Featured Conceptual and Photorealistic Artworks
A collection of my work spanning the surreal and the hyper-real, where I explore the stories, metaphors, and emotions hidden beneath the surface of my subjects.
This piece, titled 'Fear', explores how we perceive threats through a screen of prejudice. The snake symbolizes a fear we've heard of but not experienced, while the plastic wrap represents our preconceived notions. One eye looks out clearly, ready to face that fear directly.
Titled 'Ambivalent', this painting is a self portrait of my own internal duality. I am both the nurturer who builds a nest of comfort and the inner danger, the snake, that threatens to destroy it. It is a reflection on the protector and the destroyer within us all.
This custom portrait, 'Dewdrops', is an exercise in photorealism. My goal was to capture not just the child's likeness and innocent expression, but also the complex play of light and reflection in the water droplets on the glass, creating a sense of depth and emotion.
'Sapling' is about the nature of belief. The hand, cracked and stone-like, represents rigid ideas, while the young sapling breaking through symbolizes the pliable, ever-growing trust of life. It’s a visual metaphor for growth overcoming stagnation.
In 'Divine Flute', I explored the playful and colorful connection between Radha and Krishna. This piece blends traditional iconography with a surreal, vibrant energy, using mixed media to bring their divine story to life with a modern feel.
'Fireflies' is a study in light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro. The piece captures a moment of quiet wonder, where the subject's face is illuminated by the gentle, magical glow of fireflies, creating a dreamlike and contemplative atmosphere.
Titled 'Awaiting', this surrealist portrait combines a realistic subject with a dreamlike environment. The piece captures a feeling of gentle anticipation, with the soft expression of the model framed by delicate, unopened flower buds.
About Featured
Every painting here began with the same architectural rigor I apply to home design—sketches, structural underpainting, and deliberate layering. I am not just capturing a likeness; I am translating complex human emotions or specific philosophies onto the canvas. Whether it is the play of light in a water droplet or the symbolism in a surrealist piece, I want these works to make you look twice, question the narrative, and find a connection.
My studio, SpAArC, is where these worlds collide. To me, a house and a painting are both structures that need to hold meaning. When I start a project, whether it is a residential interior or a commissioned portrait, I focus on the foundation first. I use a grid method for anatomical accuracy and monochrome underpainting to map out the light before I ever touch a color.
My Approach to Art
My work typically falls into two lanes, though they often blur. First, there is my photorealistic work, where I obsess over details—the gradation of skin tones, the reflection in an eye, or the physics of water on glass. It is about stillness and capturing a moment in its truest form.
Then, there is the conceptual and surrealist work. This is where I dig into ideas like duality, fear, and growth. I use symbols—like snakes, plastic, or sprouting saplings—to create visual metaphors for the intangible. If you look at 'Fear' or 'Ambivalent', you will see how I use these symbols to force a dialogue about prejudice or internal conflict.
Commissioning a Piece
If you want to commission a piece, we start with a conversation. You bring the feeling or the story, and we translate that into a visual concept. I keep you in the loop throughout the process, sharing work-in-progress images so you see the layers build up. Whether it is a small, expressive study or a large-format statement piece, my goal is to create something that feels like it belongs in your space, carrying its own weight and narrative.
Tejesh
I am Tejesh, an artist and architect running the SpAArC studio in Bengaluru. My work exists in the space where structural design meets raw creative expression, and I treat every canvas with the same discipline I bring to building homes.
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