“Sharing my paintings with artwork from our Batch mates” Srianee, Nihal and Speedy
SPEEDY DIALOGUE SERIES- EPISODE 10 WITH CHIRASRI JAYAWEERA BANDARA (III)
“Sharing my paintings with artwork from our Batch mates”
Speedy: Good morning Chira.
It was very kind of you to respond to my request to post some more of your
lovely drawings which were well appreciated by all in the past.
Chira: Thank you Mahendra.
I am very happy for you to post them on the Blog.
Speedy: Chira, you asked me a few times to post some
of my paintings.. I know that Nihal (ND) and Srianee (Bunter) also do
paintings, in the case of Nihal, mainly portraits. You agreed that it was a
good idea to ask them to send some of their work for posting and they willingly
obliged. This post now has the work of four artists from our batch!
Chira: I am so happy that you are publishing your paintings as well as those of Nihal’s and Srianee’s. One of the reasons I am keen on showing my paintings is to encourage others to take it up. I am looking forward to seeing your lovely self-portrait. What talent!
Speedy: That is great! I agree with you entirely, if we can do it
so can you
I have started with
your nine paintings and added a few from each of the others.
Would you like to say something about the eight paintings I have chosen from your collection, namely, Siamese fighter fish, Blue and yellow fish, Butterfly, Sea Lion, Bird and babe, Royal Angel fish, Pink Bird, Green and yellow bird and Two penguins.
Chira: . Sure. I chose them out of many because you requested them, but there is no particular reason why I chose them, just happened to like the subjects. As you know I have never gone for any classes but looked at Photographs and Pictures on the internet, got them on the Lap Top screen and started painting looking at them.
Speedy: Well, you have done very well indeed.
Chira; After
I stopped doing surgery I was at a loss, and my daughter introduced me to do
painting by bringing me the necessary Kent paper, watercolours, paintbrushes
etc.
Speedy: Good for her! She must be thrilled with you taking to art
so well.
Chira; Yes she is. In fact my daughter is the one who selected the paintings for posting on both occasions. I started painting first with Watercolours and added Acrylic paint later. I did more than 50 paintings, laminated them and put them in an album. I enjoyed painting them and happy especially when they come out well.
Speedy: I hope that your story will inspire others to try new things in their retirement too. Not just art, but anything that they like. It is never too late.
Chira; That is my hope too.
I am happy to know that some of our batch mates are artists and
could paint well.
Speedy: Yet again, I enjoyed
the session with you. You certainly have talent and I am glad you are making
use of it.
Chira: I really enjoyed this session. It was good to see your work
and that of Srianee and Nihal. I hope that more will show us their paintings
through the blog. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I hope that the
Blog will continue to flourish. All the best!
Speedy: Just a final note to
other budding artists in our batch, I shall be delighted
to post your paintings. Chira, it has been my pleasure and thanks again for
sharing your work and for encouraging others.
Nihal D Amarasekera portrait of some of his Batch mates
Srianee’s
introduction
“I am
usually inspired by an image or a place that has a unique atmosphere. I take a
photo and I start with the photo, but don’t try to reproduce it. My imagination takes over and I try to create
a painting that would hopefully evoke an emotional response in the viewer!”
Mahendra
I work with acrylics (my mother, an Dambulla)), oils and I love black and white images (me)with charcoal of soft pencil.
I also use acrylic oil pastels (girl in the park)
Being an Ophthalmologist, you are well aware that I have been advised not to spend too much time at the computer, But these are "Doctors' Orders!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I try to read all articles that are posted on the blog which is very close to my heart. In fact, this may be the first comment I am making under Speedy Dialogues Part III. Incidentally, you may be creating history by being the first to be interviewed by Speedy, not once but thrice!
I have said this before, but it is worth repeating before I come to your post. When my eye started giving me trouble, I was very worried about finding a suitable person to look after the blog when I found it extremely difficult to manage it on my own. Fortunately, Speedy readily agreed to fill in till I am back to normal.
You are truly a multi talented person. When your daughter suggested that you start painting on giving up eye surgery, she would have least suspected that you will excel in this field. Mind you, that is besides all your other hobbies. Sharing portraits of batch mates with them is another "First".
