9th April 2026 Beena
I painted these lemons and kumquats in a bowl using gouache, a medium I’ve explored in earlier works. Gouache combines the luminous transparency of watercolour with the flexibility of acrylic, allowing me to correct mistakes and add depth through layering. This forgiving nature lets me focus on vibrant color and texture—though watercolour still holds a special place in my heart.
In this piece, the brilliant yellow of the lemons pops dramatically against the cool, bluish-green background. Achieving this vivid effect required building up numerous layers, each one intensifying the interplay of light and color.
Art has taught me a powerful lesson: light reveals itself only in contrast to darkness. In life, the boundaries between good and bad are often blurred—what one person sees as virtue, another may see as fault. This paradox fascinates me, and when life feels overwhelming, I turn to painting for clarity. In art, contrasts are honest and pure, offering a world where meaning isn’t muddied by doubt.