Curving beyond the canvas: A unique and dynamic form of art

10 May 2023

Graduate architect Rajindh Fernando is exploring curves in his new art series, a technique that his architecture, especially floor plans, sometimes doesn’t allow for. Using glowing golds, luxurious burgundies and carmine reds from the Resene paint range, Rajindh’s artwork is both calming and captivating to view.  

“I was taught to be wary of curves during my architectural studies as they are terrible for floor plans and construction costs, but it seems like people prefer curves above angular forms,” Rajindh says.

The fluidity of the curves in Rajindh’s artwork create a serene sense of rhythm and flow. This piece is painted inResene Soiree, Resene Salted Caramel, Resene Meringue, Resene Liquid Gold, Resene Indian Ink and Resene Burnt Crimson.

“This series of paintings started out as an exploration into curves and I’ve found that they can be adjusted infinitely, while straight lines can only be adjusted a finite amount. Strangely this makes working with curves easier in the beginning and harder towards the end.”

Having recently made a career change towards architecture, during Rajindh’s time at university he learned the process of designing things. The artist found that this process can be applied to paintings and any other form of art, and it has since reignited his childhood love of painting .

Looking striking against neutral walls, this piece is painted in Resene Soiree, Resene Salted Caramel, Resene Meringue, Resene Liquid Gold, Resene Yogi, Resene Aubergine, Resene Lonestar and Resene Burnt Crimson.

“I began looking for curves that had good proportions and found them in some pretty unlikely places, such as tree trunks and rock formations, as well as some pretty likely places such as the human body and hand-made pottery,” Rajindh says. “Once you start looking for them, they slowly emerge more often as your mind becomes accustomed to spotting them.”

Rajindh begins his pieces with a pencil and paper to play with the curved forms before moving to an iPad where he explores colours. Only then does he begin on the canvas using Resene paint colours.

With the background painted in Resene Indian Ink, the curves in this painting pop out of the canvas, painted in Resene Soiree, Resene Salted Caramel, Resene Liquid Gold, Resene Yogi and Resene Burnt Crimson.

“My design process goes through endless iterations and I have done hundreds of sketches to plan out the curves, folds, proportions and colours within this series,” Rajindh says.

“I find it hard to imagine the full range of colours as I paint, so having a wide collection of Resene colours, that are already mixed, allows me to pick and choose from a wider range than those I could imagine in my head.”

Rajindh’s newest piece, with vibrant and silken shades, is painted in Resene Soiree, Resene Salted Caramel, Resene Meringue, Resene Liquid Gold, Resene Yogi, Resene Indian Ink, Resene Aubergine, Resene Lonestar and Resene Burnt Crimson.

Right now, Rajindh’s favourite shade is Resene Indian Ink, which he loves for the deep blue that comes alive in the evening light. You’ll see this colour featured in the background of some of his works, allowing the other striking shades to pop off the canvas and really stand out.

Rajindh’s fulltime job is working as a graduate architect, but that does not stop him finding time to create his remarkable artwork.

“I think the two disciplines of art and architecture go hand in hand because whether you’re designing a building or a canvas, the design process is the same.” 

See more of Rajindh’s work:

www.instagram.com/r_fernando.creative/

www.fernando.felt.co.nz

Published: 10 May 2023