The creative journey may never be finished, but it brings you peace – Goan artist Viraj Naik

In Part II of our photo essay on art at RMZ EcoWorld, we share artist insights on creative careers, impacts, and motivational attitudes.

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 200 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

In the second part of our photo-essay on RMZ EcoWorld in Bengaluru, we showcase more of the outstanding installations and artist insights from the workshop on printmaking (see Part I here).

Immersive public art spaces open up the creative field to audiences who may not otherwise have visited galleries, studios or museums. “Art gives you relief from stress,” said AN Venugopal, President, RMZ Foundation, in a chat with YourStory.

The foundation’s activities include sustainable development, resilient communities, and urban innovation through avenues like art and design. Its projects are in affordable housing for economically disadvantaged families, and developing solutions for transformation of cities such as biophilic design.

The recent five-day workshop on printmaking presented techniques in woodcut, etching and digital prints, followed by an exhibition open to the public. “Art gives you peace. Happiness is being able to paint to your heart’s content in the studio,” said Goan artist Viraj Naik.

“Go investigate the world of art. Bring your friends to art galleries, the world needs more friendship,” he joked. The journey of creating a work of art can be unpredictable, and in some senses art is never done, said Viraj, citing Leonardo da Vinci: “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

The quest for artistic excellence can lead to journeys around the world, said Bengaluru artist Ravikumar Kashi; he studied papermaking in the UK and Korea, and uses materials like plant fibres (including onion skins).

“Being an artist is not easy, it was never easy,” he explains. Ravi advises aspiring artists not to fall for stories of instant success - it is a long and hard journey, but one should not give up easily. Many of his fellow students drifted away from the world of art when they realised it is about grit and not just glamour.

The role of an artist is not well understood in society either, and the education system in India leaves a lot to be desired in terms of art awareness. “Many people would ask me when I would stop painting and start working,” Ravi joked.

But he has persisted in his artistic journey, thanks to his inner drive and the appreciation he gets from audiences. Success comes from carrying your ideas through to execution, Ravi sums up.

Now what have you done today to persist in your vision even in the face of criticism and ridicule?

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

See also the YourStory pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups,’ accessible as apps for Apple and Android devices.