Pride of India- Loom


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Portrait of my parents (in 2022)

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In 2022, I painted this portrait for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. But looking at it today, I see details in their presence that I was only beginning to understand when my brush touched the canvas. ​My mother, at 65, is the quiet force that holds our universe together. To an outsider, she is in the crowd, cheering gently from the sidelines. But the truth is, she has spent decades carrying this family on her shoulders. Her sacrifices aren't grand, dramatic statements. They live in the smallest, daily details that most people overlook or take for granted. The tiny concessions, the invisible choices, the ceaseless everyday labor. When you look closely, you realize we are all standing on her shoulders. ​My father is a different kind of anchor. Retired over a decade ago, he exists in a rhythm entirely his own. He doesn't cheer. He observes, giving a slight, silent nod of approval when it matters. Being with him often reminds me of the Bhishma Parva. It isn't a Guru-...
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Matsya Avatara

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Painting Light – Bringing Matsya to Life Matsya - Manu One of the greatest joys of oil painting is watching light emerge layer by layer. This painting was never intended to rely on dramatic contrasts alone. I wanted the light to feel as though it originated from Matsya Himself, gently illuminating King Manu's face and hands. The warm glow across Manu's chest, neck, and chin was built using transparent glazes of  Quinacridone Sienna  (with  PO48 ), one of my favourite pigments. Its rich golden warmth has a depth that I have always found difficult to replace. Since this pigment is no longer manufactured, every painting that contains it feels a little more special to me. I'm glad that it became part of this one. The fish is the only true source of light in the painting. I wanted its glow to gently illuminate Manu's face and hands, hinting that this is no ordinary creature. The Divine often reveals itself softly before it reveals itself gloriously. Stages of painting Workin...
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