AT the age of 18, Varshita Ravindranathan displays unbelievable clarity about what she wants in life. “I want to become a doctor and serve the Indian Army,” she says. And such an ambition is inspiring, coming from this teenager, who has already gained popularity for her incredible artistic streak. But art is just a hobby, she states. “It is what I do when I have all the time in the world for it; Then, it is not less than a passion. But for me, art is for art’s sake, not for sale,” she insists, despite constant suggestions that pour in from friends and wellwishers to sell her artworks. Varshita’s paintings, unveiled at the Greenways Hall, Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers, on Saturday, will be on display at the Lakshana Art Gallery till December 17.
These paintings are in a way, an anthology of her journey of art, ever since she was seven. Titled Iksenya (meaning ‘deserving to be seen’), the exhibition was inaugurated by Padmashri Thota Tharrini, art director and production designer, along with Omana Thomas, her guru from Sishya, where she did her schooling. The big day also coincided with Varshita’s birthday, which was celebrated amidst Arun Srinivasan’s piano renditions on Saturday.
Varshita has also been inspired by Chennai artist Manoharan, who has taught her the technique of watercolours. “My grandfather and Thota Tharrini’s father were close friends, and our families hail from the same village,” she reveals. The fact that she is an animal lover, is evident in her artworks — in the many facets of horses she has portrayed, and the leopards and lions that take up her canvas.
“To me, horses are synonymous to strength. And I love portraying the animal’s majestic self,” says the young artist, who has adopted two snow leopards and wants to work for their conservation. Her passion is evident from her knowledge of horseriding, windsurfing and sailing.
“Nature inspires me a lot, be it the beautiful sunset or the moonlit sea,” she says, as she points out to the portraits, landscapes and stills she has drawn. She loves working with pastels. “Blue is my favourite colour. You will invariably find a tinge of blue in my works. I like pastels for the dreamy effect they create and the number of shades available.” She, however, does not prefer oils, as they “slow work and take time to dry.” In terms of abstracts, she largely prefers using Mehendi designs. Her travels to London and Paris, their cityscapes and timelessness have motivated her to do ink-on-tissue sketches of buildings and bridges. She is adept at different media like charcoal, pen on fine tissue paper, watercolours, pen and ink drawings and dry pastels. She has won first, second and third places at The Hindu Young World Painting Competition in consecutive years. Her works have been exhibited at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai and Delhi as part of a group show in 2005, when she was just 13.Varshita is also a gifted dancer, choreographer and has learnt 6th grade piano and 3rd grade violin from Trinity College. She is currently learning Hindustani Classical Vocal and Western Classical from KM Conservatory.
What’s more, she has logged ten hours of microflight flying, been a state swimming champion and plays tennis.
All this before that defining age of 18!
