Heimweh

Echoes of your absence linger
In the winds of change; …
These days! ….

My heart aches
Unknowingly and why do
‘I miss you’? – I strangely sigh
These days! ….

Heimweh/ german
(n.) a longing for home

Little Joy

My student has drawn me.

I wear hijab. But she doesn’t like that. So she drew me without the scarf. She asked me if my hair is long, short or medium. Accordingly she tried to draw. She even marked my dimple and so she drew two dimples on the cheeks. But I’ve one dimple on my cheek. She has love for me and so she drew heart ❤️ in her dress to show that she loves me.

She forgot to draw the nose on her drawing and at the end of the class, she looked at the whiteboard as I was giving thanks for her sweet effort, and there she suddenly said, ‘Oh no! Where’s your nose?’ And she quickly gave a dot on the face.

Isn’t it cute?

I took a picture of it to keep it as a precious memory.

Mrs. Dalloway – a book

What does the brain matter compared with the heart?””

.

.

.

.

.

Tell me ….


Mini Mountain – Painting

This small little artwork in standing frame was chosen by one of my favourite friend for one of her favourite person.

So I wrapped it with all the things that I usually send with the painting, few JBC cards, greeting cards and a hand-written note as a token of gratitude.

My friend received the packet with gratitude and her favourite person received the Mini Mountain painting with grace and appreciation from her.

I remember, I shared one photo image of this Mini Mountain to my friend the day before I sent it to her, and I told my friend, ‘If she (your fav person) keeps this little piece in an aesthetic manner, it’ll be a great fit for any corner of her home’ ….

Then she told me, ‘You know Roksana, your little artwork is going to a home where they’re pretty cultural minded people and they design the walls of their home with different paintings from different categories, such as paintings from famous artist Rafiqun Nabi (Ranabi) and others. And I’ve chosen your art for their home.’ I was speechless; I didn’t know what to say. I was feeling shy and a lot overwhelmed … Thank you Joya for choosing JBC artwork for such a beautiful artistic home.♥️

After three days, my friend sent me a photo of the corner side-table where this little Mini Mountain has found it’s precious space, and my friend wrote to me, ‘Your painting, in the right place now.’

I loved that so much –
I looked at the image carefully and I found –
Sufi darbesh in white attire …
Buddha taking a peaceful nap …
George Harrison’s famous Bangla Desh cassette
A vintage old-fashioned black land-lined phone
A photograph of a young girl …
And many more souvenirs and antiques …
In midst of all these, my mini mountain painting … Isn’t it amazing?

My happiness knows no bounds …
I’m happy that they received my little artwork with joy in their home as it indeed brought joy in my heart creating it.

I love these stories of JBC paintings and artworks ….
These are like love-letters to me …

I hope you love the JBC love-stories too …

.

.

.

#JianBirdGallery❄️

A Book with A Few Thoughts

Some days I like to walk with a book….
And with that, there are some words to reflect..

Don’t go back to past.
There’s nothing you can do about it.
Accept where you’re at and move on and try be in the present.
Have gratitude for what you already have.
Have compassion and accept what is.
And if you can change it, it’s okay.
But there are somethings that you need to accept that you can’t change
And if you can’t change, let it go.
Be who you’re and people will like you.

A grief is a grief is a grief, and there’s not a piece of me that believes one loss is greater than another…Everyone’s loss is greater in their life. Try to understand this and be empathetic about it. So in a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Time is the finest gift one can give to other from heart and soul. Empathy is the truest attribute one can possess for others.

Just “Don’t ever give anybody enough power to bring back the triggered unhealed version of you, when you’ve worked so hard to become better than that” ….

A Little Walk

So I went to a bit far away village for a simple photo-walk. There I met some extraordinary people of all ages who welcomed me wholeheartedly. But they do not know me. I do not know them until today … Some love their goats, some love their fields, some love their busy time – and all were happy and contented. I just love that so much. The simplicity. The care they carry for a stranger is nothing but the glory of their life.

I felt so much warm around them. Few children of that village accompanied me all the time … wherever I was going they were always there …

I took a lot of pictures. Here I have shared only a few. When I get a scope of taking pictures, I go crazy. I even do not remember from when I get this attraction to take photos wherever I would go or wherever I would be … I simply love when I hear my camera makes the sound, ‘Click Click’. I feel so passionate about it! Between smiles, laughter, and capturing memories, who wouldn’t just love photography?

I’m sure photography tells a story. You can see these photographs and make the story for yourself …


Will you?

