The Open Studio / Shruti
Shruti
self portrait
A face that glows from a purple layer hidden underneath
Purple lies under everything, like dusk under skin.
A blue cheek turns away from a yellow fire.
The mouth is one orange stroke, still warm.
Thick pastel rises off the paper in ridges you could touch.
Green stems lean in from the dark edges.
The eyes keep their black and say nothing.
The work
Shruti is from the College of Art in New Delhi. This small self portrait is one of the pieces she makes before she starts a big canvas. She always begins with a purple underpainting. She leaves parts of it bare so that it glows through. Over it she lays oil pastel in thick strokes to build texture. At times she melts the pastel with a lighter so the colours blend. She pairs complementary colours: yellow against purple, orange against blue.
In the artist’s words
“This is one of the small pieces I made before starting a big canvas. I always start with a purple underpainting because it gives a nice glowing effect. I leave it showing on purpose so that it glows. I use oil pastels first to create textures and colours I like. I melt them with a lighter. It blends beautifully.”
- Theme
- The self in colour
- Material
- Oil pastel on paper
- Size
- 14.8 × 21 × 0.1 cm
- Year
- 2026
- Edition
- 1 of 2
- Framed
- No
- About the artist
- College of Art
- From
- New Delhi
- Code
- RC-276
