It was a riot of colours everywhere – sparkling blue, night black and refreshing green. About 400 students, from over 13 neighbouring districts unleashed their creative best at the Young World Painting Competition -2011 held at Gitanjali Devashray.
The competition received impressive entries from different schools, when students sent over their interpretation of the topics given for the preliminary round – Favourite Game, Visit to a Village, Break Time at School and Favourite Festival for the juniors category (Stds. IV to VII). For seniors (Stds. VIII to X) the topics were Favourite Landmark, a Holiday, Wildlife Safari and Underwater.
After a rigorous screening of over 3,500 entries, two hundred students in each category were chosen for the finals and what a competition it was!
Topics for juniors ranged from Picnic with Family, Enjoying Icecream with Family, Visit to Museum of a Botanical Garden to Having Fun at the Playground. While for seniors it was Enjoying Rain with Friends, Bicycle Ride with Friends , Watching a Cricket/Tennis Match on TV with Family/Friends, and Science Exhibition.
Ready with oil pastels, wax crayons, poster colours, sketch pens and brush, the students deftly sketched some remarkable works of art.
“It’s difficult to paint with water colors as you cannot camouflage mistakes. Yet some students have ventured to use it superbly. The striking use of white as a colour was impressive in few works,” observed Atiya Amjad, one of the judges and founder-director Daira Arts Gallery. Other judges Atika Amjad, Chief Strategist-Director of Daira Art Gallery and Thota Laxminarayana were equally impressed with the works at the finale.
Long wait
As they set to choose the winners, the parents and students had an arduous wait. “My child is participating and also my students. I am sure all of them will do well. Painting is a great form of art especially to develop patience. It also improves the concentration and min power,” observed Maheshwaram Narahari, teacher, Hari Arts Club. Rishikesh Kulkarni, a class 4 student of Delhi Public School, Nacharam loved participating in the event.
“I live in Barkatpura and go to painting classes at Balanandam in Narayanguda. At school we have painting classes every Friday in which we paint for the exhibition at school on Disney Toons,” says the young artist who loves to sketch whatever he comes across. For Anjali, a Std. X student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dindigul, the competition was a platform to present the best of work in limited time. Her penchant will help for her record work later as she plans to become a cardiologist.
As for the winners, leading the juniors category were Suhas Kellampalli, Manthan International School who bagged the first prize followed by V.S. Srikar of St Paul’s High School and K.V.L. Rudrani, Sri Aurobindo International School, on second and third positions respectively.
The winners in the seniors category were Nikhil Jain, Oakridge International School taking home the first prize, Veda Kasireddy, Oakridge International School and Burma Bhargav, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station, Begumpet on second and third places. Says a jubilant Srikar,“I never participated in any competition earlier. This is my first time. I am happy I won a prize.” Consolation prizes were also awarded to next best paintings in the two categories chosen by the judges for their innovative strokes and imagination.
Atiya Amjad made a few suggestions. “Students should try to create a story within the image. One can go outdoor, see landscape, observe street scene, flip through illustrated books or even visit a mall. Observation helps in painting better frames. One should refrain from copying. Best of abstract work is seen in paintings of smaller children which needs to be encouraged instead of restricting them to colouring shapes.”
Selected paintings would be displayed at the Daira Art Gallery, says Mrs. Atika Amjad.
The title sponsor for the Young World Painting Competition 2011 was Miot Hospitals, national sponsor Amrutanjan, and the regional sponsors were Union Bank of India, Siri Institute of Painting, LIC, Spencer’s and Jersey Creamland Dairy Products.
Url: http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2688879.ece