I’ve been sketching and painting all my life. I love the process. Whether it is mixing paints to get the desired colors and fluidity, or tuning the pressure of the pencil to get the form and details on my sketches, the process feels meditative. In this post, I would like to share my experience with one painting in particular, which has been an on and off project for me through a decade, and recently emerged back into my horizon like a phoenix rising from a long hiatus. It almost felt like this painting had a mind of its own.
A little backdrop on my journey with the art piece. I came across a calendar featuring paintings by the eminent Indian Artist Raja Ravi Varma and this particular painting of baby Krishna in the arms of his foster mother Yashodha had a mesmerizing effect on me, galvanizing enough that I decided to paint it.
I started with a bang, progressing very swiftly in the beginning, and in a few weeks, had the main forms and undertones laid on the canvas. And then it happened, the progress on this painting slowed down, as I got busy with work and few other commitments. I couldn’t devote big chunks of time this painting needed. Gradually it came to point where I just shelved it, and as years passed and life took over, I’d lost the initial drive I had with this painting. This was not a case of procrastination, I completely shelved it. I was however doing bits of art work, painted a few oil and water color pieces, pastels & charcoal art, but this painting remained shelved.
I reconciled with myself that maybe this was going to remain unfinished like somethings in life and I should be okay with it. But I had a strong internal conflict with not finishing what I’d started with great passion and interest. This continued for few years.
Fast forward, I started painting bit more regularly during the long snowy winter last year, experimenting with new ideas and techniques and enjoying getting back on the art groove. After a few art projects, out of the blue, this unfinished Krishna painting resurfaced in my thoughts. In an impromptu act, I retrieved the shelved painting from its long incubation of almost 10 years. Setting it up on my easel, I gave it a through scan to evaluate how much of the painting remained to be done. I intentionally left it on the easel for a couple of days and was giving it a closer look, absorbing its form. Finally I had a mental picture of which parts I’d start with and then set up my brushes and paints. I waited a few more days, letting my thoughts on the plan for this painting settle on my brain and psyche.
Transitioning gradually and wrapping my head around the process after a long gap, made it easier for me to get into the flow and begin where I’d left years back. Once I started painting it became an immersive process. I painted every night for the next two weeks, working and readjusting the fine details until I was satisfied. With the final stroke, I felt mixed emotions of joy, a sense of release and immense gratitude.
Drawing parallels with my work as a physicist and a research scientist, there have been times when creativity in a scientific project hits an impasse and I’ve noticed, forcing ourselves to conform often doesn’t result in breakthroughs. It’s when the impasse clears that our brain looks at the problem differently and then solutions become evident. Shelved projects resurface even in the scientific world and gets solved just like it did with this painting. And that’s where science and art are more similar than not.
I can’t exactly pin down on what led me to revisit this project after so many years, but the timing was right in that I was mentally ready for it, enjoying every minute of the process of just painting. This painting sure seemed to have had a mind of its own !
Hi Sujatha,
Great to hear from you. Love this painting. I read your story.. . It’s my feeling that Covid isolation has given us a rare opening to spend time on things that are really important to us. Things we want to finish in our lifetime. This is a small thing, but for example, I have been wanting to bake pies like my mother used to make. Cooking has never been my priority until now. My mother wanted me to learn her love of cooking. Suddenly making a pie has become my priority. In our restricted homes, we may feel more open to embracing spaciousness of thought, spirit & activity. I think it is curious.
Trent
Hi Trent,
Lovely to see your comment. Honored to get feedback on my painting from an artist of your stature.
Thanks for sharing your thought on how Covid spurred isolation is shifting priorities in our lives for things we may not have otherwise had time or resources to pursue, love your story on “baking pies”, bet they are delicious..:).
You’ve captured the essence of Covid isolation very well with this thought..” In our restricted homes, we may feel more open to embracing spaciousness of thought, spirit & activity.”
–Sujatha
Dear Sujatha,
This is an absolutely stunning picture. Who in India hasn’t seen the classic form of Baby Krishna in the arms of His mother, Yashoda. Such divinity in both and you’ve brought out the emotions really well. Krishna appears just as I’d have imagined but your take on Yashoda is Interesting and unique. Here she is so much more matronly than any other image I’ve seen. Her love is palpable. Your own journey, both as a scientist and as an artist (are science and art really that different?) is remarkable. Hoping to see more such creations.
-Ranga
Hi Ranga,
Thank you very much for your feedback highlighting some very subtle nuances, that often don’t get noticed in art. This was a immersive piece for me in multitude of ways. It was an experience I went through wherein creative process sometimes hits a barrier and we have to work out the kinks to clear the pathways and make room to spur creativity. I am always amazed at what speaks to each person when they look at a piece of art. A young child who saw this piece at home our mentioned he that noticed Krishna had this slight hidden mischief in his smile, which really resonated with something I was trying to capture. For me, more important than anything is the ‘flow-state’ of sorts that comes with the process of painting, which is very synonymous in my experience when Iam immersed in the depths of a scientific problem and figuring the solution. Science and Arts have a lot in common, contrary to common perception and highlighting parallels between these two seemingly disparate domains was one of the motivations for me to start this blog.Appreciate your kind words, — Sujatha
Appreciate your kind words,