For a little walk
With me,
Will you please come?
A little far away
From chaos and bustle
Of city life
Will you please come?
For a little walk
Down the valley
With a tune of a song
That you like and I love too …
Will you please come?

Love

Sometimes we’re in love with moments, not with people ….

.

.

.

.

.

.

You Live Once – A Painting

Live life adventurously. You live once.



#JianBirdGallery❄️

I hope you would love this song which I have added in my this painting work in progress video. It’s one of my favourite.

I love this song, ‘Live More & Love More’ by Cat Burns. I love it’s melody and energy.

It tells about starting whatever it is you want to start and doing whatever it is you want to do in life. Because we only have one life, and we deserve to live it to the fullest. Such a positive powerful song.

It beautifully expresses to find a balance between growing ourselves as individuals and sharing our love.

“If there’s something you wanna do, just do it
Don’t let your head stop your heart from moving
If there’s someone you wanna talk to, talk to ’em
Who knows who we’d be if we just
Live more and love more
We all just need to live more and love more
So hug your kids, tell them you love them
Have some heart but make sure it’s open
Play by risk ’cause time gets stolen
Maybe speak less and listen more
‘Cause life’s too short
You only have one
It might sound cliche
But your life can start when you choose it to
When you choose it to” ….

Another song that I love so much is ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay…. Love these lines so much,

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you’ ….

Isn’t it beautiful?

What is/ are your favourite powerful positive song/s?

Cracks – A Painting

You’re shattered enough to understand that cracks are required for light to enter …

Let the light enter your soul …

We are all broken—that’s how the light gets in

Ernest Hemingway

Isn’t it true?



#JianBirdGallery❄️

Prayer

Why is prayer so powerful?
It’s because you’re having a conversation with the lord of the universe
With the being who gives life
Who is the light of the heavens and the earth
And you’re not just talking to someone who loves you
You’re talking to someone who’s the source of all love and all goodness
And prayer doesn’t end what you say to God or what you ask from God …


When you get connected to the source of all positivity
Something inside you also changes
You get fulfilled
You get inspired
And most of all you get peace

.

.

.

How important is prayer to you?

A Melancholic Music

You are like a music
Which creates melancholic
moods inside my heart …
A melody that lingers, night and day …
I take time to listen to it,
I find myself enchanted;
When nothing seems to ease my restlessness
I listen to you, my music
To walk the long journey of life
Even though it only creates melancholic moods
But you are like that music to me
Loving, healing, heart-touching
Connecting my soul to you
Forever and always ….

Apharwat Peak, Gulmarg

The Moonlit Night, Tonight

Srinagar, Kashmir

I’m so lost now …
Seeing you
In the breeze of the moonlit night …

That faraway moon brightens our long conversations so much,
That it feels
Like we could talk forever
In the deep of this moonlit night …

I’m so lost now
Looking deep in your eyes
As you whisper sweet nothings
In the breeze of the moonlit night tonight …

A Symphony of Love …

Pahalgam, Kashmir

The paths and the valleys are glowing
There is magic in mountains and waterfalls
The air is reciting the story of our love ….

There
I felt shy when you came near to me
The breeze could hear the breaths of my silent shyness … but I couldn’t …

Here
My unheard songs are echoing across the mountains
Even though I’m feeling a bit lonely
Without you ….
Yet this loneliness has a fragrance of you
Our love has hopes for tomorrow
This distance looks good to me …

The paths and the valleys are glowing
There is magic in mountains and waterfalls
The air is reciting the story of our love ….

A Tale of Twin Paintings

I put my heart and soul into my work, and I have lost my mind in the process.
-Vincent Willem Van Gogh

It is true for each of my creative works. My paintings have its stories and often they echo my deep-rooted emotions and deep talk with myself. I live in each of its stories and moments of creativity.

So here I so very wish to share my stories of two paintings with you all.

A Tale of Twin Paintings

Finally Falguni has the other twin painting tittle ‘Hope Shines’. I am super happy that she has chosen this one. And then there the first twin painting titled ‘Follow the Soothing Breeze, Here’ already owned by my daughter …

Why am I saying this two paintings as ‘TWIN PAINTINGS’?

Because I painted this two paintings simultaneously, keeping them side by side using only one art paper, dividing them with masking tapes. And they both have the same wavelengths I felt at the time I was painting them. While I was working on this Twins, during their creative process, colouring, taking pauses, brushing, re-brushing, stroking the brushes here and there, I remember I was contemplating on various things, specially doing meaningful purposeful work for the rest of my life. A purpose greater than life itself. Many a times I felt discouraged and demotivated, but never ever I felt lost as to what next. I’ve been always having different ideas to move forward in life. Never look back what I couldn’t, but moving forward what I can. Just like the titles of the Twin Paintings, I have been following a Soothing Breeze instilled in my heart all my life keeping my ‘Hope’ Shines throughout this life’s journey so far ….

