Sketching at the Mandir Temple!

Saturday, Michael Allen Austin organized a truly special Sketch Book Event for our Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Southern Breeze Illustrators. We went to the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha - Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. This is a bona fide, carved in India, Hindu temple smack dab in the middle of Tucker, Georgia. Who knew?
     Not only was it breathtakingly gorgeous, inside it was a place for worship, but also a constant outreach program to non-Hindu visitors. Harry (?? - president) talks people through how the religion works, why there are so many statues, and how people worship (often prostrate on the ground) . . . which they were doing all around us as we drew.
     We tried to be respectful and stay out of the way, but apparently we were just as interesting to them as they were to us. Worshipers often stopped to watch over our shoulders as we drew. With that sort of pressure, I wanted to make sure I did a good job! So I slowed down and spent more time with my drawings . . .
     The beautiful statues. The amazing carvings which seemed to drip from the ceiling like frosting.

     The metal work in all the window panes - I never saw two alike.

     And who couldn't sit for hours at the elephant fountain?

     It was such a beautiful day, the entire experience was downright spiritual. I'll add more photos on our Illustrators' Corner as I get them ready. So CLICK HERE SOON for more!
(Photos by Michael A. Austin, used with permission.)