The Hindu

It's a matter of master strokes

T. Saravanan

Workshop for budding painters conducted in Madura

MADURAI: "Chithiramum kaipazhakkam ... ," goes a popular Tamil saying, which means, only through practice one can perfect the art of painting.

The experts at a painting workshop held at Madura College Higher Secondary School here on Sunday proved it.

Titled `Canvas,' the workshop drew a sizeable crowd. Such workshops are being conducted at this school for the past 10 months.

"We do not confine ourselves to painting alone. We had conducted similar workshop on clay modelling. We meet here on every second Sunday.

For painting alone we have dedicated more than three sessions," said R. Siva, drawing master of the school and one of the organisers of the workshop.

For the benefit of children aged between 6 and 15, the organisers had arranged special classes, wherein they were guided through the basics of painting.

Role of interest

"Painting cannot be taught to anyone. Interest in the art is what matters the most. Sketchbook is a must for any painter. Inhibition is the main culprit," said Mr. Siva.

But he did not disagree with the fact that one requires proper guidance to comprehend the nuances of painting.

"Colour, perspective and composition are basic components of painting. One has to go through several masterpieces of expert painters to have a grasp of it," he explained.

Experts in respective fields were roped in to share their experience with the attendees of the workshops. "This time around we have brought P. Manickam, a professional painter and retired schoolteacher, who is an expert in portraits," said G. Ramanan, who is also a drawing master of the school.

Real life portrait

For the first time in this workshop, techniques of `Life study' were demonstrated, wherein experts explained how a real life portrait came alive on canvas.

Both the participants and organisers felt the necessity for an exclusive forum that would provide enough space for fruitful interaction between artists and thinkers.