The gulmohar is my favourite tree. The myriad shades of red, orange and yellow amidst the verdant greens is simply mesmerizing and captures the spirit of summer perfectly. Juxtaposed against these vibrant hues is the shade under these trees, which are cool and inviting. What’s more, the fallen petals are a literal red carpet the tree seems to have laid out for us.
The gnarled trunk gives the tree a mysterious character, the hollows often home to birds and insects. The luxuriously spread out branches seem to, on the one hand reach out for the sky, and embrace the onlooker on the other.
One can spend hours marveling at this beautiful tree, as it sways gently to the summer breeze, sending fresh showers of flowers and leaves. Or watching the life it hosts – the birds hopping from one branch to another, the squirrels scurrying in a catch-me-if-you-can game, the ants, busy as ever, progressing in an orderly line to a place only they know where!
I have always wanted to embroider a gulmohar tree, capturing both its aspects – the vibrancy of its flowers and the peace on can find in its shade. Hence, the old man and his little friend appear in this scene, sleeping peacefully.
The background is painted in acrylic paints while the foreground is, of course, embroidered. This is my first mixed media project, and I hope I have been able to make the two media blend-in with each other.
Working on this project has been an incredible, almost meditative journey for me. I hope some part of the peace and wonder that I felt comes through to anyone who sees this work.
If you liked this project or have any feedback, please do leave your comments below.