A thirst for artistic pleasure was quenched at the 16th edition of Chitra Santhe. Thousands of paintings from professionals and amateur artists were displayed on Kumara Krupa Road and side alleys in the area.
Artists from various parts of the nation exhibited artworks at the annual fair. Traditional Indian artworks such as Mysuru, Madhubani and Tanjore paintings were among them. Several young, budding and self-taught artists presented contemporary artworks.
The art media were varied and the prices were affordable. DH spotlights some of the artists at the Santhe:
1. Wildlife paintings from a Mysuru-based artist
Mysuru-based artist Gangadhar took a month to create a painting of a group of elephants at a lakeside. The artwork was priced at Rs 7 lakhs. The stall was surrounded by children who loved the paintings of wild animals. The artist said that he generally snaps pictures of wildlife and replicates them in paintings.
2. Ceramic art by Lakshmi
Lakshmi stood out for her ceramic artworks. "Many art lovers seek something different from what they commonly find," said Lakshmi Donthy, who also had acrylic and oil paintings. She said that colours and textures usually grab the buyers' attention. Lakshmi stressed that it isn't easy to say what kind of artwork people are drawn to as each has its own set of admirers.
3. Sand art from Chennai artist
Raju, an artist from Chennai, also drew a large crowd. He has worked with sand art for the last 25 years. His work varies from simple designs such as cars, birds and animals to portraits of personalities like MS Dhoni and Charlie Chaplin. His artworks ranged in price from Rs. 2,000 to Rs 5,000.
4. Contemporary art by Kundan G
Mangaluru-based Kandan G's paintings spoke louder than words. The artist showcased many contemporary paintings that reflected the social issues of today.
5. 'Mandala art' by a first-timer
The 'Mandala Art' from Bengaluru-based first-timer Sneha also grabbed eyeballs at the Santhe. The pieces were priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000.
Art lover speak
Art enthusiast Sowmya R said, "I enjoy visiting Chitra Santhe for two reasons - one is that you get to see and meet talented artists and the other is I get to learn so much. Chitra Santhe 2019 is beautiful, the festival never fails to bring in the best."
Mahantesh said that he visits every year. "I like the event a lot. Artists from all over the country participate. The best part is that artists from rural areas also get to unveil their talent."