Urvashi in Lotus Pond

This is the first painting in my modern apsara series. I wanted to reimagine stories and figures I grew up with. Apsaras are mysterious, sexually liberated, and enchantingly beautiful dancers who are masters of their craft. I remember reading stories about them when I was a child and wondering if any artist ever painted them. And of course they had. Throughout history, apsaras have been a source of inspiration to sculptors, painters, poets, and so on. Of course i didn't want to be left out, so I wanted to dip my brush into the paint and try my hand at bringing these beautiful women to life. Urvashi is supposed to have been the most beautiful of the apsaras, so I started with her. Here, she is in a lotus pond, a flower that has deep spiritual meaning, and is enjoying a dip in the waters. I started off with gold gesso, and you can see it peeking through here and there, adding a bit of warmth and shine as well as enhancing warm tones. I didn't want surrounding characters with Urvashi, she was the star of the painting. She didn't need to conform to anyone's idea of beauty because she is beyond your or my judgement. She knows her worth, and she is proud of it without making excuses for any part of her character or her body. oil on board

From the artist’s description