Kamaljit and Manpal

A beautiful Anand Karaj weding ceremony at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, Birmingham.

During our consultation, the couple explained that they wanted a golden-brown palette, so I applied this colour theme to the white floors and enhanced the natural wall colour accordingly. I painted the palki (domed wooden structure) dark because I like the contrast against the gold. I also made their shadows quite dark to balance this, using the same bright burnt sienna from Manpal’s turban to the same effect.

They also mentioned that they paintings of the Gurus on the back wall were important and they wanted these included in the composition. These, as you can see in the photograph, are a lot larger (and hang lower). I painted them higher so that the whole paintings are in view, because in all of their photographs these would be obscured by the palki.

I include detailed subjects in my compositions, so that on the rest of the canvas I can indulge in abstract painting. I feel this piece has a good balance of the two.