3 min readJun 16, 2011 02:40 AM IST
First published on: Jun 16, 2011 at 02:40 AM IST
It was in the eighth grade that he realised his passion and flair for fine art. Today,Saket Mehendale,an architect by profession,turns to art to escape the mundanity of urban life. “I was skeptical about indulging in a full-fledged career because this is a very unpredictable field. So,I took up architecture to earn my daily bread and butter,” says Mehendale,who will be displaying 50 of his paintings at Patrakarnagar from June 18 to June 21.
Nature is his prime inspiration. His paintings show trees,leaves,water lilies,park benches and the cool morning mist. “The paintings are done with water colours,pastels,charcoal,pencil and dry media. I am more comfortable working with dry media as while studying architecture,we had to draw with pencils while making blue prints and detailing layouts of structures for our assignments,” he says. Mehendale’s fascination with motifs from miniature paintings is seen in his work. “Some of my friends have noticed a Japanese element in the leaves I have drawn but this was never intentional. The leaves have been inspired from the Kangra paintings,” he reveals.
Most of Mehendale’s paintings symbolise an escape from the mad rush of urban life. “I create peaceful places in my imagination which I paint onto the canvas. The fragments of my imaginations comprise lonesome park benches,quiet houses and sitars,” says he.
It’s difficult to find time for your soul during the daily business of earning a living or doing chores,he feels. So,his work tries to reinforce the belief that we are a part of a greater world. “A moment of soulful peace is as pleasantly welcomed in today’s busy world,as rain is in the drought,” he explains.
The painter loves the water lilies at Sarasbaug. “I have created some gel pen drawings of the water lilies during early winter mornings in Sarasbaug. There is something mystic about them. When you see it,you will want to know what is beneath the calm muddy green water,” he describes.
For his Vinayak paintings,he has used red,brown and orange vegetable colours. “I have created paintings of the Vinayak deity as a form of my worship of art. I believe any artist,be it a musician,a painter,a singer or a dancer,is on a journey of hard work and dedication. The passion for art is as pure as one’s prayer to God. For me,art has always been connected to divinity,” he smiles.
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