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Initiating children into the world of art

A summer camp at Orthic Creative Centre has kids learning from distinguished personalities from the field of art, theatre, literature and craft

MASTER CLASS Prof. M. V. Krishnan demonstrates clay modelling to kids at the summer camp PHOTO: H. VIBHU

Young Lakshmi Priya, Vishnu, Geethanjali and Athulya, among the 24 others are all immersed in making shapes from the muddy ball of clay they have in their hands. Their little fingers punch and prick the pliable ball into eyes, nose, trunks, ears, tails, flowers and everything and anything they have seen.

"They learn by imitation," says Prof. M. V. Krishnan as he sits amidst the little ones teaching and assisting their creativity. The ongoing summer camp for kids at artist T. Kaladharan's Orthic Creative Centre, in the city, is a weeklong workshop that began on Vishu, April 14.

Renowned artist M. V. Devan and guru to the city's art fraternity drew four sketches to begin with. That the kids are learning from the masters like Kaladharan himself is their lucky chance for he has got the best people in the filed of photography, art, literature, sculpture, terra craft to address and teach them. And here learning is neither a boring activity nor one where scores count.

The colours for each day are different as kids get to work with the likes of artists K. K. Rajappan, K. C. Chitrabhanu, Ashanthan, C. N. Karunakaran, P. V. Nandan, Rajan M. Krishnan and Sunil Vallarpadom, among a few others. Art appreciation and art facts are introduced to them by none less than Prof. C. S. Jayaram, sculpture by Prof M. V. Krishnan, videography by Jabbar Kallarackal, theatre by John T. Vekkan and actor Prem Das, terra craft by Jayan, print graphics by V. S. Sathyan and magic by well known magician, Murali.

Art terms

"The frame", says Kaladharan, "is what troubles the artist community. What should be inside the frame?" he says placing a frame on a scribble artwork done by Prof. Jayaram. This is how the kids are gently introduced to the abstract art terms of `form' and `composition'. And if the literature proves heavy there is the magic to learn and pottery to make. There are watercolours to do too. So the kids draw a tree. "But where are the branches," is all that is required to egg them on. Soon branches appear, the birds fly around, the nests come by and the eggs with birdies are all there in green, blue and browns.

Painting gets them going just as the potter's wheel turns their imagination into cups and saucers, tumblers and pots. An easel with random words like hog hair, Shakuntalam, shadow, lucky dip etc. is used to start a thought and then a story. Kids add to the train of thought and what takes shape is the most interesting tale ever written. Poems were recited by Kavalam Narayana Panicker and the little ones sing along. "Every child paints sometime in his childhood. Some take to cartooning, mask making, theatre. They all observe the surroundings to a certain degree. I invite the masters, my masters too, to teach the children. I too learn from them and from the kids," says Kaladharan in characteristic modesty. The weeklong art camp that concludes today came at a fee of Rs. 500 with the art materials provided for.

Masters in the making

And as the young ones hold their creations with pride they little know that years from now even if one of them goes on excel in his/her chosen field they will definitely look back at this summer camp in 2006 when they learnt the art, quite unknowingly from great teachers.

And as Lakshmi priya soils her palms and hands in muddy clay, as Vishnu lets the mud take the form of an all familiar `anna', Prof. M.V. Krishnan looks at the kids in overwhelming satisfaction that he is initiating them into an art world that's complete.

PRIYADARSSHINI SHARMA

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