<div>In an event organised at the Cubbon Park Band stand on Sunday, Art Mantram brought the niche world of art and artists out of galleries and to the public. Well-established artists and new entrants into the field showcased their talent in live paintings and displays of their work. <br /><br />Speaking at the inauguration, S G Vasudev, an award-winning artist from Karnataka, said, “People are intimidated by art galleries. They feel that it is meant only for the elite. I appreciate this initiative to bring art to the people.” Vasudev and M S Murthy, Chairman of the Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, interacted with artists at the venue and even produced sketches and paintings. <br /><br />Of the 12 artists exhibiting their work, the crowd found Dheeraj Gadicherla’s coffee art most fascinating. His monochrome paintings of cats, dogs, landscapes and even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, have all been made using coffee decoction. “I leave the decoction out for about two weeks for it to thicken because then it is easier to paint with and I get darker shades,” he said, explaining the process. <br /><br />Class six student Varsha R drew a sketch of freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh.<br /><br /> “I am not getting the eyebrows and lips right,” she said, asking the instructor for help. The enthusiastic kids plopped down on the grass, painting hills, flowers and trees. They were in store for a huge surprise at the end when Sanjeev Mehta, a jeweller, bought their paintings for Rs 500 each. “Though I am a businessman by profession, I love art and I am a collector. This is just a small gesture of encouragement for the kids. A little boost of confidence will take them a long way.” he said. <br /><br />Yumna Harisingh, an organiser from Art Mantra said, “We want to bring art into people’s everyday lives. We’ll try to make this a monthly event.”<br /></div>
<div>In an event organised at the Cubbon Park Band stand on Sunday, Art Mantram brought the niche world of art and artists out of galleries and to the public. Well-established artists and new entrants into the field showcased their talent in live paintings and displays of their work. <br /><br />Speaking at the inauguration, S G Vasudev, an award-winning artist from Karnataka, said, “People are intimidated by art galleries. They feel that it is meant only for the elite. I appreciate this initiative to bring art to the people.” Vasudev and M S Murthy, Chairman of the Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, interacted with artists at the venue and even produced sketches and paintings. <br /><br />Of the 12 artists exhibiting their work, the crowd found Dheeraj Gadicherla’s coffee art most fascinating. His monochrome paintings of cats, dogs, landscapes and even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, have all been made using coffee decoction. “I leave the decoction out for about two weeks for it to thicken because then it is easier to paint with and I get darker shades,” he said, explaining the process. <br /><br />Class six student Varsha R drew a sketch of freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh.<br /><br /> “I am not getting the eyebrows and lips right,” she said, asking the instructor for help. The enthusiastic kids plopped down on the grass, painting hills, flowers and trees. They were in store for a huge surprise at the end when Sanjeev Mehta, a jeweller, bought their paintings for Rs 500 each. “Though I am a businessman by profession, I love art and I am a collector. This is just a small gesture of encouragement for the kids. A little boost of confidence will take them a long way.” he said. <br /><br />Yumna Harisingh, an organiser from Art Mantra said, “We want to bring art into people’s everyday lives. We’ll try to make this a monthly event.”<br /></div>