Please continue with your hobbies as long as possible. When some people find time hanging on their hands when they retire, you seem to be having your hands full.
Pardon me for any typing errors. Although I want to keep writing, my right eye says that it is already tired! I have started on so many newspaper articles (which is one of my hobbies), but they remain incomplete.
Lucky
ReplyDeleteLet me thank you for your lovely comment. I must say thank you Lucky for creating our Blog. It is a brainwave and we are all thankful to you for this excellent creation which keeps us together, to enjoy each others contributions.
When Mahendra showed his self portrait I told him to publish it as it is excellent.
I am very happy that he decided to publish it along with others and also Nihal's and Srianee's paintings. Otherwise I would have felt guilty that Mahendra has done 3 Speedy Dialogues with me.
I am glad to say that my daughter Anjali is an Artist. She does beautiful pencil drawings. Mahendra has seen some of them. She is now a S.R. working at Eye Hospital after she passed her finals in M.D. Ophthalmology exam recently..
Lucky please show these paintings to Mangala as she made a comment last time saying that she likes to see more of my paintings. Chira
Mahendra
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this Speedy Dialogue 111. You have taken a lot of trouble to publish it. Well done!
Your self Portrait is excellent. Great! How do you get the features so well, that we could recognise you as Mahendra and not somebody else. That is real Talent!
I remember your mother as a fair,beautiful and kind lady with a pleasant smile. I haven't seen her after she became old. But this painting is lovely and also the other two. Well done Keep it up!
Chira
It gave me a lot of satisfaction to post these paintings. Obviously, I shall not comment on my drawings apart from saying how much enjoyment it gives me. Chira, Srianee and Nihal will know exactly what I mean. It is very relaxing, takes you away for a little while to a new world and even when you are pulled back to reality, reluctantly, there is a finished product which gives you so much satisfaction. I would urge colleagues to "have a go at it", you won't regret it.
ReplyDeleteComing to Chira's drawings, I am amazed at the fine detail and rich colours (colors for Srianee!) she uses. There is much evidence of attention to detail and the overall product exudes beauty. I won't pick out any one of them as hey are all true works of art. Well done and keep it up Chira!
Coming to Nihal's, the first thing that struck me was the amazing resemblance to the original character. There is no need to say who they are. Nihal has kept his talent hidden all these years. We want to see more.
Finally Srianee. One of The greatest compliments one can pay an artist is to say that he/she has an instantly recognisable style, and Srianee has achieved that. Srianee's paintings are colourful and vibrant and shows a brave and bold style of painting, very modernist and I am reminded of the work of the great post impressionist French artist, Paul Cezanne. Great stuff Srianee! Keep painting.
Finally, thanks for sharing these beautiful works of Art. Art. music and literature are some of the best Human achievements. I would add Philosophy to this list to make it even better.
Mahendra
DeleteI am sorry for not posting this comment earlier.
Thank you very much for appreciating my painting.
I fully endorse your statement re painting " it is very relaxing, takes you away for a little while to a new world and even when you are pulled back to reality, reluctantly there is a finished product which gives you so much satisfaction. I would urge colleagues to have a go at it, you won't regret it." Chira
COMMENT FROM NIHAL (ND)
ReplyDeleteDue to a multitude of family commitments I have not been able to be active on the blog but have read and appreciated the many articles that appeared and the interesting comments that have accrued. Bora’s banter and the many puns did liven up my life. Sumathipala’s stories brought to life aspects of a world far away from the bright city lights.
Chira and Mahendra’s dialogue shows us what this wonderful forum has achieved over the many years of its existence.
A picture paints a thousand words. How very true.
Chira, Bunter and Mahendra are talented artists. I cannot help but be mesmerised by their work. Chira’s birds butterfly and fish are stunning creations. Bunter brings to life some delightful scenes. I am simply gobsmacked by Mahendra’s talent. There is more than a touch of Van Gogh in the portraits. The girl depicts the heartache and hopelessness of a lost love. Dambulla reminds me of internship in kurunegala and our many visits there and also when Tudor Wickramatachchi was the DMO Dambulla. He pulled out the amber nectar and livened up the proceedings.
