MY BRUSH WITH ART

Art correspondent VANDANA KALRA becomes an artist8217;s assistant for a day and discovers it8217;s easier to talk about layers and strokes than to wield a brush

Confession: i write on art but the last time I held a brush was8230; this morning but that was a toothbrush. Over the years, I have learnt to stand beside art lovers and stare intently at displayed works. I have read and seen enough to be able to 8216;go beyond the surface8217; and 8216;go beneath the layers8217; but haven8217;t painted in years.

So when I was asked to assist an artist, I thought it was an impossible idea. No artist will let me work on his creation8212;after all, a stroke could decide whether the work goes under the hammer at Christie8217;s or is left to rot in the artist8217;s dump. I would probably be allowed to pass on the palette or wipe out colours from the canvas.

So when I dialed artist G.R. Iranna8217;s number, I was surprised when he said I could work on his canvas. 8220;But I know nothing about art8230;you8217;ll have to teach me,8221; I said. He was being incredibly nice about letting me work with him. Did he know what he was getting into? Should I reveal how I cheated in arts class8212;my mother did all my homework. 8220;Don8217;t worry. We8217;ll figure that out and I will let you help me. Artists need assistants,8221; he said. Now this man must have a halo for sure.

On the appointed day, as I entered Iranna8217;s spacious studio in South Delhi8217;s Saket, I said a silent prayer8212;for myself and for Iranna. We spent some time looking at Iranna8217;s creations that would be part of his forthcoming exhibition in London. And then, he led me to my workplace8212;an incomplete canvas suspended on the wall. 8220;You8217;ll work on this,8221; he said. The canvas had 12 figures in uniforms. Only the one in the centre had facial features; the others would have masks. Iranna had already painted some masks. 8220;The painting depicts blind following, where the youth are misled in the name of religion.8221; I nodded in agreement and muttered a borrowed remark, 8220;It8217;s thinking art.8221;

Soon Iranna poured white and black acrylic on the palette. As he mixed the shades with water and painted a mask over one of the faces, I squinted hard to make sure I didn8217;t miss anything. He was done. Now it was my turn to paint another mask. 8220;Just fill the gap. That should not be difficult,8221; Iranna said. Easy? Tell ME that. I dipped my brush in the palette and then just as the brush touched the canvas, it froze. 8220;What direction should the stroke take,8221; I asked without stopping to wonder if I hadn8217;t displayed my ignorance enough. 8220;Any. It doesn8217;t matter,8221; came the immediate reply. Filling the centre was easy but as I tried to work along the charcoal outline, I told myself: 8220;Basics, just the basics. Just stick to the outline.8221;

Five minutes later, I stood back and looked at my unimpressive mask. Iranna chipped in with the finishing touches. He painted over it, added a little water and a drop of white and Indian yellow, and the mask magically transformed into a stunning piece of art. Ok, maybe not stunning but definitely striking.

Iranna suggested that we now work on an installation. Titled Wounded Tools, this is a donkey layered with fur in tiger stripes. 8220;It portrays power play. Donkeys are used by everyone and the tigers can8217;t really be used,8221; he said. I almost said 8220;thinking art8221; but remembered I had said that before. This time I nodded appreciatively. While most of the white fur was already covered with yellow paint, my task was to help Iranna with the unfinished tail. 8220;We have to use a lot of water or else the fur will harden,8221; Iranna said. Iranna made the fine lines for me and then handed me the brush. This time I felt better. I painted like I had in school. 8220;This is easier,8221; I said.

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As I painted the last bit of the tail, I asked Iranna if artists8217; assistants have to have art degrees. 8220;No. But are you thinking of taking it fulltime,8221; he asked. 8220;No,8221; I screeched. I was much more comfortable with the pen than with the brush. Just before I took leave, I admired the donkey in tiger stripes. Will I get to see him again8212;at an exhibition, perhaps? 8220;Yes, and very soon,8221; Iranna assured me. 8220;I8217;ll certainly be there,8221; I replied. This time, I might just be doing all the talking about the 8216;layers8217; and 8216;strokes8217;. copy;