My paintings in the Bellagio are based on a couple of my early works " Coruscation" and "A Momentary Glance" that were spotted by MGM Mirage, who wanted me to create larger versions that borrow from some of the forms and intense colors used in the originals. I then based the Bellagio paintings with the surrounding colors and brilliance of the Bellagio Conservatory indoor botanical garden. I am glad the resulting works are not limited with titles as many responses have linked the flowers of the Bellagio with the intense colors associated with my pieces. My current work is inspired by garden blooms, and the dream-like quality of happiness that I consider ephemeral and fleeting, comparing the emotion to transitional flowers of spring and summer seasons, visible as in a dream -short-lived. I have been inspired by Monet's garden in Giverny and landmarks such as the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, and hence flowers and gardens and the irresistible qualities of the seemingly random colors of nature and the outdoors yet so divinely organized in that nothing is ever jarring to the eye. I have endeavored to use this quality of nature to my evolving paintings of the last few years. For the Bellagio paintings, I initially planned to use a lot of color but ended up limiting my color palette as work progressed during late 2003 to September 2004 while refurbishment of the indoor of the Cafe Bellagio progressed, needing to be mindful of the background and surrounding color schemes in the form of periodic color swatches and surrounding architecture. Video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZpsVS6GQM&feature=related Official website: http://www.chitraramanathan.com