I am at present in Birmingham with my son. The many attempts I’ve made to make a comment on the blog has ended in failure. I have left it to the kindness of Mahendra to post it on my behalf.
Thank you
Regards
Nihal.
ADDITIONAL NOTE FROM ND
ReplyDeleteMy meagre contribution is a tribute to my dear friends. I hope they are a true likeness and show their professional grace and dignity. Perhaps they depict at least to some extent the ravages of time. Regards, ND
Speedy, The colourful drawings of Chira and Srianne will certainly brighten up the depressed souls among our batch batch-mates. Long live
ReplyDeletelate developed talents among us.
Sumathi
DeleteThank you very much for appreciating our paintings. Chira
Nihal
ReplyDeleteI must say that you are talented. How do you get the features of the individual so that we could recognise the person. Real Talent! Well done!
Chira
Srianee
ReplyDeleteLovely colourful paintings. The bullock cart painting looks so natural.
You seem to like painting sceneries. That is great. I tried painting sceneries but I found it difficult to paint them well. Well done! Chira
Thanks Chira. See my comment below. Cheers!
DeleteMahen, thank you for posting these and starting a discussion with Chira about developing hobbies in our retirement. One never knows what hidden talents we have until we give it a try.
ReplyDeleteChira, I can see why you were a skilled ophthalmic surgeon! Your paintings show great attention to fine detail and they are so colorful and very beautiful. Nihal and Mahen demonstrate the fact that we each have different styles. I liked to paint even as a young teenager, and was really annoyed when I had to give up art as a subject at LC when I decided to join the "Science" stream. I'm glad that is not the practice any more. I did very little painting during the years when I was studying, working, and raising a family, but picked it up again when my children were older. I find it difficult sometimes to get started on a painting, but when I do, it is a meditative experience. It is extremely relaxing. Chira is right more people should try it.
Srianee, the one I like best out of yours is the bullock cart and bull, which are perfect, and you have taken a great deal of trouble with the foliage in the background. This is what I like most, when not only the main subject but also the background is given equal importance. And I like the scene from the balcony which is a place you spent a holiday in and wrote about. Well done! All of you have given me a spurt of energy to try my hand at it and I hope to send it to the Blog! Zita
DeleteBy the way, in case users were not aware, it is possible to see a larger clean image of any photo in the blog by clicking on it. Your screen will then show the clicked object almost om full screen and at the bottom you will see al the images in thumbnail form and you can move between them by using your arrows on the keyboard or by mouse clicks. To get hack to the main blog, just click on the cross within a small white square on top Right of your screen.
ReplyDeleteMahendra
DeleteI have to admit that I was ignorant of the fact that I could click on the picture and get an enlarged image on the screen.Thank you for enlightening me on this fact.
I must say that I went back and saw all the paintings and drawings after enlarging them.
After enlarging your self portrait and also your portrait done by Nihal that I saw your features clearly! Congratulations to you and Nihal. What talent! Chira
Hi Chira, Mahendra, Srianee and Nihal, I don't know where to start. Actually I am speechless in admiration at the beauty, the meanings and the quality of your paintings, which frankly make me want to say a hundred things at once. One has only to take a glance at your drawings to feel all these emotions which make it difficult to say words as they seem so poor in explaining our admiration of your art work. I think Chira has contributed a lot during her interviews with Mahendra and I am jolly glad it was not just one interview. I can see myself having a go at drawing, now that you guys have all given me so much inspiration! Many thanks, and let it not end at this. Let's have pictures, paintings, anything at all from our batchmates! Well done all!
ReplyDeleteZita
DeleteThank you very much for your lovely comment appreciating our paintings.
