Under the Influence

Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions: 49”x 48”

I have been working on this piece for a long time. It was originally inspired by a simple Kate Spade shopping bag that my wife Sarojini brought home after a shopping trip. She has a habit of keeping bags to recycle so I saw it every day in the closet and over time began to really fall hard for the gorgeous, intense colors. Eventually I took the bag down to the studio and used it as inspiration for some paintings.

I tinkered with this piece for an extended period before I eventually put it away and moved on. I recently dug it out for a fresh look and decided that I actually love it as it is. Sometimes things just need a little time and space.

While this piece was incubating, I received the sad news that Kate Spade had passed away. I decided to pay homage to her for being a champion of color. Not only inspiring this piece but for brightening our lives through her vibrant design sense.