Paint Me a Story…

Picasso once said "There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun." Those are the artists that I admire, whose works capture one's heart and imagination, and are forever inspiring.

Once, when living in Guadalajara, I went to see a homeopath who was probably nearing 100 years of age! He asked me to put my hand out right in front of me (what did it have to do with my cough? Surely he should look down my throat, listen to my lungs?) He proceeded to tell me several things about "my personality," which for the most part were spot on, but when he said that art and sunsets were my favorite things, I practically fell off the chair! Isn't palm-reading about how long you'll live and how many kids you'll have?

In Mexico, sunsets are always beautiful, especially in Oaxaca! The way the sun colors the sky is impressive, dramatic and unique. There are never two sunsets alike – just like with original paintings.

Amongst the plethora of interests that Leonardo da Vinci had, he painted as well as invented things, finally proclaiming, "How painting surpasses all human works by reason of the subtle possibilities which it contains!" Today's artists prove him right:

Contemporary Peruvian artists tell the stories of their Inca ancestors in a variety of styles, while others like Julio Cuyro Ccahua offer pictorial depictions of current, long-standing traditions through highly original paintings. Cuyro focuses on the Varayoc, who are selected by the elders in farming communities to become leaders for a year. They are believed to be wise and knowledgeable in all matters pertaining to everyday life, as well as in the mystical realm. Cuyro's style is rich in colour and blends Expressionism and Naïf art with a single brushstroke.


In Ghana, Asayaw Osattene Asante had to go against his parents wishes to become an artist, what he refers to as his own personal mission impossible given the importance that Ghanaians give to family life. I'd like to think his parents are now bursting with pride to see how people around the world admire his original paintings. See, he paints the stories of Africa's past and present, faith and wisdoms, music and dance. He admits he is quite impulsive, which is why he'd rather paint with acrylics than oils, which slow him down! Asante's dynamic and energetic approach to art results in a unique and colorful style. I admire his work because he paints about the things I like most about African art: drums, masks, Adinkra symbols, dance, etc. He also takes care to explain the stories of tradition that inspire his work, like in Ashanti Mad Masks

Novica's online gallery of original paintings exhibits the work of artists from around the world. Oh and the stories they tell! They speak of love, of faith, of customs and traditions. Some share the song or poem that inspired their work, while others regale viewers with abstract or surreal compositions for us to create a story of own.

Far be it of me to side with politicians, but you know? I do agree with Winston Churchill in his admiration of artists: "Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day."

How Things Have Come to Be

I love stories. I love the way stories transport me to different eras and different realities, and I especially love encountering different characters and real people – past and present. My favorite stories are about how things have come to be, and continue being. That's what I love about Novica: everyone has a wonderful story to tell, and every work of art featured on www.novica.com is an integral part of many interrelated stories. Then, true Piscean that I am, I fly into fantasy and add my own bits to the stories.

I know... this is dangerously bordering a metaphysical-quantum physics-existential discussion, which I'd be far from understanding! No, this is about the way Novica stories go, and don't quite have an end... .

Take area rugs for example. Efrain Curi in Peru became a weaver under his uncle's tutelage, he works with traditional looms carved from wood and he only works with wool and cotton. That's part of his story (shall we call it story #1?). Some of the patterns and motifs that he uses are replicas that can be traced back to the Inca Empire (story #2). Then comes my own bit -- I am so intrigued about the 3D effects he achieves, that I wonder if Escher's work has anything to do with it? Or did Escher get his inspiration from Inca artistry? That's part of the rug's story, thus story # 3. Now, how Curi and his rugs came to Novica, well that's part of another story! Story # 4! But see how story #1, 2, 3 & 4 are all interrelated?

Living in Mexico, Novica's Zapotec rug collection brings to mind memories of trips to Oaxaca and exploring Monte Alban pyramids. I am grateful to the weavers from the Oaxacan Artisan Association for sharing what is a new story for me, the Zapotec belief of how people come to be. For example, you know that kind of star-like diamond that you see in most Zapotec rugs? Well putting it briefly, it really represents the four cardinal points and their life energies, considering the cycle of life beginning at conception and continuing in the world of souls, until rebirth. Check out Oaxacan Artisan Association for a fuller story!

I rake up the miles in the fantasy frequent flyer when I see hand-knotted rugs from India! I imagine a group of people sitting together knotting rugs and wonder, do they gossip about the latest Bollywood scandals, or just their next door neighbors? Do they share funny stories about their kids? I also hope they don't have to keep count of the knots – if it were me, I'd constantly have to go back and count! I'm sure the actual process is far more elaborate and sophisticated than what I am imagining, which is why hand-knotted rugs are priced for the quality of the artistry, as well as the quality of the material -- that's why Indian hand-knotted rugs usually become family heirlooms. That means that, though you may be able to trace the story of a hand-knotted rug through Novica to Ishtyaq in India, you'll be hard-press to find the end of the story because it will likely continue for generations to come.

That's why I love reading Customer Testimonials, because they keep the stories going, when they share their experience of receiving the rug, and their amazement when it becomes a real piece of decorative art in their homes. I wonder what their guests say? What's their contribution to a rug's story?