TREE OF LIFE
This was a large format commissioned watercolor, painted at around 32 × 24 inches. The client gave me complete creative freedom, which is one of the most generous things someone can offer an artist. What came out of that trust was one of my most layered and meaningful pieces to date, rooted in Indian flora, fauna, and cultural symbolism
The Idea Behind It
I didn't want this to just be a symbolic tree. I wanted it to feel genuinely alive, like something that was still growing, still flowering, still holding stories within it. The tree became the heart of the composition, and everything else grew outward from there.
Indian birds like sparrows, parrots, and a peacock rest within the branches. A deer and her fawn, a cow and her calf appear gently throughout. These weren't decorative choices. They were emotional ones. There's a quiet familiarity to these pairings, something tender and deeply connected to the land that I wanted the viewer to feel rather than just see.
The Botanicals and What They Carry
The flowers and plants were drawn from Indian gardens and the imagery of sacred offerings. Rather than treating them as separate elements, I wanted the whole painting to feel like one continuous, living ecosystem. Lotus, marigold, jasmine, rose, and peonies move through the branches alongside fruits like pomegranates, apples, berries, and peaches. Butterflies and bees drift through the composition, adding movement and breath to what could otherwise have felt heavy.
Each botanical choice carries meaning. Nourishment, prosperity, continuity, abundance. Nothing was placed without reason.
Palette and Finish
The colours are warm throughout, reds, pinks, soft greens, and earthy browns sitting together without competing. The detailing is consistent across the entire surface because I wanted every corner of the painting to feel equally considered. A soft gold border frames the whole piece, giving it a ceremonial quality that feels less like décor and more like something meant to be passed down.
How It Was Made
This painting was built slowly. Given its scale and the density of the composition, every element had to earn its place. The goal was for it to feel rich but not overwhelming, full but not cluttered. That kind of balance takes time, and I'm glad the process allowed for it.
Artwork Details
Medium: Watercolor on archival paper with metallic detailing
Size: 30 × 24 inches
Type: One of a kind commissioned artwork
Theme: Abundance, Continuity, Nature, Harmony
