Did you guys check out the Super moon
phenomenon that occurred a few days back? It was the rare occurrence, when the
distance between the earth and moon is at its least and the moon appears to be bigger,
and shines more brightly than ever. If you did see it, you would have been
astounded by its beauty. Now imagine, if you could capture that beauty on a
canvas! Imagine if you had the talent to capture the natural beauty around us,
through any form of art, onto a blank canvas or as a beautiful sculpture.
Before you scoff and say “Me? Please!”, let me tell you – It is possible! Art is
not the mysterious, unreachable skill that you think it is. With the right
training and practice, each one of us can awaken the artist in us.
India has always been a land well-known
for its rich and diverse art forms. The pottery and sculpture from Harappa and
Mohenjadaro civilizations, the well-preserved cave paintings at Ajanta and
Ellora, the intricate and miniature Mughal paintings, and many more precious artifacts
from our previous generations stand proof that art in all forms has always been
an integral part of our culture. Art was a part of everyday life – either as a
livelihood or as a skill that nearly every family nurtured. Most families had an artist or sculptor or
potter or musician or dancer.
However, today, it is sad to see that ART
IS MISSING from many of our lives. People largely enjoy viewing art, but
refrain from learning it themselves. There is an inhibition; that perhaps I am
not good enough or I am not creatively inclined or I simply don’t have the time
or I am too old to start now.
As kids we loved to play with paints
and clay - applying different colours on our fingers and dabbing them on a
sheet of paper or creating our very own species of animals with clay. So it
won’t be wrong to say that each one of us has an artist hidden within us. Some
of us identify this passion for art and nurture it, while others slowly forget
their love for art with time.
Art does not see any particular age or
gender. It just asks for passion and perseverance.
LET US BRING ART BACK INTO OUR LIVES!
A
few places to start would be:
- Drawing & Painting
- Now this can’t be too hard – spend a few minutes every day simply sketching –
doodling even – but let your mind run free on paper. Somehow over time, drawing
classes have got branded as ‘for kids only’. This ideology needs to be broken.
Adults can begin learning to draw at any age, without any prior experience. Be
it the traditional Tanjore Paintings, landscapes or portraits or modern
abstract art – with sufficient practice, one can create artworks that are worth
framing and preserving.
- Clay crafting – Get
your hands dirty with clay – its fun! Learning the basics of pottery is easy
and you can create simple pots and bowls. They look great as home decor and more
importantly, they are your signature style. Definitely worth it.
- Photography - We
all love our selfies, snap chats and instagram updates – why not take it to the
next level? There is more to photography than just point and shoot. How about learning
the basics of photography and clicking pictures the right way? This art can help
you capture all your events, travel, hobbies, food, family and candid moments
in their true brilliance.
The list is endless and we would like
to keep updating it in the coming days. We would love to hear from you as well.
Tell us how you would like to bring art back into your life. Follow us to know
more and leave your feedback.
