I recently had the opportunity to participate in a group show with. Eleven other International artists at UNESCO Paris. It was a brilliant opportunity for me to interact with artists from different backgrounds. It was also very interesting to see the different techniques they used. This exhibition was a product of a collaboration between the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Lithuania and UNESCO, Paris. I am a self taught artist, with no formal training. I had done my Masters in Psychology. The passion for painting began early in my childhood. I remember drawing figures of ballet dancers since I was seven or eight years old. Most of my artworks then we're done with wax crayons. At the age of 11 I won a National Award for making a self portrait. This painting was done in oils and I painted it by studying myself in the mirror. The magazine that held this nationwide contest was " the Illustrated Weekly of India" During my college years I held the post of being President of the Arts and Craft Club. I spent many a tedious hour toiling away at doing background sceneries for college plays and musicals. I had created a team of artists and besides the hard work we had a wonderful time experimenting with fabrics and also wooden stage props. Art is a evolving process. An artist should never be afraid to experiment. I tried many mediums, soft crayons, water colors and oils. For many years I painted with oil colors. Painted on canvas and painted on masonite. I tried thick textures, then I tried the very thin textures. At times more of linseed, at others barely using linseed but only turpentine. At times the colors dripped, at other times the brush ran dry through hard surfaces. I painted sceneries, still life and portraits. My passion was portraits. I would request the Gardner to pose for me or the maid to sit in the verandah, while I got her likeness. Then there was a very sad period in my life where I did not paint for fifteen years. A traumatic event numbed my fingers and further numbed my brain. Colors went out of my life. But the sun shone again, and at the turn of the century I was painting vigorously. During this period of time I had migrated to South Africa and left my home country India far behind. The sights and smells of Africa were like a fresh breath to my dying spirit. I was infused with new strength. My paintings took on brighter hues, and a brand new chapter began in my life. I started using acrylic paints. Experimented with mixed media. the people of Africa fascinated me. I painted people of different tribes, different traditional costumes and jewellery. Their joy for life was infectious., their love for music and dance invigorating. Their bold textiles, their fascinating hairstyles, their magnificent eyes and skin coloring captured my imagination. I studied their tribal art, their traditional styles of paintings. Centuries of colonisation had not erased their live for life. Besides the people, the wide spaces of Africa, the richness of their sunsets, the deep dark forests which held many secrets, the unending deserts made me want to captivate every mood of this continent. I also dabbled with the wildlife. I was encouraged by the Consul General at the Indian Embassy at Johannesburg to have the first expose of my artworks. This event was sponsored by the Embassy Though very shy and very nervous about showcasing my artworks to the public, I gained confidence when I saw their positive reactions. I have had a number of exhibitions in South Africa, India and in Europe after that. I still feel that my journey as an artist has just begun, and I am still taking the first few steps. In my heart I feel the best is yet to come
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