The Art of Sita’s Fire is a compilation of art from the Sita’s Fire trilogy. It is my hope to spark a wider interest in my and my daughter’s Trilogy through this art book. Our Trilogy is based on the longest and oldest Sanskrit poem ever composed, the Ramayana. The Ramayana is not very well known in the West, so we hope that the Sita’s Fire Trilogy will attract the attention of people to the drama, beauty, and wisdom present in this ancient text.
It is also my hope to reach a wider audience with this intriguing story in the form of this art book. I love books, especially nicely designed books that are beautifully illustrated.
The whole yoga culture that has taken root here in the West comes from the same tradition and culture as the Ramayana. To enter into a mindful meditation on this ancient yoga tradition opens our minds to newer and deeper perspectives on the complexities of life and to the possibility of self-discovery and self-realization of who we really are. It gives us a path to live with meaning, purpose, and wisdom.
One of my main inspirations in creating pieces of art is to express beauty. Beauty is therapeutic to me. It is the ultimate reality and it heals my soul. My artwork is a blend of influences from great artists that emerged during the Golden Age of Illustration, as well as contemporary illustrators and artists. I allow myself to be influenced by any expressions of art that evoke positive feelings in my heart.
I work mainly with water color, pencil and ink. I want my art to be more than just a mere attractive wall decoration. I have practiced meditation in the Bhakti yoga tradition for over forty years and my art expressions are an important part of my spiritual path. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to create all of these pieces of art for the Sita’s Fire trilogy, a modern retelling of an ancient story presented from the female perspective.
I feel this book conveys hardly even a drop of the fathomless ocean of the story of Ramayana. Nevertheless, it has been my pleasure to try to capture something of the magic of this ancient tale.
In this book, The Art of Sita’s Fire, I have drawn inspiration from two very dear sources. The first is from my daughter’s writing. I have taken passages from the Trilogy that inspired me to make a particular painting.
I have also added some passages from the work of the Princeton team, led by Robert P. Goldman, who did a superlative translation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. This translation was my daughter’s main source of inspiration when writing Sita’s Fire. Their beautiful translation has been a source of inspiration for me as well as I gained a deeper and more fulfilling understanding of this great epic.
‘Art is not a handicraft. It is the transmission of feelings the artist has experienced.’ (Leo Tolstoy)
Annapurna is a Swedish-born watercolour artist whose creative journey is shaped by her love of nature, deep spirituality, and vibrant family life. As a wife, mother, and grandmother to three radiant children, her art carries the gentle grace and wisdom of someone deeply connected to the world around her.
Annapurna’s artistic style is rooted in the belief that true beauty often resides in the unnoticed and understated. She likens herself to a wildflower—delicate yet resilient, growing freely wherever it finds light, often mistaken for something ordinary until observed closely, where its unique elegance comes alive. Like these flowers, her work emerges without constraints, expressing itself naturally and authentically.
Her fascination with colours, forms, and textures has been a lifelong passion. Annapurna has always found visual imagery to be her most powerful language, a way to communicate feelings and concepts that words could never fully convey. Watercolour, pencil, and ink are her chosen media, offering her a fluid and versatile canvas to explore the ethereal themes she loves: the delicate interplay of light and shadow, the richness of ancient wisdom, and the serenity of meditation.
Annapurna’s studio is her sanctuary—a place where the outside world fades away, and inspiration flows from within. It is here that she creates art infused with the devotional essence of bhakti, inspired by the timeless spiritual heritage of India. This love for India’s ancient culture and traditions breathes life into her work, guiding her hand as she strives to capture not just the form, but the spirit of her subjects.
Her journey as an artist has been marked by both material and spiritual challenges, each teaching her resilience and patience. She believes that mastering fine art is a lifelong pursuit, one that demands a dedication to practice and an openness to the subtle lessons hidden within every stroke of the brush.
Annapurna’s paintings are more than visual expressions—they are reflections of her soul, offering a glimpse into a world where the sacred and the mundane coexist in perfect harmony. Through her art, she invites the viewer to pause, look a little closer, and discover the beauty that exists all around us, even in the smallest of details.