Amazing, na?

Now I’m so glad that one twin painting is with my little sister-friend Falguni, and the other twin has its permanent residence at my dear daughter’s far away homesweethome.

When I first shared the two paintings after seemingly finishing them with my daughter, she immediately asked me to keep the ‘Follow the Soothing Breeze Here’ painting for her. I just loved the urgency to book the painting for herself. So I did keep it aside for her, happily. Last time I visited NY, I took that painting for her home there. She has already few of my paintings at her home. Now all the people come to visit her place, they ask her about the paintings and she feels so proud to let them know, ‘My mom is an artist. These are her paintings.’ She has been my very own cheerleader from the day I started the painting journey in 2020. And from then onwards, I listened to her many suggestions for my Jian Bird Creates and my painting journey. She absolutely adores my creative style of living and specially this journey inspires her to follow the soothing breeze deep inside her loving beautiful heart for herself.

Now ‘Hope Shines’ had lost its Twin and was alone, passing its days with other dazzling paintings around it. One day Falguni came at my Fund raising event ‘Meet & Greet’ for love and light. She walked through my small Jian Bird Gallery, and there she found her ‘Hope Shines’. As definitely always her hope shines through all the ups and downs of life’s tragic and unexpected happenings and yet she continues to shine ✨ For that reason or some other, she decided to own the ‘Hope Shines’ …

For an artist, the canvas is his life, breath and philosophy. So when someone owns their artwork or creative piece, and genuinely wants to keep those with them, I as an artist consider it as honor. I feel they can relate to the piece as I do. And for most of my artworks, I had this conversational experience to tell a story or to evoke an emotion. And there are some who wants me to attach the story with it. I feel it’s a complete connection, from soul to soul.

Now I know my very first TWIN paintings will always remain as their beloved treasures at their soul-home wherever they go. They are themselves two amazing souls in the beautiful Earth, self-made, selfless and strong.

Lastly, I just want to say to ALL of you;
Never forget. Hope shines only for those who believe.

Thanks, kindly, for stopping by and reading this long note from me.

Warmly,

Roksana


JianBirdGallery❄️ JianBirdCreates

Grey isn’t What I’m Meant to be …

Life is somewhat grey
Everywhere
Just monotony
Lost and lonely …

Don’t you know?

Only when you stay
Life is colorful ….
A hopeful glow
Echoes of brighter joy
Birds sing cheerful songs
Rays of sunshines warm my cheeks
My yellow dyed dreams return …

Now it’s grey
Everywhere …

When will you come?
Without you, I feel grey ….

Don’t you know?
Grey isn’t what I’m meant to be …

And Promise Me …

The Good Traveler

And promise me
You’ll always remember:

You’re
Braver than you believe, and
Stronger than you seem, and
Smarter than you think.”

A. A Milne, Winnie the Pooh

.

.

On the road

Sonamarg, Kashmir

The Murmuring Sound – A Painting

It’s leaving my home for a sweetheart friend’s home ….

Nadia asked me why it’s titled as ‘The Murmuring Sound’ …..

I m consciously aware of the flourishing things at this moment of my life rather than many other distractions of day to day life…. The murmuring sound from a faraway land keeps whispering to me that there are some blessings getting my way now …

O God, when I listen to the voices of animals, the sounds of trees, the murmurings of water, the singing of birds, the whistling of the wind, or the boom of thunder, I see in them evidence of Your unity; I feel that You are supreme power, omniscience, supreme knowledge, and supreme justice. I recognize You, O God, in the trials I am going through. May Your pleasure be my pleasure, too. May I be Your joy, the joy that a Father feels for a son. And may I think of You calmly and with determination, even when I find it hard to say I love You.

Paulo Coelho

An
#JianBirdGallery❄️

Fall, Fluttering, & Fallen_

Blossom
I shall smile while
Fluttering around an autumn tree ..

Sometimes I seek so far
Watching the river flow and a
Rendezvous in you …

For a moment
The beautiful changes
Touch me to free my soul …

I sit down
Deep into the woods
Under the autumn trees …

I don’t know how to tell it more
But as you blossom
I shall smile
Till then an ache in secret
Remembering beautiful memories
In cherry blossoming …
My darling!