I am glad to know you are going to have a go at drawing. I am sure you have the talent and capability to do so. I know you make beautiful Greetings cards. Let us see your art in the near future. We are looking forward to that day. Never too late. All the best! Chira
Chira, you do have a natural gift for creating 'more beautiful than the actual thing' paintings of objects. You have a natural talent. I can't really paint for toffee! But I am going try to develop this talent if that's not a contradiction in terms. Finally I'll have the courage to send them to the Blog. I am so glad you put me in this direction of 'trying to develop a natural talent' yes I repeat! And I'll shock my colleagues, hey that's exciting! Thanks, Chira! I am really excited! Zita
DeleteCOMMENT FROM NIHAL (ND)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have no access to a desktop or laptop I can appreciate the beauty of those paintings on my iPhone. The more I look at the paintings the more I see and appreciate the intricate beauty. Thank you so much to Lucky Mahendra Chira and Srianee for the kind comments. I have only done the boys not wanting to upset the girls by not getting the facial features, age and demeanour quite right. It is just my old belief that boys are more forgiving when it comes to descriptions of their faces.
My attempts to draw scenes have not been a great success. Looking at Srianee’s painting one gets the impression that it is real and we are seeing it through an open window in 3D. That is so difficult to achieve but so very important. I am just a novice and a dabbler but I will persevere.
Chira’s work brings the beauty of nature into my lounge. I’ve drawn some birds and bees and know how hard it is to get the colours , wings and feathers right and their intentions more obvious to the viewer.
Painting is therapeutic. To me it is a form of meditation when I think of nothing else. Mindfulness is a prerequisite skill to becoming a good artist. It is the practice of meditation and mindfulness that can bring peace, tranquility and happiness to our lives as we become octogenarians and see dark clouds and the storms ahead in the horizon. Painting has brought me great pleasure and peace of mind and has helped me enormously to concentrate on the present.
It is my hope that this dialogue will encourage many in our blog community to take on painting as a hobby. If I can paint anyone can.
Nihal
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist but endorse Nihal's comment that Painting is therapeutic.
Painting and Cross Stitching has brought me great pleasure and peace of mind and I agree with Nihal.
As Nihal has said I fully endorse you batch mates that this Dialogue will encourage you to take on painting as a hobby. If I can paint anyone can, as nihal has said. I fully endorse it.
As Mahendra started this Speedy Dialogue on Hobbies he expected more to come out with their hobbies. It is never too late. Hope more will come forward with their hobbies. All the best. Chira
There are myriad of things one could do in his/her retirement.
ReplyDeleteTo the four great artists who have kindly shared their talents with us- Thank you very much and congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great works of art- for detail, elegant style and life- like portraiture so difficult to achieve. A most impressive collection which Iam sure will continue to grow and delight all our batch. Cheers
Rohini
DeleteThank you very much for appreciating our paintings. Chira
Beautiful works of Art from all four! Variety of styles each a pleasure to the eye with its own merits worthy of being in a public exhibition.
ReplyDeleteProud to know such multitalented batchmates. Thank you Chira Srianee,ND and Mahen for sharing your creative work. And of course a big thank you to Lucky for initiating this sharing. Manel W
Good to see you on the blog Manel. If you got any new ideas for the blog, please do share them with us.
DeleteManel ( Owli)
DeleteThank you very much for appreciating our paintings.
Manel I am only a novice at painting without any training. I started painting only a few years ago. I am humble and cannot dream of achieving that high standard good enough for a public exhibition. Chira
Hi Chira,Srianee,Nihal and Mahen
ReplyDeleteFantastic paintings and artwork,Very very impressive even though you are not "impressionist ".I am not being funny, trying to be punny.
Bora, thank you! I enjoy your "punnyness!" Not puny but punny!! Haha!
DeleteBora
ReplyDeleteThank you very for appreciating our paintings. I hope Harshi saw them.
Chira
What can I say that others have not spoken , so many times and just as well. and yet.... I think you will not mind if I repeat words of praise over and over like a bell. ....
ReplyDeleteMy sincere congratulations to Chira, Nihal Bunter and Speedy.. you guys leave me speechless with admiration. Each of you have a distinctive style . The amazing thing is that you all seem to have blossomed late perhaps because we all have more time to spend doing things we enjoy.May you continue to enthral us with your talent
Suri
DeleteThank you very much for appreciating our paintings.
Your admiration of our handy work goes a long way which makes us jubilant. Chira
Thanks, Suri. Our batch has all sorts of talents and together we make a great collection of doctors. Make use of the time we got left as well as possible for the benefit of all.
