In having a condition called synesthesia,  scenes and images in my mind do not always appear “accurately” to what we typically visually experience in the world, and it is through that lens and use of color that allows me to share my perception of the world. I wanted for that experience to translate into this piece, and so I painted it using expressive colors, and creating texture with cold wax. Through this piece, I wanted to both pay homage to the significance and relevance of animals in Indian culture- as well as in my personal life as someone who loves to be around and ride horses- and serve as a commentary on how animals in general are often treated in our world- that they are fully deserving of being cared for and free, which unfortunately is not always true. This painting won an American Art award this year.

Finally Free

Fall always provides a sense of purity: fresh starts and new beginnings. Likewise, the season also brings its iconic vibrant symphony of warm hues. It is not coincidence that many of these warm hues are also extremely important symbolically in India: Red is the color of purity and rebirth and orange of courage and representing a truly significant meaning and presence through the culture. I utilized pastel in this piece to signify the fleetingness and vibrant texture of the fall season, and the hope this time brings as we venture from a difficult time in our history into what promises a new era of balance and innovation. Pastels are also a tangible way to truly interact and integrate the colors I experience of the world in having a condition called synesthesia;  it is through that lens and use of color that allows me to share my perception of the world through this piece, and how these colors of hope and strength often are my true visual experiences. This is my first ever piece in soft pastel, without any prior training or technique knowledge. 

Symphony

In today's world, there is an increasing pressure for productivity and achievement- often pushing us beyond what is natural and capable as human beings. Likewise, we also often only see what results out of the passage of time rather than the distinct moments that lead to those being possible; we expect to fit in a lifetime before the passage of a single day.
There is a saying that goes: "Nature does not rush, and yet everything is on time." Nature is our fundamental guide towards truth, reminding us of the reality that growth and progress are a result of patience and process. Yet, before we know it we can see single seeds into entire forests. We, likewise, cannot grow into our full form without the gifts that each season brings; rain and sun are both integral to our development and we cannot grow before our time, although our sight often does not wait for us. Cherry blossoms symbolize this passage of time and water is an everlasting message of continued, onward existence. I wanted to explore the phenomenon of time through the natural world and its gift to all of us in the reminder that its wonder is brought about through abiding to the organic flow and development of time. To bring this piece to life, I used oil paint in addition to my own hand-crafted pigments I made by using ground up compounds of dirt, flora and spices. I used pointillism and directional marks to create an expressionistic world, where if one looks closely, they can see each layer and dot as individual composites as well as a part of the composition as a whole- allowing a simultaneous staccato impression and a deeper meaning pointing to the reality that all things in life are comprised of individual moments, compounding to the whole we see. 


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