Pink Flowers

The animal and flower studies reflect a lively accuracy and fidelity to nature. However, sometimes it has more artistic value than scientific. Some leaves from ancient texts contain excellent specimen of composition and form.

This picture of a plant may not be a distinct species but the illustration has unmatched balance and harmony. From the centre of the frame starts the flowering plant, roots upwards which literally divides the picture into two. The flowers have numerous closed packed petals, pink in colour. The central flower, the most important functionary in the painting looks the viewer in the eye, while two flowers each on either side are facing their respective direction and are depicted in profile. Each divided segment has two flowers and a bud each and in a bid to faithfully balance them, the number of leaves are also equal. The foreground has two small plant bearing unusual blue flowers. They, together with two butterflies in a similar colour scheme form four blue corners encompassing the floral view. The butterflies also solve the purpose of lending a natural environment to an otherwise passive picture. Viewed in totality, the artist has achieved the harmony in form and colour that he strived for. Nothing is perfect; hence a few drawbacks. The stems of the flowers are weak and the flowers/buds appear to be emerging from within the leaves than from behind them. Small brush strokes, applied for the purpose of shading make the picture interesting and beautiful. We, grudgingly admit that it has more visible beauty and less botanical information.

A narrow pink border maintains the colour harmony with calligraphy on the top. Black lettering with a dash of pink makes the painting sumptuous, while at the same time praising nature. The background is coloured dull grey, keeping in mind the rest of the colour scheme.

The leaf may be old, but the flowers still seam fresh as ever!

This description by Renu Rana