites, but it will definitely not be the same experience without the other artists. I will miss them all until we meet again!

Painting Honey Badgers for Diwali

Diwali is upon us and the sculpture streets in Kolkata are crammed full of all sorts of artistic creations that will eventually wind up in the Ganges river. Diwali is the festival of lights where Kali Ma kills the bad demons and then goes wild and is put under control by her husband laying down in front of her. When she steps on her husband, she realizes her mistake and sticks out her tongue. He husband's pet cobra is on hand, and the honey badger is eating the demons blood. (at least that is the way my buddy, "Short-round" has explained it to me.) Ha!

Picking Faces Out of the Crowd

Everywhere our artist crew goes in Calcutta there is a crowd. The kids especially love recognizing us from the posters scattered around the city, picking each out by the poster images of ourselves. What a fun game!

Boom and Bust - Diwali

Fireworks are going off every few minutes tonight. It seems like its just the neighborhood kids making noise in advance of the Diwali celebration. Been there, done that. Almost feels like a war zone. The booms are getting louder. Might be hard to sleep tonight. They apparently like the kind of firework that creates the biggest boom. Personally I was more attracted to the Cobra shaped fireworks that just hiss and wiggle, but maybe I'm just showing my age. it's a lot like the third of July tonight, but being in a foreign city, it makes me a little nervous to get out. I'm definitely going to be out to see the lights for the big show tomorrow though!

Happy Diwali!

It's 6:00 am in Kolkata and the jungle drums have begun! The sound is vaguely reminiscent of band practice on fall mornings before football games back home. I'm pretty sure they don't start this early at home though! The festival has officially begun and I plan to take in as much of the chaos as possible. This morning I am out for a walk with my friend Arub, a local photographer who is showing me the cool places to see. It's going to be a colorful day in the city of Joy!

Painting skeletons

You would assume these were for Halloween if you grew up in my neighborhood, but in Calcutta they are also part if the Diwali festival of lights. I'm not sure exactly what role they play, but they sure looked cool in this setting!

Mother Teresa's Sisters

One amazing event follows the next! I wandered into a gathering of Sisters from Mother House...as in Mother Teresa! Kolkata is holds just one surprise after another for the wandering watercolorist!

Artistic Diplomacy

The American is always singled out. At the conclusion of the UN conference, I was asked to be photographed with the Russian Consul. Of course I asked him where he kept the vodka, :)

Rescued by friends

Well, it's truly a meeting of the United Nations now! My artist friends attending the International Art Meet Kolkata came looking for me and stumbled into the same debacle. There are so many of us, they asked us to introduce ourselves. Artists from Egypt, Malaysia, Kenya and Lithuania have joined me and me as official delegates from our countries for the United Nations Day round table. If only the world's nations could bond as we artists have, peace would prevail on earth!

7 billion people

At this UN meeting they are speaking about the 7 billionth person on planet earth, who will be born any day now. Two billion people live on less than $2 a day. Fortunately they are also addressing climate change and armed conflicts.

Whoops! Stumbled into a meeting of the UN at the Russian Consulate

H.E. Vladimir V Lazarev, consul general of the Russian Federation in Kolkata and the Indian UN Chairman, Sitaram Sharma are sitting across the table from me at a UN meeting at the Russian Consuiate that I'm not even supposed to be at! My face and language barrier got me accidentally escorted in as a UN delegate! I was supposed to meet my group for an event, probably next door, but now that I am seated here, I can't find a way to gracefully exit!

Mob scene

We stopped in a neighborhood in Kolkata close to Mother Theresa's home. Instantly we were surrounded by 50 or more people. We had to retreat to the car just for a tiny bit of personal space. It didn't feel dangerous, but the horde of curious locals was just too anxious to touch and look us over. We continued to make friends from inside the car.
Definitely an experience none of us will soon forget.

Dhanterras celebration

The day before the day before Diwali, (the festival of lights), is the Dhanterras celebration where if you buy something gold or silver then good luck will he coming to your household soon. Honey, would you like a necklace? :)

Temples

I love the architecture of these old temples! The modern world has done away with lavish architectural detail in favor of cleaner lines and cost savings. Personally, i find most modern buildings boring. I'm waiting in line to get into this place now and can hardly wait!

Colors of the World

The Times of India had a nice article on us yesterday. I am part of the three-headed man in the background, obviously photo-bombing' a typical "fake like you are painting" pose that some newspaper photographers think look perfectly natural. :)

Indian Art Supply store

Trying to find art supplies in Kolkata is an adventure in itself. We ran across an crammed little shop that had everything we needed though. All of the artists from the International Art Meet were so captivated by the various offerings that it took hours to get them all out of the store. I'm certain we'll be going back soon though. It was just too much fun. We are like kids in a candy store!

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Painting with the children of Calcutta

Today all of the international artists worked with school children in Calcutta. I haven't signed that many autographs since my event in China a few years ago. The other artists are amazing and so much fun getting to know. I love the Lithuanians....who keep me up late at night, the Egyptians...who always have a huge smile, the beautiful artists from Denmark and Sweden...who are quick witted and funny, the Italian...who wears the coolest shoes, the Tunisians...who sing to each other, the Kenyan...who has a laugh that is infectious, the Argentinian....who is too much fun! and the Indians....who have been such amazing hosts! All are forming amazing friendships and connections.

Just for me!?

