Inspiration behind my new painting ‘Rooted In Values’

‘Rooted in Values’ has been selected for the In Dialogue exhibition at the San Rafael Downtown Art Center, presented by the Indian American Artists Association. I’m excited to take you behind the creative process of this work.

There are some paintings that begin with a reference image of a place, a landscape, a memory, or a clear idea. And then there are others that begin with a question. One that lingers, unfolds slowly, and asks to be felt before it can be understood.

Rooted in Values began as that kind of question:

What does it mean to be rooted?

As an artist of Indian origin, having lived in the United States for nearly 15 years, I often find myself existing in an in-between space. Not divided, but layered. There is the life I am building in the present, fluid, evolving, shaped by new landscapes, experiences, and perspectives. And then there is the inheritance I carry from the past, cultural, emotional, and visual, rooted in traditions that run deep.

The theme of In Dialogue, presented by the Indian American Artists Association, resonated deeply with something I had been trying to articulate in my work:

That identity is not a fixed point, but an ongoing conversation.

A conversation between where we come from and where we are.
Between what we inherit and what we choose.

The Landscape Above

In this piece, I chose to work with a circular composition, something that feels whole, continuous, and cyclical. Within it, a contemporary landscape unfolds: open skies, soft hues of pink and yellow, and a solitary tree rising upward. This upper world is expansive. It breathes.
It reflects the outward self, the one that moves through the present moment, adapting, growing, reaching. The colors are gentle, almost weightless, holding a sense of possibility and becoming. There is a quiet optimism here.

The World Beneath

But beneath this calm surface lies another world. The roots extend downward in intricate, ornamental patterns inspired by traditional Mysore painting. Gold accents weave through them, not just as decoration, but as a reference to something sacred, something carried across generations. These roots are not simple. They are layered, entangled, and at times difficult to follow. They hold memory, belief systems, expectations, beauty, and contradiction, all at once. And they do not stay hidden. They expand, embellish, and insist on being seen.

What We Carry, What We Choose

While creating this piece, I kept returning to the central question: What does it mean to be rooted?

We often think of roots as something that grounds us, something stable and reassuring. But in reality, they can also be complex. They can hold things we don’t fully understand. They can ask us to look closer, to question, to untangle.

To decide.

Rooted in Values is not about rejecting tradition, nor about holding onto it unchanged. It is about engaging with it consciously. It is about recognizing that what we inherit is not a fixed script but a starting point.

An Ongoing Dialogue

This painting lives in that space of negotiation.

Between clarity and complexity.
Between reverence and reinterpretation.
Between stillness and growth.

The tree above continues to rise, but it does so because of, and alongside, the intricate world below.

And perhaps that is what identity truly is:

Not just something we are rooted in,
but something we are constantly shaping, through the slow, intentional process of untangling what we carry forward.

Technique: Layers of process and meaning

For me, the process of making this painting mirrors the idea behind it, built slowly, through layers of thought, material, and detail. Each stage brings together different techniques and ways of seeing.

Concept and Composition
The process began with reflection and sketching. I explored ideas around roots, identity, and balance, working through different elements to arrive at a composition that could hold both the landscape above and the intricate world beneath.

Preparing the Surface
I mounted cloth onto a wooden board and applied layers of chalk paste to create a smooth base. This step requires patience and care, and it sets the foundation for the painting.

Sketching and First Layer
The composition was drawn onto the prepared surface, followed by the first layer of paint to establish the overall tones, colors, and atmosphere.

Embossing and Texture
Inspired by traditional Mysore painting techniques, I used gesso to create raised, embossed patterns within the roots, adding depth and a tactile quality to the work.

Details and Gold Work
I built up subsequent layers of paint, refining details and bringing the composition together. The final step was the application of gold foil, highlighting the roots and adding a sense of richness and luminosity.

Rooted in Values – In Dialogue Exhibition

This work will be part of the In Dialogue exhibition, a space that brings together multiple voices, perspectives, and lived experiences. I’m grateful to be part of a conversation that feels both deeply personal and collectively shared.

Rooted in Values will be on view June 5 – July 24, 2026 at Gallery 1337, Art Works Downtown in San Rafael, with receptions on June 12 and July 10 from 5–8 PM.

What inspires your own creative practices? I would love to hear more in the comments.