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Divine paintings

Anjali Srivastava's paintings show her individualistic style

SOULFUL Anjali Srivastava with her paintings PHOTO S. GOPAKUMAR

It was a Thanjavur painting exhibition with with a difference. Crafted with meticulous care, Anjali Srivastava's creations, called `Art and Soul,' deviated slightly from the style and theme of traditional Thanjavur paintings.

Presiding deities of various temples like `Lord Balaji,' `Lord Murugan,' "Lord Ayyappan,' and `Lord Guruvayurappan' were also depicted.

Gods and Godesses

Besides depicting the conventional Hindu Gods and Goddesses in figures and forms, Anjali's creations also include depictions of `Mother Mary' and `Velankanni Matta.' Portraits of Rajasthani women were an interesting addition to the usual pictures of gods and goddesses.

The gilded and gem-set technique used to highlight the paintings, however, conformed to the original norm of using 24 carat gold foil, poster colours, metallic colours and coloured stones to give sheen and sparkle to the ornaments and the dresses of the deities and other forms in the paintings.

The bright and colourful shades of red, blue, green and yellow and subtle lighting highlighted the glowing `Divine presence' in full regalia.

According to Anjali, `Art and Soul' was a culmination of four-and-a-half years of hard work.

She reminisces, "I took to painting after a visit to the Thanjavur market in 1996. Impressed by what I saw and with guidance and suggestions from friends and the Internet, I pursued the art of Thanjavur paintings through trial and error."

A self-taught artist, she honed her innate talent. Her dedication paid off and helped her to explore the different styles of Indian paintings and to experience them in a very personal way.

Fond of her first painting, `Dancing Ganesha - I' which was not for sale, she says that she never was able to create the same child-like expression in her subsequent depictions of Ganesha in her paintings.

She adds that the 24 exhibits were her own perception of visualising God. Coordinator of Saraswathi Vidyalaya and wife of the Director General of Police, Raman Srivastava, Anjali emphasises says that she plans to pursue painting despite her hectic schedule.

DEVAYANI MEDHEKAR

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