Collage....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 I have been doing paper batik since long time and wanted to try collage with it but never did it. Guess today was the day. Used ink along with it. Here is the collage...Do drop in a comment if you liked it or not.

Keeping promise.....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 As I promised in my last post that I will be painting everyday and shall post whatever I do, here is another in portrait . This is my hubby. Though I am not a portrait artist, I have taken this up just as a  challenge  to myself. 

Artwork papers....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 Today as I was browsing  came across a site where I read about the artwork paper. This site has good information about paper, the "sizing" of paper , different types of paper, what does acid free mean etc. do check this site : www.caigerart.com

Till then one more painting on circle theme:

"Within II", 34"x32", acrylic on canvas

"Within I'...an abstract by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 posting one more painting with circle theme.

Wander into the center of the circle of wonder...

"Within I", 35"x35", acrylic on canvas

"Pyramid of diversity"....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 

" I not me, I am we"

An art installation

An 8 feet tall art installation Pyramid of Diversity done in collaboration with artist and writer Randheer Khare Sir was unveiled on this same day in 2018. The title and the spirit of the installation was inspired from the poem " This is not my life" written by Randheer Sir. To show the diversity we painted on the same canvas with our styles intermingling eachother's works. Randheer Sir's line work and primitive forms are seen in the painting. Each side of the canvas is 5'x8' triangle canvas. For me this was a memorable project . Thanks to Randheer Sir.

"Circle Story"... abstract painting by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

I was obsessed with circles sometime back. Subconsciously they appeared in my paintings. I think we observe circles everywhere in life , from the shower head to the water rushing down the tiles of the bathroom. The circle is timeless but also modern and hi-tech like lenses. The great fiery Sun is a circle. Every landscape holds a sun.  We go round in circles all our life.

 There are some paintings I intentionally painted with circle in mind. I would like to post these few old ones again since I don't have a new one. I am working on a portrait right now. My daughter's friend wanted a portrait of his parents. It's a challenge for me as I am not a portrait artist. Lets see how it turns out. Will be posting the updates of the portrait. 

Till then enjoy the circles!  

"Circle Story"

A diptych of 12"x24" each, acrylic on canvas

:Excellence Award"....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 

I received an Artist Excellence Award by World Art Fair ,a Government registered Award winning Global startup ,aiming to promote Art and Artists. Thank you WAF for selecting me. This also includes a virtual Art exhibition to be held in June 2021.

'Afloat'...an abstract by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

 I am getting busier as the date for our curated exhibition is getting closer. Also my daughters who were with us for last few months will be leaving soon. I am trying to collect as much memories as possible so I can cherish these when they are not with me.

 I enjoyed the last two paintings so much that when I saw this long canvas , I decided to paint the same concept in a horizontal orientation. Would like to know from my readers if they liked this painting.

"Afloat III"

Acrylic on canvas, 31"x12"

"Beauty of Reflections" by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

The beauty of Reflections. 

"The beauty you see in me is the reflection of you"

-RUMI

Beauty of Reflctions I

12"x12"

acrylic on canvas

Beauty of Reflctions II

12"x12"

acrylic on canvas

Studio visit of Ghanaian contemporary artist Betty Acquah....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

Betty Acquah is one of the foremost female painters in Ghana who celebrates the achievements of women in her country. She says that women are the unsung heroes of our time and she depicts the same in her energetic paintings. With the use of dots and lines Betty has effectively captured movement in her artworks.

I first met Betty during my exhibition at Alliance Francaise in Accra but unfortunately there was no occasion when we met at leisure to exchange ideas. So when the Co-founder of Foundation of Contemporary Art ,Ghana Adwoa Amoah, generously fixed an appointment for me to visit Betty Acquah, I was very happy that she was very kind to immediately respond.

