Benten (弁天)

弁天, Benten, River Goddess

One of the seven gods of good fortune in Japan. She is the patroness of art and wisdom.

She came from India, where she used the name Saraswati, by way of China (where she went by the name of Biancaitian) to settle, very comfortably , in Japan.

11 by 14 inches, watercolor on 'Dura-lar' polyester film. Actually this is the same film I painted the watercolor, 'Crossing The Bar', presented here on flickr two pictures back. The boat and oarsman were easily morphed in to Benten.

One of the really nice things about 'Dura-lar' as a ground for watercolor; you can return to a work later and make major changes.