Art Thoughts

I drew this Chinese girl when I was in a bank and drew this Malay lady when I was having tea in a restaurant.

I do these drawings to practise almost daily.

In the bank, a Chinese lady who saw me drawing, said…Wah! You ahh a very gud artist!

I smiled and turned to her and told her…
”you don’t have to be a great artist to draw this sister…
if you start sketching some faces everyday…after a few months you will be good at it too.
It is merely a skill.”

Drawing portraits using pen, pencil and water colour are only the beginning stage in art.

There is more to art than what your handphone camera can do within seconds…with effects too

But of course drawing like this is good practise to learn ‘more’ about art.

True Art is showing what the general people are not able to see.

Aiya, where got! I know some artists draw so beautiful with pencil and water colour…look so real like photo Ma!!

They so popular…I see in insta and FB. They top artists here Lo!

I smiled and told her, “You are right sister, that is how art is seen here”…I got up…it was my turn to meet the officer.

As I walked out after waving to the sweet Chinese lady…I remembered what a senior Bangladeshi artist had asked me many years ago.

“I’m surprised and curious Jega, charcoal and water colour works which are learning mediums are given so much importance in your country.”

He added, “I’ve seen your street portrait painters doing good works and priced so low while some artists become popular doing the same thing in galleries with expensive price tags.

Aren’t they both drawing faces, copying from pictures?”

I too smiled then…😬😬

The day Art is seen for its purposeful existence and not merely as a decoration…
when Art, which shaped the world is revered…
only then would the journey of meaningful Art reach somewhere.

I’m not against pure decorative art forms but just like a GP and a Specialist in the medical field…
Art too has its standards..

By Jeganathan Ramachandram
heartvasal.com