Solitary Dream – A Painting-

.

Come and let me embrace you
With the colorful memories,
Rooted in our hearts
That we owe to ourselves ….

.



#JianBirdGallery❄️

.

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

– Kahlil Gibran

What do you think?

Happiness Tasted –

.

A cup of coffee with a friend,
Is like happiness tasted and time well-spent.

And then a toast to us,
May we find many reasons to smile together.

.

How do you experience ‘Happiness Tasted’?
That may very well be a good thing, but I am curious, you know.

Unfinished – A Painting

.

Each flower reflects God’s perfect glory,
Quietly drifting along the wondrous things around;
Though unfinished it seems,
There is magic
In its vibrant colours!

.

How vibrant are you in reflecting your magic around?

.

.



#JianBirdGallery❄️

Dear Art – A Letter

Dear Art,

How are you?
I have something to tell you.

I have visited places to see you, feel you, articulate you in my own way. The more I see you, the more I fall in love with you. Some make it complicated and some make you so simple. You are instilled with so many stories of different people. And different people see you with their different perspectives, with their own stories. It fascinates me. It doesn’t matter to you if you are old or young. You know only to encompass yourself to infinity. You do not hide. You are open for all. Some feel you like home. Some treat you like strangers.

Dear Art,
You are not stranger to me. You are like home to me. I do not like to describe you much. You come to me as a beautiful surprise each day. You bring rainbow colours to explore my universe. I rest in you silently nurturing a world full of wonders. I feel pure.

Dear Art,
Do you know you make me shimmery, trembling, softly, from within?

Love,
Me



#JianBirdGallery❄️

Do you have any letter for art and me?

Belle – A Painting

They say
If you want to look for flaws, you’ll find them;
If you want to look for beauty and happiness, you’ll find them too …

What do you want to find?



#JianBirdGallery❄️

Enjoy the journey

Adrift …

Fallen;
I wont be lost

Stolen;
I wont be lost

Hurt;
I wont be lost

Not strong;
I wont be lost

Scared ;
I wont be lost

Fought;
I wont be lost

Silent;
I wont be lost

Loved
I wont be lost.

Find me
Before the mountains crumble.
Find me
Before I m lost.

How often do you feel lost, lost in translation of your feelings and emotions?

This street photography was taken by me, Downtown Brooklyn, April, 2022. Apart from the whole girly face image, I loved the collage of a bird at the bottom left. Do you love taking photographs while just walking the roads? Do you observe things and people around while on the street? Do you contemplate in midst of crowd? Can you find quiet time with yourself even when you are with people around? Just asking! I’m curious to know you 😊

Let’s Sit Here ..

Let’s sit here
With a cup of coffee …
And see the beautiful nature
With the blossoming cherry 😊

Tune in for Love

We all express in a different language
But eyes never lie …

If you love someone
Look deep into their eyes ….
Let their eyes sparkling, and smiling
At the very presence of your being …

Otherwise
Set them free
Their eyes may speak, sparkle and sing ……
At the very presence of another being!

We all express in a different language
But our hearts beat in the same tune
At the sight of our loved ones …

.

Don’t you think so too? Our hearts join in our hearts Only when the same tune comes from our hearts. Boom boom. My heart is beating so fast💓 And yours?

.

.

.

The above image was a capture by me. I love black and white photography

Yet Undefined

She knows that he doesn’t know
How it’s hurting in her heart
He knows that she doesn’t know
How it’s hurting in his heart

She knows that he doesn’t know
How she is waiting for him
He knows that she doesn’t know
How he is waiting for her

What she knows he doesn’t know
What he knows she doesn’t know

They only know what they think they know about the other …

Does she know about herself enough?
Does he know about himself enough?

She is not what he thinks he knows about her
He is not what she thinks she knows about him

Who is she to him then?
Who is he to her then?

Strangers!
For now …
In time to come,
They’ll find themselves
Somehow …

.

The photograph is taken by me 😊
Isn’t it a beautiful photograph? I love black and white photography. And you?

Cherished – A Painting

Cherished

I am with you without speaking much
In an intimacy that’s only mine
As free to wander in the silence of the long highway road
As the way the trees shimmer orange, red and yellow in the sunlight …

I am with you without meeting you
In a sacred heart that’s only mine
As a veiled woman would enter a paradise
As God takes care of my every weakness within me …

Refreshing

Rain

There are fresh fruits, flowers and foods

The whole day, taken nothing

But only rain, so refreshing …

Mood

Date someone you like ….
A little coffee. A little sunlight. A painting.

❤️