Kurma

Here is Kurma, the wonderful tortoise incarnation of Vishnu, with the diatyas and demigods suspended above (they are actually churning the ocean of milk using a sacred mountain as a churning rod and Vasuki, the celestial snake, as the rope). Kurma is kindly providing support while having his back scratched at the same time! This is the history behind the fascinating Kumbha Mela festival, celebrated in India every 12 years. Up to 70 million human beings attend!
This is a large gouache piece. I painted this, along many others in the same series, after spending months painting freely, in the process-painting mood, with an array of Lascaux gouache. Have a great week!