Creative clutter

As he works on his canvas, drops of paint fall into patterns on the floor8212;something that fascinates Parekh but irritates his painter-wife, Madhvi. 8220;Whenever I call her to the studio to see a new piece of work, what catches her attention more than the canvas is the untidy work area and the paint smears,8221; he says.

Look around the living room and you see that the artist is not one for rigid arrangements. Tubes of paint and brushes lie scattered on tables and racks. Two shelves in opposite corners are stacked with books on art. On one of the tables is a Workspace audio system, filmed with dust. 8220;Music is a luxury. I rarely combine it with work,8221; Parekh says.

Yet, despite the clutter, there is a sense of serenity in the bold colours on the wall and the light streaming in from the white windows. The last thing he wants, says Parekh, is to organise his studio.

8220;A workplace should help an artist strike a chord with his creative self. I usually start with a pre-conceived idea, but at times it8217;s the painting which carries me along. Both the clutter and the calm here help the flow of my work,8221; he says.