Women’s Day: Using art for empowerment

Sitting on the floor, Sudha S Shetty carefully uses different colours of paint to weave magic on a piece of cloth.

An ordinary piece of cloth transforms into an intricate work with floral designs, ready to be used as a table cloth. Even a saree in Sudha’s hands turns into a canvas, as she paints pieces of art on the elegant drapes. Painting on cloth, saree or a bed-sheet, painting on canvas, oil painting, acrylic painting, embossing art, making flowers or art with organdy and stocking cloth, Sudha has mastered it all.

Sudha is a member of the Vitlapadnoor Gram Panchayat and a resident of Chembaradka. She had been silently creating wonders on different mediums like canvas, glass and pot at home.

Sudha told DH that she had been interested in art works, including painting, since childhood.

“I still treasure a piece of cross stitch pattern of the Taj Mahal I made when I was in the ninth standard. It was after my marriage, during my stay in Hassan and Gujarat, that I fine-tuned my talent by attending classes,” she reminisced.

Being an artiste whose works have won many admirers in the surrounding villages, Sudha said, “My journey began in school which gave me confidence to continue painting while growing up. I began capturing on canvas images of what I distinctly remembered during my growing years in our village.”

She said that she underwent training by Fevicryl specialists in Hassan and won the second place in the competition conducted by them.

“I prefer to paint on acrylic sheets as well as glass. I also paint using cone. Further, in glass painting, I make use of sea and pista shells to decorate the art work,” she added.

Explaining the use of thermocol in art work, Sudha said that it can be used for painting and carving and also be made into various designs.

Over 100 women near her residence have learnt the art of mehendi designs, making flowers from organdy among others. As a beautician too, Sudha has taught techniques to many women in Hassan.

Apart from being an artiste, Sudha is also a Yoga practitioner who has taught Yoga skills and mudra for women in her neighbourhood for healthier life.