What made me go the abstract way? 

Since my childhood days I have been fascinated by textured surfaces. These always attracted me for some reason. Be it the moss of the monsoon, cow dung coated flooring of the rural, shapes and textures of various stones, barks of trees, crumpled dried leaves of autumn, colors of flowers, scaled rooftops, bamboo hutments, coconut shells. Nature has too many to pen. 

From the rich man’s butter to the poor man’s stale bread, wherever I looked I saw textures, textures that I memorized. These textures affected me so deeply that whenever I could, I tried to replicate them, even as a child. This close observation of textures and colors developed a landscape artist within me, which in turn brought me closer to nature.  Landscaping taught me nature’s varied shapes, textures, colors. I observed the seasonal changes, its effects on nature’s canvas and how each season brings out a different color in nature.

After working in a variety of medium like watercolor, oil pastels, dry pastels, charcoal, acrylic, constantly in the process being influenced by nature, I felt the need to develop something that was absolutely new and could more effectively help me to express myself through painting. The reason why I turned towards abstract. Moreover I was always keen on developing my own unique style in abstract. So the next time I was composing my painting I put a window in it, the window of my mind. The window through which I see the world, nature and beyond…

You will find that few of my paintings are done using warm colors like red, yellow and orange of which, red is my favourite because I consider it to be auspicious and inspiring. Similarly, I frequently use geometric shapes, squares and rectangles. It depicts my current urban habitat. In spite of coming from a rural background I cannot deny the effects of urbanization on me. Hence, my works bring out this very blend of urban and rural India.

The medium of my paintings varies according to the requirement of the subjects like water colors, acrylic, dry pastel, oil pastel etc. I am comfortable working with various medium as they are equally pleasurable.

My paintings always fascinate me, but if the viewer finds it interesting or even if it brings a little smile on his face I would consider that I am going the right way.

Painter who teaches or teacher who paints

The most important factor of development in my abstract paintings is my students. Being a teacher I interact with students frequently. Conversation with students, give me more inspiring thoughts for my paintings. Their analytical/ thoughtful/ random questions make me learn more and help me keep myself updated. Many a times the colorful attires of students suggest to me interesting color schemes. Similarly they even inspire interesting compositions while interacting with them. Every year, I meet a new batch of students, talk to them, and interact with them. It helps me stay young in thought and actions. In a way, I give my 10% knowledge and the students in turn give me 90% inspiration. That is why I feel that not a single day of life goes wasted. Because every day I believe I have something good, something worthwhile be it as a teacher or an abstract painter. That is why every single day of mine is a cheerful day.

Black and white abstract

Black & white abstract interests me just as color abstract does. The reason lies in my past. In school, we had these exhibitions, for which I used a peculiar kind of black ink which was available in granular form and was water soluble. The density of black was extremely dark in it and created an amazing impact. I used to get so much engrossed into it and didn’t leave the picture until it was complete. Since then I share a special relation with black.

Many artists consider black to be a negative color. But I consider it most positive, because black color inspires me many a times. Ultimately it is the viewer’s point of view.

While doing a color abstract, you have various colors to denote different feelings. But to denote under the same feelings and forms in the absence of other colors and using only black & white, is a challenge in itself and that is why I am all the more euphoric at the completion of a black & white abstract, so I had successfully laid my subject as an artist in only two colors i.e. presence & absence of light.

Understanding abstract

To understand abstract a common belief among the ordinary viewer is that “understanding abstract is not our cup of tea”. The reason for this is that they never analyze the work of art seriously. It is difficult to find it meaningful unless they spend some time staring at it.

It is just like when you listen to a classical song, you may not know on what ‘raga’ it is based, but you still enjoys listening to it. Because there is something that interests you, be it the lyrics, composition, music, tune or anything else for that matter. So in order to like a song understanding a ‘raga’ or its technicalities is not necessary. Similarly, it is in the case of abstract painting.

If you carefully go through a painting, you may find various meanings according to your understanding or even the color, texture, composition or subject might interest you. That is why in order to understand an abstract painting; the point of view is what matters most.