“I have got my own style of painting”
Deepak Bhagat has been associated with art for 17 years as an artist and is also a teacher at the Abhinav Mahavidyalaya. He loves working with acrylic on canvas in bright colour schemes and different textures. Inspired by the pundits of South India, Bhagat speaks to us about how he took to painting and transformed this passion into a full time career.
It has been 17 years that you are associated with painting, how did it all start?
It started right from my childhood days. I was more into painting than playing around like other kids. I liked to paint a lot and it later became my career. This childhood passion became an obsession for me, so much so that I enrolled myself at the Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya to pursue higher education in this field and completed my 7 year degree course from the institute. This inclination towards art further prompted me to join the Abinav Mahavidyala as a teacher in the succeeding years.
For how long you have been teaching at the Abhinav Mahavidyalaya?
I have been a part of the institute for 7 years now. It feels good to be associated with art and to deal with it all the time.
The experience is really good and it feels nice to be surrounded by students and to solve their problems. The students not only discuss their problems with me in college but they also come to my studio which I have set up at my house. This year my first batch of students will pass out from the college.
What are your views on opting for painting as a career?
Well I would suggest that anybody willing to pursue it as a career should first of all think about it seriously. It’s not an easy task and takes a lot of time to settle down. Success here cannot be achieved all of a sudden. It requires a lot of effort. At the initial stage one should not even dare to think of the monetary value they will be getting out of their paintings. They should just concentrate on doing their work and attain perfection which obviously comes with time. So think before you opt for it.
What inspires you to paint and which is your most preferred medium for painting?
If you look at my painting you will notice that my paintings are based on daily situations. To be more precise they are more situation-based. Whatever I encounter in my daily life I try to capture it on the canvas by mixing it with my imagination and feelings. I basically follow the South Indian style of painting. This time around, my paintings on display at the Malaka Spice Art Gallery show pundits in different styles and moods. My paintings are mostly figurative. It is better known as the figurative style of painting. If you look at my paintings once then you will surely be able to identify and separate those from other paintings. I have got my own style of painting.
Name a few artists who have influenced you?
Well there a quite a few of them, both Western and Indian. I am very much in love with the work of Raja Ravi Verma. He is one of the greatest artists the world has seen. I also like the work of Amruta Shergill. She is also one of the most admired figurative artists in India.
How has your work evolved over this 17 years spell?
I have been getting good response from the people and it really feels nice to be where I am today. I have displayed my work at some of the best art galleries around the world. Recently my work was displayed at a gallery in Singapore and I have been getting words of appreciation from there. My work was also displayed at the Jehangir Art gallery in Mumbai.
How big a role does imagination play when it comes to your work?
I use a lot of my imagination in my paintings. First and foremost, I decide the theme and then mix the ingredients which come in my mind.
How did growing up in Pune affect you as a person and as an artist?
It has helped me a lot; there are no two ways about it. I completely owe what I am today to the city.
What message would you like to convey to upcoming or aspiring artists?
There are just a few things they should keep in their mind- first of all they should keep on practicing more and more and secondly they should have patience. This field requires a lot of patience.
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