Portion of Chitra Ramanathan's colorful textural paintings at www.artbyus.com goes to charity organizations

    MaiMai News - June 10, 2007 - Professional artist and educator Chitra Ramanathan is known for her mixed media textural colorful mural-like abstract paintings varying from average-sized to very large dimensions. Her numerous works are with private, corporate and public art collections around the United States and in Europe. Ramanathan's anodized aluminum and Plexiglas paintings have been described as "tactile works that resonate with a quiet harmony" and ..."originally from India, her work reflects the spirituality of her culture" by Manhattan Arts New York, and her paintings on canvas, lithographs and monoprints as "Simply luxurious".

To borrow from a recent interview with the artist, "Chitra's paintings exemplify her love of nature as well as the subjectivity of each individual's unique pursuit of happiness. Her painting procedure often entails making mental notes of a scene in nature, including the lighting, colors, and textures. She then uses these impressions in her studio to replicate the subject matter in an abstracted form, using rich physical textures, intense colors, and varied media".

During an interview with Chitra Ramanathan by the Indianapolis Star newspaper's Fishers|Geist Magazine June-July 2007 issue, the artist reflected, "I feel fortunate that my work has got accepted so favorably-people who come across my paintings on various websites have been writing to me, and many have become collectors of my work. I am thankful that my work has traveled to different parts of the U.S and Europe. I have done a fair amount of donating work to worthy causes. Currently some of my paintings are up for auction at a website http://www.ArtByUs.com, where I have designated part of the proceeds from sales to reach organizations such as Newborns in Need, American Red Cross and the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to benefit children's causes globally. I wish to continue painting as long as I live. I would like to work on more public and corporate art commissions, maybe liven up buildings and offices that people see every day to provide an example". Art Direction is another area she would like to pursue, projects that utilize her alluring paintings of any scale for films/movies.

She continues to donate her works to charities such creating a "en plein air" painting for the "Naturally Inspired Paint Out in the White River Gardens, Indianapolis donated for the silent auction to benefit the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens on August 20, 2006. (NATURALLY INSPIRED Art Exhibition at the White River Gardens ran September 1-November 19, 2006). In November 2006, a donation of her painting titled Exultation" (http://www.galleries-online.co.uk) created in her signature style of abstract painting, was sold in the Madame C.J. Walker Theatre"s silent auction.

Recent commissions:

"Picture Windows 2006: Urban Interpretations", a public art project for the Arts Council of Indianapolis supported by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission

Commission for CMAI, Indianapolis to create portrait painting in the artist's signature style, for presentation to Indian playback singer S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, Indianapolis Concert 2006

2004 commission for the MGM Mirage, Las Vegas to create two 4' X 6' paintings on permanent display in the Cafe Bellagio.

For corporate or public art commissions, contact 317.336.9877 in the United States.