For Sale: Set of 5 blank Indian Inspired Greeting Cards

Inspiration
My Indian culture really inspired me after my sister's wedding and so I created these blank mini greeting cards with a modern twist. I created my design in 5 different colours as the Indian culture is full of colour and so it was the perfect choice. 

My Indian inspired mini greeting cards. 
Why not send one to someone special to tell them you love them! 
© Sharonjeet Galsinh 2012. All rights reserved. 

Click to buy my Indian Inspired Mini Greeting Cards

Description

These cards are perfect for any occasion and to give to those who like art, Indian culture, something modern or something colourful & vibrant. And so are left blank inside for you to write your own personal message. They would be perfect for mum, sister, friend, birthdays, thanks or simply just to tell someone you are thinking of them and love them. 

"I hope these cards make the receiver smile and realise how much you mean to them!"

  

   

Each card comes with a matching coloured C7 envelope. 

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New Art for Sale - "Sunset Kiss"

I'm excited to say I have just put my first piece of artwork up for sale in my new shop: 

Click to view "Sunset Kiss" in my new online Folksy shop

With Valentines Day not long gone, Love inspired me to create new artwork "Sunset Kiss." It's a print of my original watercolour painting of a couple in love against the setting sun. It was painted in my favourite colours of pinks and purples to emphasise the warm feeling of being in love. It can make a lovely handmade gift for a loved one, something that can always remind you of the love you have. It's also perfect for framing. 

"Sunset Kiss" print from my original watercolour painting.
This image is copyright protected. ©  Sharonjeet Galsinh 2012

Now Open - My online Arts & Photography shop!

I am excited to say my online shop is now open! So why not come and visit. 

Bright, colourful & vibrant paintings, prints, photography & cute mini greeting cards. I love capturing the world around me through photography & I love to express what I like about the world by painting. My paintings are inspired by love, nature & some have a whimsical style. I've now turned my artwork into mini greeting cards with matching coloured envelopes. They're really cute!

Keep a look out for my new artwork to be added soon! 

Click to visit my new online shop

http://folksy.com/shops/MonsoonArtsandPhotography

 Facebook.com/MonsoonArtsAndPhotography

Come Join Me!

MONSOON ARTS & PHOTOGRAPHY:

Paintings. Prints. Photography. Children's projects. Worksheets. Art & photography tips & techniques. And really cute mini greeting cards!! 

Hello! I'm Sharon of Monsoon Arts & Photography. 
Come join me & follow my blog. 

Like my Monsoon Arts & Photography fan page:
facebook.com/MonsoonArtsAndPhotography

Learn & try new art & photography tips & techniques. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

See what inspires me when creating new paintings. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

See the people who inspire me. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

See what cultures inspires me around the world

Get inspiration for fun projects to do with your little ones. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

Visit me at art festivals, craft fairs, shows & exhibitions. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

View my cute mini greeting cards ideal for any occasion
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

Come visit my on-line arts shop - Opening soon!
© SHARONJEET GALSINH

folksy.com/users/MonsoonArtsandPhotography

"I look forward to seeing you all!"

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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The Mountain

I came across this video The Mountain by TSO Photography. 

I really love these types of videos, the photography is pretty amazing. I do like to star gaze on a clear night but my equipment isn't as good as this! It's very inspiring so I thought I'd share. Please view: 

The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

 © Video http://vimeo.com/terjes/themountain

Mardi Gras - Mask Making Worksheet

My Mardi Gras mask Decorated in my favourite colours using paint, feathers, sequins & gemstones.
© SHARONJEET GALSINH. 

What is Mardi Gras? 

It's the final day of carnival, a day of fun, feasting and merrymaking. It is celebrated in many Christian cultures just before the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and called Shrove Tuesday in English.

My Mardi Gras mask. 
© SHARONJEET GALSINH. 

Why Masks?

It is tradition to wear a masks and costumes on Mardi Gras day. They are used at the parades to get attention from float riders and the balcony revellers. Masks are made of feathers, sequins, glitter and even plaster. They imitate all the fun and festivities of Mardi Gras. Gold, purple and green masks embody the colours, spirit, pride and the true feeling of Mardi Gras. 

Try glueing feathers on one side instead of the middle. Use a peacock feather to create a different look & add coloured ribbons too.  
© Image from http://storepetsupplies.com

Materials: 
Mask pattern
Craft foam or card

Scissors

Sequins, gemstones, ribbons, glitter, feathers

Paint

Wooden dowel or straw

Glue

Instructions: 

1. Print the mask pattern and draw on a piece of card or foam.

To enlarge template right click & select Open image in new tab then draw on card / foam. 