Tonight's event was a complete surprise and I pretty much felt it was
just for the crazy American watercolorist. :) We went to a Doors
tribute concert that totally rocked! We danced and sang until we were
completely soaked. (Pretty tropical in Kolkata still). I was even given the guitarist's pick at the
end....probably for being the only American who knew how to scream at
just the right times when you are at a Doors concert. I felt like I
was a teenager all over again! :)

The Victoria Memorial

Today we were driven up to the Victoria Memorial. It is normally
closed to only foot traffic, but our hosts got special permission because
they wanted us to feel like Queen Elizabeth as she approached her
Kolkata palace. There was an exhibition of watercolors there that was
quite impressive, as were the normal exhibits. What a treat! I love
museum hopping!

The five-star treatment

After Museum hopping all morning, we were treated to a private club
where we were pampered like royalty, played like children and feasted
like kings! It was a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle we have
come to know on the streets of Kolkata. We played ping-pong, badminton
and learned a new game called Carrum. Afterwards we were fed the most
incredible lunch I have ever had. The chef was as good as any I have
ever experienced.

The India National Museum

Very much like the Museum of Natural History in NY, the India National
Museum was filled with treasures from all over India. There were
ancient sculptures, fossilized elephants and a great display of all
the animals of India. I was particularly fond of the Cobra! :)

My iphone made the Hindi paper

A photo from the opening of our International Art Meet Exhibition in
Kolkata shows mt good friend, Ismail Kadir from Malaysia, second from
the left wearing a red shirt and white hat. Just above him you'll see
my hand, and the blue OtterBox case on my Iphone! Several of the other
artists wanted my phone's autograph! :)

Making new friends

Venturing off the beaten path is so unbelievably rewarding. My iPhone reverse cam is quite the hit with the beautiful people in the city of joy. I was invited in to places others avoid, and welcomed with the warmest hearts.

Even on cars?!

Kolkata is very proud to host all of the international artists! We've even been plastered on people's cars!

More of our faces on billboards!

It's no wonder people are treating us so nicely! Our faces are on billboards all over Calcutta.

Billboards in Kolkata!

International Art Meet Kolkata

My first 24 hours in Kolkata were exciting and chaotic. I barely managed to set my suitcases down before being whisked away in a flurry of activities. There was a press conference in the morning, followed by a 20 course lunch and our exhibition opening, followed by a very nice dinner with the other artists from around the world. It was midnight before I realized how tired I was and headed for our lodging. If anybody gets the Times of India, save me a copy of our press, or better yet, send me a link to the story. These billboards are all over Kolkata and even posted on cars. It's a great show and an amazing group of artists. The next two weeks will be fun!

Early morning plein air painting

I was up with the sun and my good friend, Ismail Kadir from Malaysia for some street painting in Kolkata this morning. It's tough to focus with the chaos of traffic and people starting their day, but there are so many incredible subjects everywhere!

Paparazzi

The Indian press corps was in full force at our opening. I think we took as many pictures of them as they did of us. I think they are excited to have so many different nationalities of artists visiting Kolkata. The Indian Minister of Culture spoke at our opening and gave us a very royal welcoming. Afterwards we were mobbed for interviews and autographs. I think maybe they thought I was someone else. :)

Time warp, missing days and that strange place between sleep and awake.

I am not exactly sure what time it is where I am. With no wireless to connect to I can only write, but not yet post this blog, nor will my iPhone update it's clock. I've been traveling since Friday, and I think it is now Sunday, but the math doesn't add up for all the time zones I've crossed. One of those time zones was only a half hour too, making it all the more confusing. I know that the time difference is 10 and a half hours different from home, but the sun set, rose and set again while I was in transit between Newark and New Dehli. It is rising again now as I arrive in Kolkata. I've lost a day somewhere, and haven't slept since Cary, North Carolina on Thursday night. I've drifted a bit in that weird place of almost sleep, which is about the best you can hope for sitting upright on a cramped airplane. All seems a bit dreamy at present, but I still have enough energy to keep going. I'm not sure exactly when I'll find the time to catch up on sleep, if one really ever can catch up, and am guessing I have a full schedule in front of me today. I wouldn't want to waste it sleeping anyway.

There is magic to discover in the City of Joy and I'll make the most of it while this dream lasts.

India!

After a very long flight I have arrived safely at Indira Ghandi Intl Airport in New Dehli. I am pleased to report that my luggage arrived as well, despite the two minute connection time I had in Newark. Good job Continental Airlines!

I still have 8 hrs to go, mostly a layover in Dehli, then a two hour flight to Kolkata, where I will join 20 of the world's top artists at the International Art Meet Kolkata. Tomorrow night we will open an exhibition of our work. For the next two weeks we will be teaching workshops and painting in Kolkata. I am so very honored to be included in this group and will do my best to represent the US as an ambassador of watercolor. I look forward to the events and to meeting the other artists. I especially look forward to seeing my friend, Ismail Kadir from Malaysia again.

The adventure is on!

Great week in NC

I had no clue how hard it would be to leave Cary, North Carolina when I was invited to judge the Watercolor Society of North Carolina show and teach a workshop here. The judging was harder than expected, with stellar work to rank. My speaking engagement was more emotional than I expected, but very well received. My hosts were so very gracious and set a new bar for southern hospitality. The workshop participants were so nice, completely engaged, ambitious, talented and so much fun!
My demo painting seemed to come together magically at the final minutes and then I was whisked to the airport without sufficient time to catch my breath and tell them all how much I enjoyed spending this time with them. Hopefully I can return soon and run into them all again.

Now I'm bound for Calcutta, India for the International Art Meet Kolkata and will be there after 30 or so hours in transit. The next adventure awaits!