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First brush and a masterstroke

Works of students and teachers from the art camps held at the Orthic Creative Centre gallery are on display

MASTERS IN THE MAKING Children take a look at the works at Orthic Creative Centre. Photo: VIPINCHANDRAN

"Teaching art to children cannot be mainly theoretical. They have to be taught application which probably only artists can teach them. An artist has a working knowledge of the craft and what better person than to teach children the nuances of, say painting," says T. Kaladharan. This summer break he conducted two art workshops for children at his studio-cum-gallery Orthic Creative Centre. At the workshops he got experienced artists such as C. N. Karunakaran, C. S. Jayaraman, Ajoy, Ashantan, Nandan P.V., Venkatraman, Sunil Vallarpadam and Rajan Krishnan besides others to demonstrate the practical aspects and some innovative techniques of painting.

The artists who conducted the workshop did some on the spot painting for the children to demonstrate the practical aspects of painting, sketching and clay modelling which were some of the art forms, which the children were introduced to. Says Shruthi Saseendran, a participant at the workshop, "I have attended lots of art workshops, but the things that I have picked up here are very helpful. It was really nice seeing experienced artists at work, we were exposed to new techniques."

According to Kaladharan, the workshops were aimed not only at giving a direction to talented children but also to orient parents on how to help these children make the best of their talent. "Parents buy water colour cakes for their children, which are ideal for younger children but for slightly older children colour tubes are ideal," he says. The works that the children did at the workshop have been framed. These creations are those of children taking their first steps into hitherto unfamiliar mediums such as charcoal etchings and implementing new techniques that they picked up at the workshops.

Orthic Creative Centre is exhibiting these works by the budding artists, along with the paintings, charcoal etchings, sculptures by the veteran artists as well. The works that the artists painted for the children at the workshop are exhibited along with other works by these and some other artists as well. The artists whose works are exhibited also include K. K. Rajappan, Binuraj, Johny V. J, and Jayendran. The exhibition concludes today.

SHILPA NAIR ANAND

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