Sienna Craig, illustrated by Tenzin Norbu,
Clear Sky, Red Earth: A Himalayan Story
Mera Publications, 2004.

Ages 7-12

Clear Sky, Red Earth is a beautiful collaboration between American Sienna Craig and Lama Tenzin Norbu, a 36-year-old traditional painter from the Dolpo region of Nepal’s Panzang Valley. Together they tell a fictionalized story set in the region and based on the 400-year history of Norbu’s family of painters.

As the story opens, Namsel Wangmo is a young girl drawing horses in the ashes on her family’s hearth and dreaming of flying. When her grandfather dies, she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle to tend the family’s sheep and goats and help take care of Grandmother. Her uncle is a painter, but her own artistic aspirations are thwarted until a scary accident reveals that Namsel has been painting on rocks near the grazing pastures.

When her uncle recognizes her talent, Namsel’s life changes yet again. He apprentices her and the two work together as Namsel learns how to draw and how to mix pigments from earth and stone. In time, the two are summoned to the kingdom of Lo (presently Nepal’s Mustang territory) to help paint the walls of Jamba Temple at Lo Mothang. Under the beneficent sponsorship of the King and Queen, Namsel paints in Lo for many years and even wins a horse in a drawing competition. When the Jamba Temple paintings are complete, her talents are requested in Lhasa. But first, she returns to her parents for a visit. As she leaves Lo on her horse to begin the next chapter of her life, she feels like she’s flying into Tibet, into her future.

A contributor to the 1999 Academy Award-nominated film "Himalaya" and author/ illustrator of the book of the same name (Groundwood, 2002), Norbu’s flowing line and subtle palette evoke the powerful, peaceful energies of an ancient Himalayan world and introduce young readers to the values and visual aesthetics of Tibetan Buddhism. Between a picture book and a chapter book, Clear Sky, Red Earth is an inspiring story, especially for girls, but it’s also a vivid historical portrait of 17th century Himalayan culture. Young painters may be inspired to copy Norbu’s paintings, as Namsel copied paintings to learn her craft and as Norbu himself was taught. Glossary, pronunciation guide and maps of Nepal are included.

Proceeds from the sale of Clear Sky, Red Earth go to Drokpa, a nonprofit working in the Himalaya and Tibet to “implement grassroots development and catalyze social entrepreneurship.”

Charlotte Richardson
November 2007