Pictured at right is Shyamal Raguso's "Majestic Cloud," 2004.

Below, Raguso in the Calcia paint studio with one of her works.

In her landscape paintings, master of arts candidate Shyamal Raguso recalls the beauty and mystery of her homeland, India. Born in Bombay, Raguso came to the United States at age 11, but travels back to her native country whenever she puts paintbrush to canvas.

"Shyamal's dreamlike landscape paintings have a glow and seductive quality that is uniquely her own," said Martha Kelshaw of the Art Galleries. As a child, Raguso and her family spent many days at the beach for festivals and excursions, and the young Raguso became drawn to the mysteries of the water. "During summer months, when it was too hot in the city, we'd spend time at my family's summer home located in a small village outside of Bombay," Raguso recalled. "This seaside village is one of my inspirations and the muse that instigates an inner drive to connect with my childhood in India."

Thirteen of Raguso's landscape paintings will be on display in "Dreamscapes" in Gallery One through Dec. 17. A reception will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Although Raguso always held a passion for art, she didn't think there was room for it in her future. "I really wanted to go to art school, but there was a concern about whether I could turn it into a career," she explained. Following high school Raguso headed to DeSales University in Pennsylvania where she studied biology and chemistry, but eventually earned a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1996. "I was trying to find my way," she said.

After graduation Raguso put her degree to work for several years at AT&T and then at an advertising agency in Morristown, where she was encouraged by a supervisor to get a master's degree in graphic design. The idea was appealing since it would allow Raguso to combine her computer know-how with her creative passions.

She enrolled in the graphic design program at Montclair State, but the appeal of taking a painting class was too compelling to ignore. "I took one class with Julie Heffernan and fell in love with the idea of painting," Raguso said, adding that Heffernan was her inspiration to switch directions.

"I saw that she was able to do it--teach, have a family and make a career out of art," Raguso said. "Her work is incredible."

From that moment of realization in Heffernan's class, Raguso decided to follow her heart and give her art a chance, starting with her Dreamscapes, which begin as small, charcoal drawings of images in her mind. She then pictures the colors and uses layers of thin oil paint and glazes that generate a glass-like finish similar to the Luminist painters. "Simplicity and the power of suggestion are key to expressing my landscapes," she explained. "Inspiration comes from places I've visited or pictures that intrigue me. I close my eyes and combine the images in my mind to form a dreamscape."

Kelshaw described Raguso's work as having "a quiet, reflective quality that creates a feeling of serenity." Raguso draws inspiration from the works of Martin Johnson Heade, Georgia O'Keeffe, April Gornik and George Inness. "My paintings are about light, color and simplicity of forms. My goal is to generate a feeling of serenity and mystification."

Raguso will graduate in January and then she and her husband, John, a computer programmer, will concentrate on buying a home in which she can set up a studio. "I want to build up my collection so I can begin to submit my work to galleries," she said. "That's my dream."

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call the Art Galleries at 973- 655-5113/7640.