Her studio is located on the outskirts of Accra near Nsawam on Kumasi road which is usually a busy road. Betty has a separate room as a studio in the premises of her house. It was delight to meet her. An elongated room with a big work table in the center with the walls full of finished and unfinished paintings was her studio. The movement in her paintings have always caught my attention. Bursting with colours, movement and brushstrokes , her paintings so beautiful and vibrant give a feeling of life force pulsating. Especially in her paintings depicting dancers, she has successfully achieved a visual rhythm much like the rhythm in music. Instead of notes and  sounds, the use of dots, lines, colours and shapes creates a strong rhythm. 
 Betty uses pointillism technique and for my recent series on Reflection I have also used pointillism and hence was very eager to know her process and gain more knowledge of the technique.

Betty was a comfortable person to talk to and we began our conversation in a very informal way.

Thank you Betty for having me here. To start with can you tell us about your initial artistic journey?

 I was born in Capecoast and was a 10^th born in 12 children.I did schooling in Capecoast and Graduation in Kumasi. I had been drawing since childhood. And my drawings used to impress my teachers, family and friends. I knew instinctively that I was going to be an artist. While studying in Kwame Nkrumah University, being good at drawing and painting my lecturers persuaded me to take up Painting as major instead of Textile and Design. I completed B.A(Hons)Art and later on went to the same college to complete MFA. I also had a professional training course in Tokyo school of Arts while in Japan. After coming to Ghana, worked with Berj Gallery in Accra as a Manager. I also worked with the art gallery of Center for National Culture , Ghana. After 4 years of work I stopped to pursue as a full time artist.

How have you evolved as an artist?

I was the artist of the family. I got a lot of encouragement from family and friends. I was also a dancer and I knew that I wanted to do art right from the beginning.

How do you seek out opportunities? Tell us about your first exhibition.

My first exhibition was at PAFAM 90( Pan African Festival of Arts and Music) which was held at Trade Fair grounds in Accra. My cousin paid for the space . It was a satisfying exhibition as people were amazed that a lady could paint in such a way though I didn’t sell a single piece. There I met two gallery owners who liked my paintings and that is how I started exhibiting at other places as well.

Which artists have influenced you and have you collaborated with other artists?

Locally I was influenced by Wiz Kuduwor, Prof Abalade Glover and a few others whereas Internationally mostly the impressionists. My first exhibition was quickly followed by another one at then Amahema Art Gallery. I collaborated with already famous Ghanaian painters like Amon Kotei( who was the designer of Coat of Arms of Ghana), Prof Ablade Glover (now the owner of the Artist Alliance Gallery) and Tafa Fiadzigbe( who now lives and paints in US). I have also exhibited  in India, Japan, Nigeria, Spain,UK , USA etc. All these exhibitions have helped me grow as an artist.

            

 Let us know a little bit about your work.  What is the creative process of your work? Do you make any preparatory drawings?

Yes, I always have preparatory sketches. I first do the under-painting by adding different colours at random to my primed canvas and then decide on the colour scheme. I then transfer my concept from the sketchpad by making tiny dots ,almost invisible , with darkish colour. Dots are then used to make the outlines. Mid tones for the figures and the background is done simultaneously. With the shadows done, figures are finished with highlights. Every painting is ended with the dots in white. I always try to follow a rhythm in my paintings.

You use pointillism technique about which I am very eager to know  as my recent series of artworks are in the same style. How did you develop your style?

It came through experimentation. In the 3^rd year of College of Arts, students were expected to come up with their unique styles. I experimented with many techniques but finally settled down on impressionism. I loved the works of French Impressionists. Especially Monet, Pierre Renoir, Van Gogh impressed me a lot. I was hooked at them. That’s when I decided to try pointillism. My lecturers liked it and advised me to continue with it which I did. But after a while I realized that I was stuck there , I found my paintings too still which I didn’t like. Me being a dancer ,I needed movement , some rhythm and that’s how I was successful to achieve the aesthetic arrest which people find in my paintings.

What are the mediums you work in?

