Chitra - contemporary artist

Images  (Top): "Coruscation" (Bottom): " A Momentary Glance"

About work created for MGM Mirage:

My paintings in the Bellagio are based on a couple of my early works " Coruscation" and  "A Momentary Glance"  that were spotted by MGM Mirage, who wanted me to create larger versions that borrow from some of the forms and intense colors used in the originals. I then based the Bellagio paintings with the surrounding colors and brilliance of the Bellagio Conservatory indoor botanical garden. I am glad the resulting works are not limited with titles as many responses have linked the flowers of the Bellagio with the intense colors associated with my pieces. My current work is inspired by garden blooms, and the dream-like quality of happiness that I consider ephemeral and fleeting, comparing the emotion to transitional flowers of spring and summer seasons, visible as in a dream -short-lived. I have been inspired by Monet's garden in Giverny and landmarks such as the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, and hence flowers and gardens and the irresistible qualities of the seemingly random colors of nature and the outdoors yet so divinely organized in that nothing is ever jarring to the eye. I have endeavoured to use this quality of nature to my evolving paintings of the last few years.

For the Bellagio paintings, I initially planned to use a lot of color but ended up limiting my color palette as work progressed during late 2003 to September 2004 while refurbishment of the indoor of the Cafe Bellagio progressed, needing to be mindful of the background and surrounding color schemes in the form of periodic color swatches and surrounding architecture.

URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZpsVS6GQM&feature=related

"A Melodious Dream", 18" x 24". Mixed media on canvas, 2005

About finding a niche:

An Indian American contemporary visual artist who began creating representational art from early childhood, my current foray intoabstract art helps me pursue my ongoing journey as a visual artist withan independent means of expressing my ideas. From personal experiencethus far, my efforts have succeeded in aiding my audiences in formingtheir impressions while relating to my work at the visual level: if notalways through my statement, then alternately with the help of thecolorfulness, variety of textures, hints at figuration and presence ofcircles referring to the human life cycle through which I convey mythoughts and emotions in my paintings.

For achieving my dream visual outcome, I present my thoughts on choice surface materialsthat are an integral part of my body of work. Some examples are canvas,Plexiglas, paper, anodized aluminum or linen, combined with acrylicsand a variety of found materials that are not limited to orientalpapers, gold leaf, sand and fibers to create mixed media. Thesematerials are also incidentally my choice mediums with regard tocourses and workshops that I have been teaching.

After a break, I will be once again be offering courses and weekend workshops in Acrylic Painting and Mixed-media Painting, adding a course in Basic Drawing in fall semester 2009 at the Indianapolis Art Center, Indiana, U.S.A.  Please check web site http://www.indplsartcenter.org for forthcoming autumn adult classes.