This drape for an adolescent elephant captures its wild, playful spirit through a burst of color, flowers, and an equally spontaneous approach to painting. I embraced splatters, impulsive marks, and playful gestures, letting instinct and energy guide the process. I called the piece Umang, a word used in Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu to express zeal, enthusiasm, and exuberant energy.

I imagined welcoming this elephant to California with wildflowers and its iconic state flower, the poppy. The bees among the flowers are a small nod to the importance of protecting pollinators and nurturing the wildflower habitats that sustain them—a connection to conservation woven into this California landscape.

As an Indian artist living in California, I wanted this welcome to carry something of where I come from as well. Brocade and khun appliqués bring the spirit of India into the California poppies. My welcome to California carries with it the colors and spirit of where I began—just like this elephant.