I have used oil and water colours but now have settled on Acrylic as it dries fast.

How would you describe the subject matter or the contents of your works? We have seen women taking foremost place in your works.

Yes, most of my works depicts the ordinary women working courageously. The trials , celebrations, successes of these women form the central theme of my works. I love dancing so I also like to portray dancers, musicians. I also like painting nature. And in all these works my main focus is motion.

When do you think that your work is finished? How much time do you spend working in your studio?

My work is finished by an instinct. Since my studio is in the premises of my house its easy for me to enter studio anytime. I spend at least 8 hours in the studio.

What are you inspired by? Are you reading , listening or looking at a particular thing to fuel your work? Are you a philosophical person? How do you navigate through the art world?

I like to listen to music while painting. I also listen to the spiritual messages on You Tube, though I am not a philosophical person. I simply follow where my heart leads me.

I have an account on Facebook . There are some galleries in Ghana who represent me like Artist Alliance gallery and Tiga-African Art gallery.

What is the art scene like in Ghana?

The art scene in Ghana is promising. There are a lot of talented artists in Ghana. But there are not many galleries , museums or art magazines. There is a challenge to start this art industry and keep it running.

Born in Capecoast, Central region of Ghana in 1965, Betty Acquah lives and works in Accra, Ghana.

Her works are exhibited and collected worldwide. Her works can be viewed here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bettyacquah.5

Studio visit of contemporary Ghanaian artist Wisdom Kudowor......by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

I left Ghana(West Africa) in Dec, 2014. Never thought that I will ever visit Ghana again in my life. But since 2017 my husband kept visiting Ghana for his consultancy and here in 2020 I got a chance to open the pages of my life I spent in Ghana. I was excited to visit all those places I had been while in Ghana and recollect my memories. I stayed in Ghana for 14 years so Ghana was my second home and has a very special place in my heart. It has given me an identity of an artist. My first exhibition was held in Accra,Ghana. Ghanaian art and culture has a great influence on my art.

There are many people who write about their visit to Ghana but as an artist I wanted something else.  I wanted this visit to be memorable in an artistic way . I have always been intrigued by artists and their work-spaces so decided to visit Ghanaian artists in their studios and celebrate the creativity of Ghana. I was glad to have been able to visit some of the studios and chat with the artists with the help of some of my artist friends, Directors of Foundation of Contemporary Art, Ghana,  Ato Annan and Adwoa Amoah . Through this blog I intend to bring forth a few Ghanaian artists and then will continue to do studio visits of the artists from my hometown, Pune. I will look forward to meet some more Ghanaian artists in my next visit to Ghana .

                                                                 Wiz Kudowor with Ato Anan

During my 14years of  stay in Ghana I didn't get a chance to meet Ghana's most respected contemporary artist, Wisdom Kudowor, popularly known as Wiz in the artist community.  I was always very fascinated with his bold canvases and the Adinkra symbols and figures and faces used in his paintings. Wiz Kudowor has been exhibited in solo and group shows for almost 30 years with exhibitions in Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. His works are held in prominent public and private collections like the Ghana National Museum, the Ministry of Culture in the China, the Osaka Prefecture Contemporary Art Collection in Japan and the Africa-America Museum in Dellas, Texas, U.S. One of his widely known artworks is the public Relief Mural at the Kwame Nkrumah Museum in Accra, Ghana.
So when Co-Director of Foundation of Contemporary Art,Ghana and artist Ato Annan helped me to get an appointment to visit his studio I was very excited. His studio is in Dzorwulu, a part of Accra, capital of Ghana.
The informal chat with Mr Wiz Kuduwor was very interesting and inspiring for me as an artist. His approachability made it easy to ask him about his early days, his career as an artist and everything about art.

Thank you for giving us time to visit your studio.To start with we would like to know about you and your background.

