I always believe that anything can be the subject for a painting. We just need an eye for catching the hidden beauty around us. With this sentiment in mind, I started depicting the beauty of my surroundings. My work is a collection of the things I’ve seen and experienced out in the world. 

Union, oil on linen, 30 x 36" (76 x 91 cm)  This painting is from my recent indoor series. With no option of going out, it was a great opportunity to find the beauty in simple indoor objects. It was a true “work from home” experience for me. I studied various materials and textures like glass, metal, stainless steel, etc. in my work. I used thick color applications for depicting the strong highlights. The work is done from life in the alla prima method.

Mingled, oil on linen, 48 x 44" (121 x 111 cm)  I arranged this entire set-up below eye level. I was inspired by the different angle of my own reflection in the glossy surface of the plate. I started with priming the canvas with a neutral wash. Then I completed the work with free strokes and knife application. I tried to depict my emotional relationship with the household objects in an unique way.

 

During the lockdown period, I explored my freedom through painting numerous indoor and household subjects, and I realized there is no need to go far in search of a subject. Art can be the reflection of our day to day activities. Holding the same thread, I started working on simple routine subjects. Such subjects started offering me a new way of looking at typical objects around us. Along with focusing on technical aspects like lighting, angles, harmony and color application, I became more mindful about composing the objects with emotional, cultural and symbolic meaning. I believe that the way objects are composed on the canvas can stimulate a variety of emotions for viewers. My works are not merely the painting of inanimate objects, but tend to convey my own stories.

Selfie, oil on linen, 36 x 36" (91 x 91 cm)  Many people feel very sensitive toward their kitchen. At the time of working on this piece, I was a newly married girl, and most of the brand new kitchen utensils were gifted to me in the wedding, as per Indian traditions. I could see my clear reflection in its glossy surface while working in my kitchen. I had experienced studio mirrors while studying self-portraits, but when I saw this self-portrait in my kitchen utensils, I realized my new responsibility. From this perspective, more than just a self-portrait by the artist, this creativity is an echo of the responsible housewife depicted by the hidden artist inside her.

 

Indoor Food plaza, oil on linen, 16 x 40" (40 x 101 cm)  These vibrant and colorful elements were composed so well on my kitchen shelf that I simply took the liberty of recomposing it on my canvas. I tried to maintain the mood of this subject through a warm color scheme. I started the painting by adding a thin layer of yellow wash for maintaining the harmony throughout the work. Typical Indian spices, pickles and other items are painted with bold brushstrokes.

I love to experiment with oils along with the use of versatile tools in my art practice. I strongly believe that artistic principles and fundamentals are the concrete basis for any creation. I generally begin my work with building a value composition through black and white studies. Before starting a painting, I decide on a strategy by making a color sketch. This helps me to understand shapes, values, edges and color mixtures. I prefer live painting with loose, bold brush strokes and buttery color application to express the mood of the subject. In a nutshell, my work is a blend of my own pictorial language, spontaneous color applications and classical academic approach.  —