California
What inspired your winning entry? I acquired this beautiful, traditional Indian drapery with unique tassels that I wanted to paint for a few months now. Upon visiting an antique store, I found the perfect vintage silver teapot. When I saw the teapot, I immediately connected the two together in my head. So in essence, just the will to mix and match the two in a painting inspired the work.
How would you describe your style? Realism and contemporary realism.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? From the Bhagavad Gita: “Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”
If you weren’t an artist, what would you be? A sitar player.
What’s the most meaningful recognition you’ve received for your artwork? There’s this gentleman in Mumbai who was quite impressed with my style of painting. He commissioned 70 paintings for an entire floor in his hotel!
When you’re not painting, what do you enjoy doing? Playing the sitar, taking a stroll in the park, and watching movies.
Where did you study art? I’ve pursued a bachelor’s degree in fine art and painting from L.S. Raheja School of Art in Mumbai.
How did you first get interested in art? I’ve been painting since I was a kid. As far as I can recollect, I doodled a lot! I loved painting birthday cards, and I also used to spend my holidays learning other creative forms of painting like mixed media, embossed painting, and glass painting.
What galleries represent your work? John Carroll Doyle Art Gallery, Charleston, SC.
This story was featured in the December 2018 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art December 2018 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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