I have been an artist all my life.From very early age I was drawing and painting. I grew up knowing that I would be an artist anyway. When in high school art was my main thing. I applied to College of Art, Kwame Nkumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi but my father wanted me to pursue something else. So when I got admission I packed my bag and left the house without informing my parents. Of course later on I informed them through letter. After college I came back to Accra to set up my work place but then realized that money was needed for that.So I entered into teaching. I After 6 years I decided that it was enough of teaching and need to practice art. I started with textiles , screen printing and designing for textiles.This was how I was self sufficient.

What type of designs were you making and do you still find those in your paintings?
Yes. They have not gone anywhere. i was printing large volumes of textiles and then I started making clothes . That's how I found line to generate income to establish myself as an artist.

Was there a point where you started seeing yourself as a fashion designer?
I was actually in the line. But then when I took commissions I was difficult to meet deadlines as I was only designing and had no control on those making the clothes so I decided to get back to my canvases.

Your journey was quite artistic. So when and where was your first exhibition?
My first solo show was in 1990 at Art Center, Accra. With no sponsorship and all the promotion work handled by me , it was a huge success. I also got commissions from it and that is how my journey actually started .

You are called trans-cultural visionary . Can you tell us about that?
That is the term people use to describe me. Everywhere I travel to, I try to see what is there which relates to the place where I come from. That's how I connect different cultures into my painting. I feel like I am a global person. But at the same time I don't want people to forget that I am an African. I am a human being first and humans are same all over the world.

Your works are modern but at the same time traditional. Symbols relate to tradition of Ghana.
It's where I come from. I can't loose my identity as Ghanaian but at the same time I try to look beyond that. The instance of using symbols was when Professor Glover came up with collection of Adinkra symbols. It makes a whole lot of sense with meanings they carry.Everywhere I go I try to see what all those symbols mean and how it relates to the ones we have here.

How did you develop your style of painting?
I don't really try to make it a style. It is me. Whatever comes out of me is this and people relate that to me.Sometimes I get a lot of criticism that I am not consistent. But there is a lot to explore in this world and as long as I explore genuinely I am true to my work. Whatever I do is for me, to express my self . I was defining myself along the lines after my first solo in 1990, but then I started travelling. That was the time when I was looking around seeing the world and thought what I was doing was restrictive. It started choking me out and I needed to free myself from it. I just went and expressed whatever came out of me and it started flowing. I have never looked back again.
There are lots of rollers and knives seen in your studio. Are these the only tools you use for painting?
I am a free spirit and freely explore any ideas that come to me. So when I wanted to achieve textures in my works , I decided to find different tools not restricting myself to brushes. Thats how I started using knives and rollers . I don't use brush at all.

How do you navigate the art world?
I am redesigning my website . I am active on Facebook and Instagram.

Are you influenced by other artists?
I have been inspired by works of some artist but yes never tried to work like them. Among'st my lecturers Ato Delaqui had a great impact on me. I use to work for him. I use to help him stretch canvases . I liked going to his workplace just to be with him and see how he works. Ibrahim El Salahi is one artist whose works I admire. But surely they have not defined me.

When you are in a certain form the references are looked for. Did you look for the influences outside of visual art? you have mentioned about textile. Did you bring your textile influences in your painting?
I love Ashanti region. While in college I frequently visited Ashanti region. Most of my inspiration came from there. Especially Adinkra fabric that are used there.

  Are you reading, listening to music or looking at particular thing to fuel your work?
Yes, music has always been a part of my journey. If I had not been an artist, I would have been a musician. But surely now I am in a comfortable place. I also read a lot.


Cultural ConfluenceHow will you describe the subject matter of your paintings?
It changes with time. Depends on where I am and a lot of other things. Lately it has to be about spirituality.Sometimes life pushes you to look closely to find yourself at different levels. I am now looking at closely. Presently that's where I am when we talk about the subject matter.

