The Girl who Tamed the Zebra

Inspired by a real girl who would be quite capable of taming a zebra! On an unrelated note, I have adored this image of a Samburu woman with a zebra for a long time now. They are a wild species, but perhaps there are some exceptions?

This painting is sold. Image via here

Extraordinary Gentlemen

Some posts about my work this week: Take a look at this beautiful blog : An Indian Summer ..& this lovely one here: Designwali.
Image via here.

The Maharani's Expedition

The Maharani appears yet again, & she's making a run for it! Always seeking new horizons to explore as she gallivants through flowers of India pinks, reds & corals...

This painting is 30" x 30" & is available just sold. I ship worldwide. Please don't hesitate to inquire...

The Cavalier Swimmer - a sketch

In the depths of my Moleskine sketch book, there lies some bizarre adventures...Her silk sari is certainly ruined after this swim.

Rajasthani Blues

In the state of Rajasthan there is a city by the name of Jodhpur, where parts of the city are painted blue. I find the rich shades of indigos & azure they paint their walls with utterly enchanting. One can almost get lost in them...This painting is 30" x 40" in size.

Look up!

The Maharani is making her escape, again! What do you think of my new header?

This little maharani (& her elephant) might just make another appearance in a future painting...

Out for Fresh Air

This painting is for my cousin Jameel. It tells the story of our grandfather (in the plane) & his grandfather (walking on the horizon). Both died young, & both were incredibly lovable personalities. My grandfather was a pilot & you can see him standing on the left of this old photo of him & a friend. I have always felt a special bond with him, one that cannot separate us by time & space, as I'm sure his children feel, & now his grandchildren...
p.s. a look at my incredibly talented sis-in-law's new photography blog: samimi-extremie photography.

5 grand years....

Here is a painting I did of two lovely people, Afsi & Luigi, who were married in a church in Sicily. Afsi is something of a muse of mine (yes, she has rights to wander my studio in a toga throwing fairy dust this way & that). This painting is quite accurate to how they whizzed away on a Vespa right after being married, sunglasses & all. The first image is a watercolour sketch of the final painting.

Speaking of weddings, it's been 5 years that I was married to one marvelous man, & the marvelous adventures continue!

Om Padme Om

I placed an offering of lotus flowers for my Buddha who is the keeper of my studio (a gift from my papa). How humble he is compared to this magnificent Buddha I came across yesterday! Off to some bon voyages. I do hope your summer is going beautifully wherever you are love...

The Synchronized Swimmers

A playful tribute to Esther Williams. I dreamt of being in her dizzying troop as a young girl, amazed at her under water skills & ability to hold her breath for such long intervals. If we ever met in person, I just know we'd get along swimmingly.

See the "Bathing Beauty" at work in this clip.

This painting is available. Feel free to inquire.

Wandering The Orient

Here are little glimpses of our life on a roll of Holga film I just had developed after a year. The first is in India, & the last two are of Beijing during this last Spring Festival.

The Maharani Seeks Adventure

I still have the saffron colours of India on my mind...Looks like there is no keeping up with this little Maharani!

To The Market!

The African sky in Kenya is a beautiful one, & unpredictable from one moment to the next. The clouds melt into a bright orange sunset in a sudden & pleasant manner...But I warn you, if you go to Africa, you will inevitably leave behind a little bit of yourself...
This painting is about 60" x 30" in size.

Technicolor Mist

We saw this brilliant exhibit at 798 (the ever popular gallery district in Beijing) called Feelings Are Facts, by Olafur Eliasson & Ma Yansong. It was a gallery filled with thick fog & multi-coloured lights. You couldn't see beyond just a few feet away from you & believe it or not the fog tasted sweet!

*Photo courtesy of my ever talented sis-in-law Amy.

Ciao!

This painting has just arrived to it's beautiful home in the Mediterranean, & frankly I wish I was there with it! But instead I'm on my way to spend the night at Commune by the Great Wall
for some serious r&r....

Books & Orange Blossoms

I have a special connection to orange blossoms. Growing up in the Mediterranean the smell was all but too familiar. My mother would receive a big bag of orange blossoms from dear friends who had an orange orchard every year & she would make the most scrumptious jam out of them.

A happy & beautiful Baha'i New Year to those who are celebrating the first day of spring...& a very happy Birthday to my Papa, who brought beautiful things to this world just like the spring season!

P.S. Here is how we celebrated (my husband & I designed the backdrop of the event with some inspiration from one of my paintings). Also check out how other photographers from around the world celebrated at www.nineteendays.wordpress.com :

Newspaper Hats, Paper Pipes.

We have been celebrating life & new adventures a lot lately. This calls for a paper pipe with cotton smoke! & it's not bad for your health either...

All in the Famiglia

We've been spending some quality time with my brother(-in-law) Shido. We do have fun when he comes around...He hand-delivered a lovely coral sent over from Mozambique (thank you Jalan & Naysan!!) & as you can see we created quite a fuss over it...

A Little Fox Approaches

It seems that this little fox has his eye on some unsuspecting blue birds... A first of many paintings inspired by East Asia. You can spot migrant workers here selling & carrying all types of usual & (very) unusual wares on tricycles like this one, which come in all sorts of colours too.

It's Amore

A few more sketches to hold you over until I have paintings to show you... I've been noticing many Beijinger couples consisting of Chinese women paired with European men.

Family Portrait

Hope you are having a happy new year wherever you are! 2009 you were a beautiful year...Cannot wait to see what adventures 2010 has in store...

* Note that this portrait was taken in front of some of my sister-in-law Jalan Sahba's beautiful interior design, & what an honour to have some of my paintings included!