MY FANTASTIC SOLITARY CHILDHOOD

MY FANTASTIC SOLITARY CHILDHOOD  24"x 18" Acrylic on Canvas Board 2011 by Roopa Dudley

I grew up in the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan. It was right at the border of Baluchistan Province which is mainly a desert with huge Rocky Mountains.  The weather there is similar to that of Arizona. Hot and Dry. I lived in a valley opulent with Mango Groves and surrounded by huge Rocky Mountains. 

There was never a dull moment in my life as a kid. I was the youngest of the three my parents had so I spent a lot of time by myself and encountered many adventures growing up. I was often left behind to play by myself because I was so much younger then them. I remember embarking on those Rockies all by myself and having a sweet little picnic almost every week. In my imagination I often found myself fantasizing about carousels. I don't remember where I saw it or perhaps read about it in a story book but that was one of my favorite fantasies as a little girl. 

I had an amazing childhood and I wanted to commemorate that feeling in a painting. As you can see for miles and miles not a soul to befriend or play with but that did not deter me from having a jolly good time being on my imaginary Carousel...and what an amazing Carousel it was. It was right there in my enchanting Chess-Wonderland. I had so much fun without getting into any trouble in my Chess-Wonderland.  

This painting was selected by the jury for an Art Exhibit at Laurel, MD on March 2012 - April 2012 in Montpelier Art Center.