Scandies & Dandies in the East

I've been spotting a good deal of diplomat types where I live. I couldn't resist drawing one on my husband's Muji brown paper notebook...

Colour Cubes

Polaroids of my little neighborhood vendors selling Beijing goodies out of their perfectly cubic kiosks. People are very camera shy here,...If you look carefully at the top photo you will see one vendor hiding behind her goods from the camera. (A special loving thanks to Krysta of Krystuccia blog for sending me the film!, you are wonderful!)

Golden Leaves & Blackbirds

I wake up every morning here to the gossiping of magpies & blackbirds. I wonder what they go on about...

P.s. Interested in art prints in time for the holidays? E-mail me for details at shirinsahba @ gmail . com

city swimmers

Discovering all sorts of beauty here in Beijing, it's truly a magnificent place with incredible people, architecture, art, food & so much more...It's this fantastic blend of the ancient with the futuristic modern that makes one swoon! More to come ...

Glimmering Waters

I've been in a packing frenzy mostly, but in my free time I've been painting...I fell in love with the exhibit on Babylonian art at the Met last winter, in particular with the ancient pottery, so I put that inspiration into this pattern of black fish with phosphorescent eyes. I once went to Eilat in Israel for vacation, & I saw such fish floating about in the dark waters; truly a stunning sight!

Bound For The Orient

I'm bound for more traveling very soon, this time to the far far east...I can hardly wait! I'll be setting up studio abroad & continuing my painting/exhibiting/shipping internationally as usual.

How fabulous is this photo by my very talented cousin Mehdi Van Den Bos? Words cannot express how much I love about his work, he captures both people & nature so magically...On another note a million thanks to Deb at Bon Bon Oiseau for her beautiful post about my painting. The is feeling is incredibly mutual as I adore her gorgeous jewelery designs!!

You never forget your mama

Today would have been my mama's birthday (pictured here on her honeymoon)...Remembering her creativity, her humor, her goodness, her faith, her readiness for adventure & her ability to make magic out of whatever she touched...Missing her so much, but feeling her spiritually ever-present. Happy birthday mama!

Tending The Blooms

A portrait of a dear lady friend of mine tending to the fruits of her own labor. The water that is sprinkling out of her watering can is a shimmery silver. The colour combination of blue, red & gold is one of my favorites...
p.s. I still have prints available! Let me know by e-mail if you'd like one:
shirinsahba @ gmail .com

Garlands For The Bride

Two lovely friends are going to be gifting this confection of aquamarine & cobalt blue flowers for a bride-to-be in majestic India...
P.S. There are still a few limited edition Giclée prints left, so if you would like more details about purchasing one, e-mail me at: shirinsahba @ gmail . com

Psst!

Hot off the press darlings...I am offering, for the very first time, limited edition art prints of my paintings, for sale to a lucky few of you. If you are interested in details (photos & pricing) e-mail me at: shirinsahba @ gmail.com

Come quickly, already some are disappearing! Oh, & I do hope you like Limonana's new header!

Catching A Flight

Inspired by my love of travel. The ground consists of many little black & white birds who have much to say to each other. I catalog many of my ideas in my trusty Moleskine, & here is the same lady you see in the painting above but in sketch form:

MoCo Loco

The wonderful Art MoCo is featuring my work today!! I found out by accident, so Thank you whoever you are who brought it to their attention, you're fantastic!

we're all mad here

We had a late summer party with some darling friends of ours, some of whom are moving to Fiji very soon. as you can see it was a terrible bore...

the lemon room

We celebrated four stellar years this week! These two photos of us being lazy around the house give me a chance to show you our first commission created by a talented miniature artist in India, who made us a not so miniature painting of a very friendly elephant...

Sabrina

One of my childhood best friends is in love...& it's infectious! Here is a portrait of her, in blue - the colour I remember her always wearing as a child.

lavender fields forever

We've had some quality time with mama nature this summer... I hope that you have too!

p.s. Thanks to Krysta for sending me loads of polaroid! You are the sweetest.

The Fruit Seller

This is a custom painting I did for a client who has a real love for India & all it's beauty. I've recently been using an increasingly complex array of colours, which I find challenging but rewarding... You can't tell from the photos but the flowers are surrounded by solid gold which illuminates quite well with any light. In the end I felt the gold gave it almost an echo of ancient Tibetan art.

Feeding The Fish!

Voila! My latest piece, & believe me it took me a while to complete! I must say it cheers us up on our living room wall. Everyone who has seen it so far has been completely riveted by it's almost mosaic pattern of fish. I have been influenced a good deal by Moroccan patterns. I am also in love with characters throwing things in the air, it's my way of capturing moments of utter glee.

Seeking Enlightenment

A few Holga shots documenting our trip. India is one of those places where in every corner you can find a place where people are seeking a life of spirituality, whether it's a temple, a mosque or a street corner...

Holy Cow

I've returned from India, but I know I left behind a little of my heart. Oh India, you were ever so familiar, so surreal, so intensely beautiful, such a paradox, just as I remembered you from childhood. What a magnificent place, a place that needs months of exploring, if not years. & the people? So many incredible & radiant gems. I will share with you more photos once they are developed. Here is a lovely man in Old Delhi with his papier-mâché festival masks. When we asked him to pose for a photo he obliged without a moment's hesitation!

The Saffron Harvest

This was inspired by the saffron harvesters of Kashmir. While growing up my father repeatedly told me stories of magnificent crocus fields he had seen as a child. I'm packing for India in a few days, I can hardly wait. I lived there in early childhood & haven't returned since. I'll be sure to take some holga shots of india just for you!

oh my!

This past weekend was our new year & spring has officially begun! Enough cause to celebrate new & beautiful beginnings. My husband bought me this beautiful bouquet of balloons...Aren't they lovely? Inspires me to float away.

Indonesian Waters

A little glimpse of one of the many commissions I've been working on. This specific client is very dear to my heart. She was raised in Indonesia & so I thought it was befitting to portray her in a traditional Indonesian sailboat. They are quite beautiful with their charming multicoloured sails.

19 days

Just wanted to share some photography I did for Amy & Leila's beautiful project titled "Nineteen Days". Nineteen photographers from around the world document nineteen days of Bahá’í fasting. Take a look at my two photos of dawn & dusk. You can spot mine on March 3rd as the two photos in the center between Amy & Leila's beautiful daily photos (also of dawn & dusk):
nineteendays.wordpress.com

summer candy, cypress trees & fallen petals

A few of my favorite things photographed with a Holga to inspire me these days. You might be wondering why I haven't been posting work lately. I've been working on some private commissions, seven to be exact, so you can imagine they are keeping me very busy. I will try my best to have new work up soon. In the meantime I'm dreaming about summer...

Tea in Delhi

A dear dear friend by the name of Ryan Lash, who just happens to be one of the best photographers I know, just came for a visit en route to Cambodia. Please take a look at some of his stunning work here. He truly indulged us in photographing & starring in our caricaturish adventures titled "The Brits Visit Delhi". Which brings me to the point that I'm day-dreaming of a visit to India this Spring...

baby b

Introducing Elsa B. our new & beautiful niece...Her parents were so kind & lovely putting up with all of us hugging, kissing & holding her so frequently. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I'm back, I promise, & I will be posting again soon. It was fantastic going to the big city & seeing some art...Let the painting commence!

*thank you to the husband for the photo.