I was born in India, studied and worked in the US and now live in China. The influence of all three powerful cultures can be seen in my paintings. A mystic rhythm and a spiritual sense of wonder I got from the Indian culture. The media and some techniques I use show western influence. Some of the design aspects such as clean, sweeping lines I absorbed from Chinese art. I have experimented with several media such as oils, pastels, color pencils, graphite, acrylics, clay and ink and realized that I liked oils best because they offered an intensity that I was looking for.

 

Some background - by education I am an engineer but am now a self-taught artist. About 7 years ago I was working as a programmer for Pratt and Whitney in their jet propulsion division. The materialism and the sterility of modern life started to eat away at my soul. One day I woke up, looked at my apartment full of "stuff" and realized that this was not me. I was doing it to fit in. The emptiness I felt inside led me to complete a 10 month, 5000 mile hike of the Eastern Continental Trail. It was a turning point in my life. After the hike I decided to expand my horizons and live and paint professionally in China, a country and culture that I had always been fascinated with. I am now into my fourth year in China.

 

I have lived and painted in several towns in China and recently completed a 3 month stay in a small Chinese village. This was very good experience. The village atmosphere was extremely conducive to painting. The ideas came through in a torrent and the majority of my experiments on canvas turned successful. I have now found that a very simple, even austere life in a peaceful, natural surrounding is ideal to be connected with the universe and hence to produce art.

    

Artists Statement

 

A calm and meditative rhythm is what I try to convey in my paintings. It's an attempt to break away from a materialistic "cost-benefit" culture and capture the spiritual, mystic side of life. The inspiration comes from a combination of my Indian mystic background and the everyday dance of life.

 

In my art I deal with deeper and simple but powerful forces that affect us all. The resulting technique requires an emphasis on the basic shapes of objects rather than the details. Thus a human body is simplified to perhaps a triangle and a circle. The design of characters and the composition are also kept simple.

 

Color represents life and vitality. The philosophy behind the paintings is an optimistic one with an affirmation of life. This is reflected in the rich and varied colors used. I have found that oils produce the intensity and vibrancy that I am striving for.

 

The paintings together tell a story. The story is not linear. They are loosely structured to allow the viewer her own interpretations.

 

 

Representation

 

    * SheehanCorona Gallery, Dallas, Texas

    * Art on 5th Gallery, Austin, Texas

    * Nama, Tokyo, Japan

 

 

Exhibitions

 

    * Hexi University, ZhangYe, China 2007

    * Nama Group Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan 2007

    * Mei Hong Hua Gallery, Zhang Ye, Gansu, China 2006

    * Winter Fair Art Exhibition, Tian Le Cun, Gansu, China 2006

    * Mei Hong Hua Gallery, Zhang Ye, Gansu, China 2005

    * Landscapes in oils, Lanzhou, China 2005

    * Ai Li Gallery, Lanzhou, China 2005

    * Lao Si Miao Gallery, Zibo, Shandong, China 2004

    * Zibo Yi Zhong exhibition 2, Zibo, Shandong, China 2004

    * Zibo Yi Zhong exhibition 1, Zibo, Shandong, China 2004

    * Banyan Tree Apartments solo exhibition, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 2003

    * Palm Beach library, Juried exhibition, Palm Beach, Florida, US 2003

    * Zhephyr exhibition - Juried, Palm Beach, Florida, US 2003

    * Art of Life, Juried, Wellington, US 2003

    * Zhephyr exhibition, Palm Beach, Florida, US 2002

    * Sunnyvale public library, Sunnyvale, California, US 2002

    * Baptist Church Art fair, Sunnyvale, California, US 2002

    * Banyan Tree Apartments art exhibition, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 2001

    * Corradino Group, Corporate office, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 2001

 

 

Pubilications

* 2006   Esophy Magazine, “Painting Harvest at Logani”, with statement

* 2005   Seven Point Foreign Language School, final exam paper drawing requiring students interpretation

* 2004   Zibo Yi Zhong, monthly magazine, “Adventures of a Foreign Teacher” - a cartoon series

* 2003    Ft. Lauderdale Art League, monthly newsletter, “Creativity and the Artist”