Budding artists hone skills on various art forms

Yakshith, a class eight student from Vidyadahini High School, Surathkal, wants to be an artist first and a scientist next. He has been regularly participating in drawing contests and workshops to hone his skills.

His classmate Vivek, who wants to explore as many art forms possible, is also traversing the same path.

On Saturday, the two youngsters were among the 60 enthusiastic students who took part in ‘Karantha Ranga’, a one-day coaching and demonstration programme in drawing and painting, organised by P P Karantha Abhimani Balaga, at Sri Ramakrishna Mutt here.

Yakshith is keen on improving his skill on clay modelling, as he has the credit of making two clay idols of Lord Ganesha at home. In addition, he is adept at drawing rangoli. What has kept him going is the first prize he won in a drawing contest while studying in class three. Since then, he has been winning prizes, as he recalls in a jiffy, including a first prize for cartoon at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal. 

To become a scientist, he claims to have in his pride possession a model of ‘nano’ vacuum cleaner, made using a water bottle, which he says with a tinge of a smile.

Karantha, a reputed artist, was keen on passing on the art to the next generation. Likewise, he was teaching several students, including children, for free, at his home. Five years since his death, the activity continues with Lalitha Kalkur founding Karantha Abhimani Balaga, said Dinesh Holla of Netravathi Movement fame, also an art patron.

The students, during the day-long session were taught water colouring, acrylic painting, cartoon, line art, paper craft, warli, madhubani and therma foam painting. Students from Government PU College, Car Street, Canara High School, Urwa, Mangala Jyothi, Vamanjoor, KPSIC Memorial High School, Panjinadka, Udupi, and St Aloysius High School took part.

In all, 12 reputed artistes were roped in as resource persons; it included Ganesh Somayaji, Dayanand Bejai, Permude Mohan Kumar, Sudheer Kavur, Dinesh Holla, Sapna Noronha, Manoranjani, Shalini, Venki Palemar, John Chandran, Santosh Andrade and Neha Rao.

Addressing the gathering, president of Arehole Prathishtana, Mangaluru, Arehole Sadashiv Rao, said “Such initiative help in encouraging students in improving their innate skills. It was also the wish of Karantha, as art helps in shaping a good life.”
Poornakamananda Swami of Sri Ramakrishna Mutt was also present.