2. Cut it out including 2 holes for the eyes. 
3. Paint the dowel / straw gold and leave to dry. 
4. Now you can get really creative. Using the glue decorate the mask with gemstones, glitter, sequins, ribbon and paint. 

5. Glue a feather to tge back of the mask. 
6. Glue the dowel / straw at the back to one end of the mask. 

Your mask is finished!! Have fun parading! 

© SHARONJEET GALSINH

© SHARONJEET GALSINH

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Inspirational World

I love to see beautiful photos of the world as they really inspire me. Here are some that show just how beautiful our world is. Copyright © images. 

A restaurant on a cliff on the east coast of Zanzibar. Depending on the tide the restaurant can be reached both on foot & by boat. 

Lost Paradise, Isle of Lamu, Indian Ocean. 

View of the sunset from inside a wave. 

Thor's Well - "The Gates of the Dungeon." Oregon. 

This is a unique geological phenomenon known as Danxia Landform, China. The colour is the result of an accumulation for millions of years of red sandstone & other rocks. 

Hot Air Balloons over ancient rock formations in Cappadocia, Turkey. 

Office of Selgas Cano. Madrid. 

Star Shower statue, Kaunas, Lithuania. Day & night. I really like the play of light at night. In the daytime this monument makes little sense but when night falls all is revealed, the man's shadow showers stars. 

Copyright photos taken from http://pics.livejournal.com/neferjournal

Mardi Gras 2012

It's almost the carnival season of Mardi Gras which is French for Fat Tuesday and Shrove Tuesday in English. It's a fun filled carnival which includes wearing colourful masks and costumes, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc.

Look out for my Mardi Gras worksheet on a fun mask making project for children - Coming soon! 

Image taken from http://limelightnashville.com/index.cfm

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Photography: Black & White or Colour?

Technology has allowed us to move from black and white to colour in both TV & cinema, yet  black and white photography is still very popular. It conveys a scene very differently, revealing details, patterns, forms and shapes more clearly, forcing us to concentrate on tone and texture that colour may distract us from. Stronger light means stronger shadows and a change in contrast creating a more striking image with more impact in  black and white. 

I  used black and white film to emphasize the mood and atmosphere of the canals and to give an old feel. This shot wouldn't work well in colour as the mood would be lost. I composed the shot so the tunnel frames the scene. 

Copyright © SHARONJEET GALSINH

black and white works well for street photography to create a gritty look. Emphasise this by increasing the ISO to add more noise. Use a slow shutter to create a softer look in landscapes. Create a much more powerful portrait in  black and white instead of colour. 

Oiginally photograpehed in Illford black and white film I changed the colour to a sepia tone to give an old feel. I like the strong reflection and also the juxtaposition of the old bridge and new buildings. Although not in black and white, colour would not work in creating an old feel and may look too distracting. 

Copyright © SHARONJEET GALSINH

So what works better - Black & White or Colour? 

It depends on what you're shooting. Black and white works well to emphasise a low key Image, that is those made of dark mid-tones and shadows, good if you want to create a sombre or moody feeling, such as on an overcast, cloudy day. However, low key images can also be uplifting by having areas of bright highlights like sun rays. To capture a dramatic landscape a great time is shooting just before of after a storm. However a sunset will always work better in colour. 

My low key shot. I love the brooding dark sky and the distant silhouetted landscape against the uplifting sun rays with it's shimmer on the water. Note this shot's in colour but works as it's made of dark mid-tones. 
Copyright © SHARONJEET GALSINH

Try it yourself
The easiest way is it use photo editing software, create a duplicate of one of your best shots and convert it to black and white. How does compositional elements change, note how colour changes to greys, is shape and form emphasised? Is the atmosphere changed? You'll be surprised at the difference. 

Inspiration - Dogs

Dogs - they sure do inspire me. Only those who have had their own dog can truly understand the love, loyalty, intelligence & amazement of dogs. I really believe that looking after or walking someone else's dog just isn't the same as having your own dog that lives with you. As your dog will only show most loyalty and love to you, not someone who comes and goes and doesn't really know / understand them. 

But with the sad events of 3 months ago Azza the Akita & Emerald the Labrador just seem to know and understand what's happened and so act differently towards me now in a way I cannot completely explain. And now I've also got to know a Pyrenean mountain dog & a German Shepherd. Dogs really amaze me. I've had one my whole life but they still know how to touch my heart.