From post card series. Mixed media on paper, commission for Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

Educator and professional artist and Chitra Ramanathan's current series of predominantly large-scale mixed media paintings portray the mental emotion of happiness as a visual entity through color and textures. They are inspired by short-lived garden blooms and constantly changing seasons in nature, characteristics that attribute to the ephemeral, fleeting and enticingly beautiful happiness' "formless form": a phrase she has coined to describe her concept. The hint of circles almost always present in her works signify the cycle of human life: trying times followed by happy phases in a positive sense, and of life and rebirth influenced by her roots from India.

Her paintings on varied medium such as anodized aluminum, Plexiglas and canvas, have been described as "tactile works that resonate with a quiet harmony" and "Simply Luxurious" by Manhattan Arts, New York. To quote from an excerpt 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".

Recent public art commissions include the MGM Mirage, Las Vegas (please see below).

Recent publications:

*The Indianapolis Business Journal, profile, "Women in Business" April 9-15, 2007 "Creative Pursuit of Happiness".

*"Rendezvous Artist" profile July-August 2007 issue, the Indianapolis Star newspaper's Fishers|Geist Magazine

*"Secret Success", Profile, Indianapolis Monthly Home Magazine, Summer issue, July 2006

Career highlights, beginning with the most recent:

2007:

Biography included in the 62nd edition of Marquis' Who's Who in America 2008 released October 2007

Current committee member (2007-2010) of the Committee on Cultural Diversity Practices of the College Art Association, New York. ( http://www.collegeart.org). (I have been an active member of CAA since 1997, including serving as a member of the Services to Artists Committee from 2003-06)

2006:

Solo exhibition, Indianapolis Artsgarden, January 2006

Public Art installation titled "Picture Windows 2006: Urban Interpretations" by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, supported by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission, July 2006-February 2007

2005:

Invitational visiting artist lecture at the Royal Academy of Arts, London/RA Schools, October 2005

2004:

Commission for the MGM Mirage, Las Vegas, to create two 4 ft X 6 ft signed paintings based on two of her 1999 and 2000 originals, on permanent display in the Conservatory gardens of the Bellagio, Las Vegas since October 2004. http://www.bouldercitynev.com/mirage-... )

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 a favorite dream she would like to pursue.