One of Goa’s artists has won an international award in Kosovo. Kalidas Satardekar ha one his second international award with his portrait of a sadhu. This is a prestigious award given by the International Water Colours Society and this year the focus was on Coffee painting. It is a medium of painting which is a combination of coffee and water colours.
Kalidas said the competition had attracted around five hundred entries from all over the world and he said it felt great when he learned he had won an award for his work. He painted a sadhu and said he had all the freedom while painting. He explained the process saying “We say coffee painting because it is a monotone and you cannot have colours. I am a realistic artist and focus in details. There is even scope to show different things like things like wrinkles on the face. There are stages and it is like building a house. Your foundation has to be strong. Initially any artist has to learn to be a realist, then to be an impressionist”. It took him four to five hours to paint the portrait.
As someone who teaches art at a government school he bemoaned the general trend amongst artists to directly jump into abstract art without understanding real art. He said “It is important to have that knowledge; if you cannot draw you cannot become an artist. Once you know your basics the quality you achieve is different”.
Kalidas has won eight state art awards, four national awards and his painting has been exhibited internationally. It is important to note, the selection committee for international awards usually comprise artist who cast a very critical eye. He wants to spend even more time devoted to his art. He wants to do more work in watercolours and other mediums. He said “I don’t think in art there are any shortcuts. Even if you are using digital technology it will need foundations in fine art. Real art is brush, paint and paper”.
Speaking about the art scene in Goa he said it was encouraging that more children were focussed on ensuring their children were interested in the arts but he felt the ability to draw was something one had within oneself. That cannot be taught in a class.” Practise he said was the key on to strengthen ones knowledge and basics.