Piece description from the artist
This artwork, began as an academic public demo, resulted in an exciting journey in discovery and process. It is not only a poured, mixed-media painting with paint drips inspired by the works of Jackson Pollock but in addition is inspired by the Indian Batik method of painting, During the process, an unprimed canvas without a coat of gesso was begun by an initial drawing with chalk and charcoal. With a layer of tempera and acrylic paint which was allowed to dry, the canvas was washed and painted over in repeated layers. A limited color palette was chosen. Once the topmost layer was reached, collaged materials were added including wood chips, matchbox-cover, metal wires, string, and cotton wool that were adhered by acrylic paint as the permanent gluing agent. (Acrylic paint has glue-like properties). The original has not been framed by choice. Photos close ups in various parts included. The reverse side of the work shows that the canvas was washed for repeated layering and wash.
A recipient of the International Tagore Award for her contribution in the field on Fine Arts in January 2024, and an Artist of the Year Award by the Circle Foundation the Arts, France in February 2024, there has been no looking back for contemporary visual artist Chitra Ramanathan since 1995 when the artist’s career debuted with solo and group exhibitions of her paintings at different venues including Agora Gallery on Broadway, New York City. Noticed by art critics for her concept and originality, her name and art were featured in different art publications including Manhattan Arts Magazine.
Ramanathan's unique, intuitive style of painting is distinct with her treatment of fresh, bright colors executed with rapid brush strokes. Often combined with varied intricately interwoven textural materials interwoven into the paint rather than mere stand-alone collages, her work visually creates the aura of extending beyond their two-dimensional surfaces, frequently created in expansive scale, or as multi-paneled works with the concept of happiness and expression of joy, the theme of her ongoing body of work. They have been featured in venues including courthouses, hotels and prominent solo and group exhibitions or as specific commissioned projects. Her numerous originals have been acquired by private and business clients, auctions, and site-specific public art commissions including an installation of a pair of custom-created paintings at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas in 2004 invited by MGM Resorts International.
Recent private commissions include a recently completed commission request by a private client in Dayton area, Ohio to create pair of paintings identically measuring 7 feet high by 3.4 feet wide that was completed in July 2020. In 2016, a three-paneled painting was commissioned by the CEO of Biaggis chain of restaurants in Bloomington, Illinois, and a 5 feet wide X 3 feet high commissioned piece for a private client in Boston, MA in 2018.
An award-winning child artist growing up in India, Ramanathan earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting with honors in 1993 and M.B.A in 1997 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Publications of Chitra Ramanathan's biography and images have been featured in Askart.com, Luxury Real Estate Magazine, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), Who’s Who in America, International Contemporary Artists, Vol 1., the Indianapolis Business Journal, Indianapolis Monthly Home Magazine, Miami Art Scene Magazine in 2018, and the Art Guide Mag's Artist Directory in 2020.
In recognition of her uniqueness and experience, Ramanathan was invited as Visiting Artist by the Head of the Royal Academy of Arts, London UK in 2005. for a visual presentation and student critiques at the Royal Academy of Arts Schools.
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