“There are two kinds of truth: the truth that lights the way and the truth that warms the heart. The first of these is science, and the second is art”. Great Thought (19 February 1938), published in The Notebooks of Raymond Chandler (1976)

A scientist by profession, I am an artist by desire. Although I started painting from a rather young age, I always saw art as a hobby that I pursued when time permitted. Thirteen years passed by before my next tryst with a brush in 2012 that started a new journey for me. I was in the midst of my doctoral program and was seeking a way to balance my thoughts and emotions. One random day, I stumbled upon the famous photograph of a flower seller in Kashmir, India by Steve McCurry on the internet. I was so taken by the beauty of the picture that I felt compelled to paint it. In the hindsight, that random day was probably the most special.

It’s been a little over 2 years and I have come to realize that painting for me has turned into a meditative practice. I paint when I’m happy, and I also paint when I’m upset.

A lot of my inspiration comes from my culture. There is truth in people describing India as a country of colors and contrasts. From the beautiful sarees that women drape, to vibrant houses that line the streets of the cities, colors are an intrinsic part of our personalities.

Come away with me and take a peek into my mind and heart through my paintings!