Varanasi Kettle

Ritu a longtime client and friend messaged to say she wanted a kettle that depicts the spiritual side of Varanasi. This one was right up my alley as they say. I had done a post on my trip to Kashi a few years ago and I knew just what to depict.  The kettle is done and on its way to Canada as I write this.

I wanted to represent Hinduism, Shiva, life/death, water and fire. I have depicted these in the colours used as well as alluded to them in some specific imagery. Kashi. Banaras.Varanasi on the lid, the city/ temple skyline on the curved surface of the kettle on one side and a popular saying about Kashi on the other – ‘Kashi se mohabbat nahi hoti. Kashi se sirf ishq hota hai.’ 

A man doing aarti, the face of a sadhu, and a sadhu in meditation are depicted on the sides.  The colours used are keeping Kashi in mind – orange, red, blue and grey. Some marigolds. There of course had to be a reference to Shiva, his dumroo, Mt Kailash and Ganga. 

This was so interesting to paint. I do hope to do more kettles like this. So if you have something in mind – please do not hesitate to reach out to me 🙂