"Motherhood....The strength of women" ..... by Manisha Vedpathak

One more painting along with "Fly high" that will be going for my upcoming group
 show in Mumbai at DDNeroy Gallery which will be held on 8th March on the
occasion of  Women's day. The purest love in the world is  mother's love.
I believe that the greatest strength of women is Motherhood. I am blessed with
two beautiful daughters.

"Motherhood...The strength of women"

Acrylic on canvas, 20"x20"

Available

To purchase contact: manishavedpathak@gmail.com

"Akua'ba".....an acrylic painting by Manisha Vedpathak

African symbols are very intriguing, their Ancestors made
symbols out of everything. Fertility Doll is one of the oldest
symbol which is also known as "Akua'ba"(pl. Akua'maa).

. The round, flat disc heads, columnar body with outstretched arms

 and smooth, black surface convey the Asante (or Ashanti) ideal of beauty.
In Ghana ,fertility dolls represent youth and fertility. These dolls are
carved in wood and are believed to induce pregnancy. Fertility dolls are
famous and special for the reason behind its creation.

It is one of the most familiar stories in African culture. At some time in the 
past, there was a young Asante woman called "Akua"( wednesday born)
who was having trouble in conceiving a child("ba"). So she was adviced
by a priest to commission a wood carving of a child. She was instructed 
to treat carving just like a living being. She was to carry the carving 
on her back as all the children are carried , tucked into the wrapper 
,with only the head appearing above the cloth and look after the carving
just like any child is been looked after. So Akua did just as she was told
but people teased her pointing at her carving. But eventually Akua got pregnant
and gave birth to a beautiful healthy girl and her success encouraged others
suffering from infertility to follow her path and thus the carvings came to be
 known after her name Akua'ba(Akua's child).

 And so the title of my painting is "Akua'ba". There are a few fertility dolls
in my painting and the images of mother carrying the child on her back
(these images which I am very fascinated about) , and thus came the abstract and 
very interesting juxtaposition of these images and various geo shapes .

Hope you all enjoy the painting!
 

 

"Akua'ba"

Acrylic on canvas,27"X50"

Available

"At Work"...An Acrylic painting

After coming from New York,did not paint for a long

time.This piece was started before I left to NYC.I managed

to finish this today.This is a very typical scene in the market

here in Ghana.

"At Work", Acrylic on canvas,34"X35"

Cherish....An art work on paper done in felt tip pens and water colours

I had fantastic two weeks with my daughter.

Now she has returned to India.

This piece was just a fun work while I was

cherishing the time spent with her.I used felt tip

 pens and water colours.

Who is Mommy talking to????

This is again one more watercolor.I think I was

able to get the curiosity on the child's face,though

I am not very happy with the watercolor.I will

 try this in acrylic on a bigger canvas some time.

Who is Mommy talking to????

Watercolor on A4 size paper

Motherhood

The background of this canvas was actually

painted by my daughter.It was just lying in

her  room so I decided to work on it.

I have always loved to see these African

ladies carrying babies on their back while

they are working.

I believe motherhood is the precious gift that

 a woman has got .Both of my art pieces are

based on motherhood. I have also tried to use

 watermark for one work.

Motherhood I

Acrylic on canvas,40*50 cms

I would love to read comments 

from my blog readers.

A Game

The painting below

is about a game which is very commonly

 played here in Ghana,called oware.

It is a "count and capture" game.This

is actually played throughout Africa,

with different names and slightly different

 rules.Other names for this game are

mancala,ayo, omweso, enkeshui or aweet.

A GAME

Acrylic on canvas,80*100 cms