ReplyDeleteI wish to re-echo the praise heaped on Nihal, Nahen,Chira and Srianee, by other batch-mates
ReplyDeleteSanath, your kind appreciation gives us a lot of satisfaction
DeleteSanath
DeleteYour re-echoing the praise heaped on us is much appreciated.
Thank you very much. Chira
Thank you everyone for the compliments showered on our artistic efforts! The great thing is that the paintings seem to have generated a response from those who don't regularly make comments on this blog. That is so gratifying. It is great to see more people participating on the blog.
ReplyDeleteDear Chira,Mahen,Nihal and Srianee,
ReplyDeleteThere is little I can add to the adulation you have been heaped already.Your works are of a high standard.
I ,now wish, I had paid more attention to my art teachers.One a venerable grand uncle was very good,but my brother and I covertly resisted his instructions.His classes were on Sunday mornings,not a very good time for us.He was a good photographer too and we called him “photo mama”
Srianee you will remember Nalini Jayasuriya of STC ,who became very well known in later years.Sadly her teachings were also like water on a duck’s back.
But I did learn to appreciate art and have acquired some good works including three sketches by George Keyt.Serendipitously, I came across a street artist in Colombo who made exact copies of GK which are as good as the originals.
I would highly recommend a visit to the Sapumal Foundation in Barnes Place which has many GK paintings and also of others of the ‘43 Group.
Hi Kumar, thank you for your comment too! Nalini J. was a good friend of my mother, even though she was much younger. She came to CT and was at the Yale University on some "Artist in Residence" type of thing several years ago. I believe it was sponsored by the Divinity School, because many of her paintings did have a religious theme. I visited her a few times and bought a couple of her paintings. One adorns my wall here in Connecticut. She remained in touch with my brothers until she passed away. I have visited the Sapumal Foundation a few times. They have a great collection, but the building (former home of Harry Peiris?) is in disrepair. Sri Lanka has produced many great artists.
DeleteKumar
DeleteThank you very much for appreciating our paintings.
I used to know a Mrs. Nalini Jayatunge an art teacher who lived down our lane. Kumar I wonder whether you got the name wrong
and it is one and the same. Chira
Dear Chira,
DeleteIt is Nalini Jayasuriya.I have emailed you an article about her.The photo of her in that was instantly recognisable.She used to wear saree to school.
I think even little boys should be taught by lady teachers. They were never harsh or abusive to us
Kumar
Kumar
DeleteThank you very much for sending the Email with Nalini Jayasuiriya's photo and paintings. This person is different to the one I thought. Her paintings are colourful and lovely. I like the one ' mother and child ' the best, with beautiful line drawings.
I have seen the Artists displaying their paintings down Green Path, as you say some are very good. Chira
This indeed had lit up the blog. My heartfelt thanks to Zita, Bora, Sanath, Suri, Manel W and everyone else who has commented for their kind words of encouragement. I hope we can maintain this enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteWe are coming on to our REMEMBRANCE DAY when we celebrate the lives of our friends who have now departed this world. As we have always done let us all join in to remember them.
Remembrance Day will start on Thursday and there will be a series of post appearing daily. I thought it best to stagger them so that every day, in the next few days, you will have something to look forward to.
DeleteDear Srianee,
ReplyDeleteI have emailed you an article about NJ to you and Chira.Glad that you purchased her paintings.It must have given her a lot of satisfaction.
I was only nine years old when she became our art teacher.She always wore saree then.But I could recognise her photo instantly in the article.She and the class made a model of an ancient village for a school exhibition.
Another excellent female artist is Iromi Wijewawardane.Her specialty is female figures.She is brilliant,although not as well known as Senaka Senanayake.I bought one of SS long ago.Family of three nudes.Apparently he doesn’t paint nudes anymore after a religious experience.
Sapumal Foundation building needs extensive work; cost maybe prohibitive..One of my STC classmates Rohan Soysa is the president of SF.He will do his best.Hope some corporate donor/s will step in .It is a national treasure.
You must have walked down old Green Path where street artists exhibit their paintings.Some are very good and inexpensive.