Henna, Arts and Craft Day

If you love henna, arts and crafts you may be interested to come along while I do henna. Choose from my designs and take a seat to enjoy the live music (TBC) while I do a beautiful henna design on you. Then enjoy the other crafts on offer. Full details/music to be confirmed. 

Click here for event details

Me doing Henna a Diwali event. 

Fab Page:  Facebook.com/MonsoonArtsAndPhotography
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/74998172@N08/
Twitter: Twitter.com/MonsoonArts

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Photo Enhancement and Restoration

I have restored an old photo of my parents taken a week after they got married over 40 years ago. I wanted to enhance this photo and bring it back to life. I did this by restoring colour due to sun damage, removing blemishes and taking out the ugly patches in the bricks. 

While old photos have a nostalgia to them, they can also become like the original that someone remembers them as. 

I really like this photo and always really enjoy enhancing them! 

Please get in touch if you would like me to bring an old photo back to life. 

Email: Sharon_kerala@hotmail.com
Tweet: @MonsoonArts
Fan Page: www.Facebook.com/MonsoonArtsAndPhotography

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My Henna Diwali Event

I really enjoyed my henna artist training, it's another form of creativity which I love. It's ideal for parties, celebrations, when attending weddings, occasions like Diwali or if you just love having henna as much as me! 

I have done events and henna for Eid. These photos are from my henna event last week in celebration of the Indian festival of lights - Diwali. I hope you like them, please contact me if you would like your own henna event for a birthday party or if you just want henna for yourself: 

Email: Sharon_Kerala@hotmail.com
Twitter: https://Twitter.com/MonsoonArts

My Diwali Henna event. Thanks to Sukhi for helping on the day & NHS photographer Hannah for taking photos - I want your Nikon!

Henna heart and stars design. 

Get in touch if you would like your own henna party for a Birthday - Kids love it!

Get in touch if you would like your own henna. 

I quite like Henna flowers. 

Me with my Indian and Diwali inspired table decorations. 

 

My decorated table with divas, candles and my cute Indian inspired greeting cards that I sell - All handmade. 

Me with some of my hand drawn henna designs on paper. 

Photographer Hannah. Thanks for taking lovely pics for the NHS. 

Get in touch if you would like your own henna. 

Email: Sharon_Kerala@hotmail.com

Tweet: https://Twitter.com/MonsoonArts

Happy Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Diwali or Deepavali translates as "a row of lamps." The festival celebrates victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, and so many divas, lights and candles are lit. 

Divas, lights and candles are lit around homes, temples and streets. 

I like celebrating Diwali, it's colourful, bright, spiritual yet fun, especially in India. It marks new beginnings and represents joy, love, reflection, forgiveness, light and knowledge. 

Woman create Rangoli folk art on the floors and courtyards. 

Rangoli, a traditional Indian decoration made of ground rice, dry coloured flour, sand or flower petals is created on living room and courtyard floors. 

Rangoli in the courtyards. 

Apart from decoration Rangoli is thought to bring good luck and is also created on marriage celebrations. Traditional designs include geometric shapes, deity impressions and flowers but Indian symbols of lotus flowers, leaves, peacocks and birds are also created. 

Rangoli in living rooms. 

I must celebrate Diwali in India some day, it's much more festive. Streets and homes come alive with candles, divas and lights, people are everywhere celebrating together creating a fun atmosphere. 

Diwali at the Golden Temple, Amritsar, North India. 

I also like the spiritual feeling where so many worshippers can be in the temple yet it still feels peaceful with all the candles set against the dark night. 

Many worshippers but still peaceful. 

Diwali at Trafalgar Square with lanterns, musicians and traditional food. 

Diwali in Times Square

Here are some Diwali colouring pictures your children will love. 

Rangoli peacock design. 

Indian paisley design.

Diyas design.

Happy Vaisakhi!

All images are copyright protected. ©  SHARONJEET GALSINH 2011

Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated in Punjab, northern Indian. The people of Punjab celebrate over the joy of the harvest season, so it is a day of feasting. 

Vaisakhi day commemorates the first Sikh baptism ceremony and the creation of the Khalsa by 10th Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. 

All images are copyright protected. ©  SHARONJEET GALSINH  2011

On this day Sikhs remember the foundation of the Khalsa and celebrate by visiting the Gurudwara, with colourful street processions through towns, melas and music. 

All images are copyright protected. © SHARONJEET GALSINH

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Holi - The Indian Festival of Colour

Coloured powder paint ready to throw. © Copyright photo: 
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html 

It's Holi - The Indian festival of colour which marks the coming of Spring. It's tradition to light bonfires and roast grains, popcorn, coconut and chickpeas. Holi is a colourful festival, it's a time for fun, dancing and singing. People celebrate by going into the streets and throwing coloured powder and paints at each other. 

People celebrating in the streets of north India. © Copyright photo:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html

Hola Mahalla
Sikhs also celebrate where in the Punjab it's known as "Hola Mahalla" or the festival of Nihangs. Guru Gobind Singh started the festival for Sikhs to practice their military exercise and practice battles. Sikhs celebrate through martial arts led by Gurdwara nishan sahibs.

Nihangs - Sikh warriors celebrate Hola Mohalla with coloured powders, Punjab, India. 
© Copyright photo:  http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html 

Cleaning a pan ready for Hola Mohalla - the festival of Nihangs in Punjab, north India. 
© Copyright photo: 
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html   

History of Holi
It's believed that the festival's origin comes from Krishna who was a mischievous boy that threw coloured water over the milkmaids. The fun and jokes developed into Holi, the tradition of lighting bonfires symbolises good overcoming evil and is about the king's son prince Prahlad. His auntie Holika was immune from fire and tricked her nephew Prahlad into sitting on her lap in a bonfire to kill him. But as she was using her powers for evil, her plan failed, instead the flames killed Holika and Prahlab was unharmed. Today in some parts of India effigies of Holika are burned and the bonfires ashes are thought to bring good luck. 

The tradition of lighting bonfires in India symbolises good over evil. © Copyright photo: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html

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Inspired by my Indian Culture

My Indian culture really inspires me from the lively music, the colorful clothes, the food, the celebrations, the vibrant colors, the peace to the noisy bustling, chaotic city streets which are alive with people. My sister's wedding brought this out even more, I wore a sari which I loved & the wedding day was the inspiration for my Indian art below. 

I started sketching & came up with a few ideas, I simplified the design by taking the background out which also makes it more modern. Some of the sketches were painted using acrylic & others I did digitally. I created this design in different colors as Indians love color. These prints have also been made into greeting cards that can be used for any occasion. 

People tell me they like these Indian inspired designs as they're modern but still have an Indian feel. These designs have also been made into greeting cards. 
All Artwork © SHARONJEET GALSINH 2011

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