Annapurna

Annapurna Devi is the goddess of nourishment. In Sanskrit, anna means food and purna means fullness. Annapurna is traditionally depicted holding a ladle and a bowl of khir, a rich rice pudding. She is a manifestation of the goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, so I painted his symbol of the crescent moon in her hair. Annapurna is also the goddess of agriculture, so I depicted her with a halo made from sheaves of ripe, golden grain. I surrounded her with intertwined pomegranate and grape vines to represent fruitful abundance. The latticework design in the background is made of lotuses, which symbolize enlightenment, and mangoes, which symbolize fulfillment. Every detail in the painting is decorated or outlined with iridescent gold paint. Many of the paints contain gems and minerals, including garnet, lapis lazuli, malachite, amethyst, black tourmaline, blue apatite, amazonite, Sleeping Beauty and Kingman turquoises, and minerals from Sedona.

Annapurna Devi represents my wish that everyone in the world is fully nourished, body and soul, with the finest material and spiritual food.

Gouache, iridescent watercolor and 23K gold leaf on paper 25” x 31”