Charulata by gautam mukherjii

ME & MY STYLE…………

I believe that Art school is not make a true artist. If you have the talent and are willing to hone up your skills read a lot and interact with fellow artists you can definitely grow up being one. I trust three words 1.Practice 2.Practice & 3.Practice.

I have three women in my life my mother, provider and a friend who has continuously been there, my wife also a painter and my child daughter. They shelter me, support me, and influence me and my work.

Born and brought up in a three century old ancestral home in Kolkata, where my relatives continues to live. My developed my talent for drawing to the run up of the yearly Durga puja festivities since my school days I have been painting and helping decorate the pandol . In Bengal an artistic “Kalighat Potchitra” form would adorn on the back side of the idols made me enchanted. Since then I was greatly inspired to learn arts. In fact my fascination with eyes also started with the worship of Maa Durga idols which have prominent eyes. I have always felt that eyes are the most important feature of any human being. It‘s through the eyes you looked at my canvases and then decided to meet me. A world without eyes is unthinkable.

At first glance, my works reflect Bengali Family life. This is my Dhoung (approach). You will see Kurshi (Chair), Almadi (cupboard) But it is not a photorealistic. A child pulling his/her fathers spectacles or hands, two women combing each other’s hair …all such daily / family life images express the sentiment of love, affection, felt the world over by one and all. I feel that every viewer has a different take on a work of art and naming one is likely to blind the viewer to think differently. So I don’t want any specific name for my each painting, but I‘ve made series then I think and choose the Title such as Ghare Baire, Nostalgia, Down memory lane, Soner bangle, Kolkater Babu, etc.

I’m a very sensitive artist, and sensitive towards my subjects, which are mainly revolve around my family. They are not portraits of my family members but are rather representation of the values a family holds for me. Over a period of time my style has evolved , the colors have vibrant, cheerful and brightened , the characters in my works have acquired a cheerful But the focus has always been the family, with emphasis on the close bonding between them , shown by the physical contact with each other, be it husband - wife , mother-child ,grandparent-grandchild or between siblings. The attention to composition, background, detailing of the people, in traditional Bengali attire and jewellery in an environment that is reminiscent of the old Kolkata havelis. All enhanced by the deep and rich hues of color.

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