Can you share with us the process of your painting.
I don't like blank canvases. That is the most difficult fight I have with the canvas. Sometimes ideas come sketches and then I explore it. Most of the time I go to canvas directly. Though I do have the thing in my subconscious mind. So I will say that even if the work is a spontaneous work it still comes from your subconscious mind.I find it more exciting to work in that angle.


Folklore, Tree of Wisdom

Do you work on multiple canvases at the same time?
I use to but lately I don't as not much space in the studio now. ( His studio is full of such colorful and bold paintings as you can see in the images above) 

I would like to ask you a question which many artist face and that is when do you know when the painting is finished?
It's really never finished for me and its the same I believe with all the artists not just the beginners. When you are not sure it is good to put it aside for some time. Even a small brushstroke can change the whole painting.

You are a studio based artist , how much time you spend in the studio?
I used to get to the studio at 6 am and leave by 7 pm but now I come a little late. Sometimes I just come to sit here and reflect.

People of your generation work very hard and with dedication unlike some young artists. What will you say about that?
Yes, I work regularly and not only towards an exhibition. You ask me for my works anytime and I will be able to give collection of work that will reflect me.

What is the art scene in Ghana?
There is no industry in Ghana unfortunately though some young ones are trying very hard. We have very creative people here , we just need support to put ourselves on that pedestal. Some people are trying to put the structures together to do that and I am very happy to support anyone in that line.

How is the artist community here in Ghana?
The young ones are doing very well  by coming together.  I am too traditionalist to relate to what is happening now. I think every era has determined how the art form should be and I agree to that. I am happily ready to help out if needed as its the community.
I am a studio based artist. I am involved in founding of some institutions though I am not very active.I rather like to stay away and be more committed to create art. 

What are your upcoming projects?
I don't focus on projects. I just paint.

Where your collective base is?
Not in town. Actually rest of Africa and Asia. I wish I could get a lot more people from Ghana collecting my works but somehow its still not working.

Have you ever thought of doing art practice out of Ghana?
No. when I graduated from the College of Arts, I applied to do Masters and got admitted to Temple University in US. But after 1st semester I left as that was not for me.

What do you think of art fairs? Have your participated in any art fair?
No. In US lot of people travel to art fairs. Its a way to advertise yourself. Though I feel that self promotion is good and I did that in the beginning to get to certain stage, somebody else doing your promotion does work and Art fairs are helpful  towards it.

Is art funding necessary?
It is but I believe we just support the artists to find their value .

What will be a piece of advice for the upcoming artists?
You just work from your heart. If work needs you to represent you, your heart needs to be there. Most of them work towards the sale and I don't blame them but again I would try to get them to add a little bit of heart. Then and then your work will appeal the people.

Born in 1957 in Takoradi, Ghana Mr Wiz Kudowor live and works in Accra, Ghana.
You can view more of his works on his website:
www.wizkudowor.com

"Andhaarban"....Palette knife painting by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

Recently did a live painting at "Paintathon" event organised by Cloud 9. On the similar theme did two more paintings of the same size.

"Andhaarban", 24"x24", acrylic on canvas
Andhaarban is a word in my language,Marathi. the meaning is Dark Forest .

Some problem with uploading the images. I will try to post the other image in my next post.

One more in Reflection series....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

I was in Rotterdam for 15 days with my younger daughter. After coming back I completed the unfinished from the Reflection series. Here is the one.

"Reflection VII"

Ink on canvas, 24"x24"

Phoenix Womens Art Camp.....by Indian artist Manisha Vedpathak

Posting about the Artist Camp quite a late as I was busy packing for my travel to Rotterdam right after the camp.
Today I am posting from Rotterdam.
It was a wonderful experience while painting live at Phoenix Womens Art Camp. We were 10 artists from our city Pune. Wonderful arrangement by IGA Galleria and the Phoenix mall. Had fun painting as well as interacting with viewers passing by. We painted 2 canvases. I chose African theme. I was surprised by myself with stamina specially with the recently diagnosed Rheumatoid.
 Here are some of the pics: