Metal Trunks, 2021

18” x 30”

I was commissioned to turn these two old metal trunks into functional, yet elegant-looking storage. The client wanted me to paint something lively to be displayed in their living room.

I decided to paint birds in the Madhubani art style. Madhubani art is known for it’s two-dimensional imagery and no space is left empty; the gaps are painted with flowers, animals and birds.

The challenge for these trunks were that the surface was not completely flat. I deliberately designed the painting in a way to cover uneven surfaces including rivets.