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Super Sikh’s inner qualities include – protector of loved ones, strong and calm, and his outer qualities include – turban, beard and weapons. Once I saw these qualities in Super Sikh, I became inspired to paint him. I love to paint characters that have these warrior-saint qualities, those are the best kind.

A few years ago there were no decent sikh characters in popular Indian media. They were mostly jokers, caricatures and minor characters. So I always felt that there should be some solid sikh characters, heroes, super heroes, etc in the media. That trend has started changing, however as far as comics are concerned, we still need positive sikh characters in comics. Super Sikh is perfect for that.

The Warrior-Saint

Super Sikh’s inner qualities include – protector of loved ones, strong and calm, and his outer qualities include – turban, beard and weapons. Once I saw these qualities in Super Sikh, I became inspired to paint him. I love to paint characters that have these warrior-saint qualities, those are the best kind.

Love for Superheroes

I love super heroes and I have always been involved in making all kinds of heroic characters. A lot of my art from 2006-2008 is about Sikh super heroes, powerful Sikh mutants who have different powers and different personalities. So when I heard about this project, Super Sikh, it was right up my alley. I became super excited and I lept over tall buildings in enthusiasm, faster than a speeding bullet.

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How to Paint Super Sikh (Time Lapse + Commentary)

In this painting tutorial, I show go behind the scenes and show you how my painting of Super Sikh was created. I also talk about how to paint Super Sikh’s guns, his turban and his jacket, providing my insights into the painting process.

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In Shaivism, Shiv ji is Mahadev, the Supreme God. He is Sada Shiv, ever-present, pure consciousness, the beginning and end of all things. He is the personification of great peace and great terror in different forms.

Trip to India

I had been doing sketches of Shiva or Shiv ji as I like to call him, in my trip to India back in 2012. Having visited sacred places, spoken to devotees and meditated, I was in that zone where I was peaceful and sketching effortlessly for hours a day. The pencil just flowed even in the heat of July.

Coming Home

After summer, I came back to Canadian Winters, with a sketchbook filled with artworks of Shiv ji, Vishnu ji and Hanuman ji. I simply put my book aside and got back to my old paintings, my old routine but in the back of my mind, there was this itch to paint some of these Sacred Forms. However strong that itch, I still carried on the old routine.

Coming into my True Home

Then after I saw “Devon Ke Dev Mahadev” that feeling of wanting to paint Shiv ji manifested. I felt inspired to learn about and to paint Shiv ji. I began reading articles on him and began to get a feel for his persona. I began to meditate and access that deep peaceful pool at the center of my being. And I began to paint Shiv ji.

Religion of Shiva

In Shaivism, Shiv ji is Mahadev, the Supreme God. He is Sada Shiv, ever-present, pure consciousness, the beginning and end of all things. He is the personification of great peace and great terror in different forms.

Adi Yogi Should Have a Beard

I have painted Shiva as the Adi Yogi, and he is bearded just like his bhakts, devotees, the yogis who meditate on him. He looks out to the viewer with his eyes half closed, in a calm-meditative state, to remind them to pray for such peace. With his throat, he traps the vish, poison of the world, and with his hand, he blesses the viewer with amrit, heavenly tranquility.

Formless Shiva with Form

In this painting, he is dressed in tiger skin, rudraksh mala (rosary) and ardh chand (crescent moon). From his matter locks, trickles a small stream of the holy Ganges, Ganga river, and a cobra rests peacefully on his neck. That said Shiv ji is formless, he is not limited to any characteristics, forms and features. He transcends them all.

Order some prints of Shiv ji for your cozy home or as great gifts to loved ones!

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Newest Release
My newest painting depicting Dashmesh Pita – Guru Gobind Singh ji – is a reminder that through the Guru’s teachings we can illuminate the darkness in the mind. In this painting, Dashmesh Pita reflects Akal Purakh’s light, the way the moon reflects the sun, and when we bathe in Guru Sahib’s warmth, we become warm ourselves. Continue Reading…

The above image is a very small preview of the full portrait. Guru Sahib’s larger than life personality requires a larger than life portrait!

Upcoming Paintings
I will be introducing a new work of art in a new ‘Other Faiths’ section. In addition, I have been working away on my speed-painting of Bhai Kanhaiya, to bring it to a detailed finish. Look out for these paintings in the next email!

Sikh Heritage Month Exhibition
For the whole month of April, my artwork can be seen hanging at the prestigious PAMA – Peel Art Gallery and Museum Archives. Visit – 9 Wellington Street East in Downtown Brampton to experience the paintings in person.

Thank you for your continued support. I love you guys! Have a wonderful Vaisakhi!