The art of painting was already within me by default or the God has sent me in this world, with the pre-installed application of painting (art). The painting skill (as well sculpture skill) was always within me since my childhood, I just polished it through all these years.
As I grew up in a small town, there were not much resources regarding painting. I learned painting by practice and by my mistakes.
Considering our financial condition, I was compelled to opt for a more financially viable career of engineering.
But during my entire academic career, I continued my painting activities.
The real turning point came to my artistic career when I got transferred to Gujarat. I started looking for resources necessary for improving my painting skills. I studied the life and works of world famous artists. Studied the different forms and theories of art, the art market and so on. I interacted with the world famous art institutions like Sotheby’s,Christie's, Commonwealth Institute, and The Royal Society of Arts etc. It took a great deal of efforts and research work to find out their addresses for the correspondence because, at that time there were no Google or internet.
I also interacted with number of well-known contemporary artists shouting for their guidance. Among all the reputed artists to whom I interacted, I would like to specially mention Alwyn Crawshaw, a well-known English artist whom I consider my mentor and my GURU. I was greatly inspired and by his autobiographical book – “The Artist At work”. So I wrote him a letter mentioning the story of Eklavya and Guru Dhrona of Mahabharata. I told him that how Eklavya learn the archery remotely, considering Guru Dhrona as his Guru. I wrote him that I am also learning Painting like Eklavya, remotely considering him as my GURU DHRONA.
He gave me a slogan “GO FOR THE TOP OF MOUNTAIN” and it has become the motto of my life.
During these period, I also started exhibiting my paintings in my one man show in Mumbai. I held many solo exhibitions among which my first solo exhibition in Jehangir Art Gallery was held in 1998. I also grabbed attention of the leading newspapers in Mumbai and got featured in leading TV programmes.
At the initial stage of my career, I used to paint landscapes and figure paintings with couple of still life. I also made portraits on commission by well-known personalities. The landscape of Himalaya on the water bottle of VEDICA, a premium brand of mountain water from Bisleri, is painted by me. Gradually I found Still life painting as my strong point. Since then, I stick to this subject in spite of many odds to gain perfection and excellence in it.
Appreciation and enjoyment of my paintings are aesthetic rather than intellectual. I am not concerned with what my paintings would mean, it is not an intellectual operation.
My paintings are as simple as nature. They don’t require any explanation or expert interpretation. Anyone who can see the beauty in a flower or in the mountains orbbeautiful trees, can appreciate my paintings.
I have nothing to say about my paintings. It doesn't have any philosophy, advice or any message to convey. My paintings are just a visual excitement created by the form, composition and implication of light and shades. I want to create some emotional attachment with the beholder with the help of the objects, situation or composition in my paintings.
Most of my still life paintings are the depiction of our Indian culture and our way of living. I like to paint very common objects of our everyday routine. I try to put life and beauty in almost dead or otherwise boring objects. Many of my paintings are “found subjects”.
I place newspaper in many of my still life paintings. I also prefer to use newspaper to make my still life paintings a little bit different from the conventional still life. Its by-product is that one can easily find out the time frame in which that particular painting was made as I used to include the contemporary issues that is prevailing in our society in the transcripts of the newspaper. So my paintings reveals the contemporary issues prevailing in our society automatically in the form of the news.
I am trying to continue the legacy of some old masters who has created the masterpieces, the legacy of that visionary who constantly chase not only what is but what could be, and pass it to the next generation to pursue their legacy. Is it their genuine thought or just the sense of beauty? A masterpiece is both. That is why it stands the test of time and why it is worth celebrating. I know, how difficult it is to be recognized in the world of art, in this profoundly materialized and commercialized society. It becomes even more difficult for a realistic painter as most of the art galleries and art institutions in India, are promoting and glorifying abstract and nonrepresentational form of paintings.
Painting for me is a journey which at times is laborious but I enjoy striving for the excellence.
