VALUE ADDITION -- 7:

CHITRANKAN ART GALLERY IN COONOOR

BY P S SUNDAR

Tourists visiting The Nilgiris henceforth will have an added attraction of indulging into various forms of drawing art including portraits amidst scenic beauty, thanks to 23-year-old Trishla Jain's ‘Chitrankan’ Art Gallery at Mount Pleasant, Coonoor, which I inaugurated early November, 2018.

P S Sundar (extreme right) inaugurating CHITRANKAN ART GALLERY in the presence of  Art Connoisseur Shyamala (second right), Artist Trishla (third right), her parents -- Kamal Chand (left extreme) and Anjana Jain (second left).  

  

She hails from the well-known family of textile major in lower Coonoor, Vimal Textiles.   Now, her father Kamal Chand runs a children’s wear shop called ‘Dear’ at the town centre of Coonoor.

A fashion Design graduate, Trishla has shown keen interest in drawing right from her childhood.   

Trishla’s parents – Kamal Chand and Anjana Jain – leave no stone unturned to encourage her reach her dream in art drawing because of their discovery of Trishla’s interest in art right from her childhood.   Consequently, after becoming a fashion design graduate, Trishla got trained at Vaanavil Institute in Coonoor.   She exhibited many of her works at the ‘Brush Stroke’ art exhibition held by this institute at Coonoor Club which I inaugurated.

Interestingly, Trishla’s younger brother Rishab Jain, who also has some drawing to his credit, ardently supports her in her pursuit to achieve greater heights.     

“I use a variety of media for my drawing and painting – ceramic, canvas, ivory board, plywood and leather board.  I use various drawing materials including pen, pencil, water colour, acrolic, knife, oil, charcoal, 3D painting and wall paintings”, Trishla told me. 

The works on display include scenery, Gods, sages, shops, animals and lifestyle.   

Her murals are her masterpiece.   She has displayed in her Gallery large and small Murals.   “My large mural which won several bouts of appreciation at the ‘Brush Stroke’ exhibition is on display at this gallery as a centre-piece.   It shows harmony between nature’s music and man’s music!  The nature’s music is depicted in the form of waves, rustle of leaves and tree branches, birds’ chirping and even the origin of universe, the smiling sun.   For man-made music, I have created human persona playing a variety of instruments”, Trishla explained. 

“Another mural is about a girl enjoying her own identity in the larger universe.   She is smiling amidst green trees and colourful flowers and looking up expressing a feeling of independence and empowerment.   To some extent, I am using this mural to highlight the important role women should have in the society”, she detailed.

“I have also created mural of Lord Vinayaka.  This is based on Tanjore painting but without paints.  It has a mat finish that makes it exclusive for both art decoration on wall or to be used for pooja in prayer room”, Trishla noted.

“For all these murals, I have used plywood base on which I have hand-crafted the images on ceramics”, she disclosed.

      

She has also created murals to be fixed on wardrobes or tables.  These are attractive designs adding to the beauty and value of the furniture concerned.

Her murals on the wall enhance the ambience of the place concerned.  In particular, she has drawn murals on the walls of bed room for children.   These are flowers in pleasing colours with a night-life attached to them.

“In the trial room of our shop ‘Dear’ housing children’s clothes, Trishla’s painting of giraffe amidst the green forest is a great hit with the children”, her father Kamal Chand told me.

“Trishla has also created a wall of appreciation in our shop on which satisfied visitors including some celebrities have written their words of appreciation”, he disclosed.   

The art gallery is in three portions – two portions house exhibits displayed well-mounted on walls with adequate lighting and large moving space.  There are also sofas for the visitors to sit, relax, appreciate and talk to the artist.

The other portion is her studio where she draws and creates murals.  Visitors can see her drawing if they like.  

“I am also into live portrait painting.   Mostly done with charcoal or black pencil, the portraits can serve as a valuable memory for the guests.  They can sit for a session with me for such portrait painting”, she shared.

There is also charming space for the visitors to wait.   “We will create better moving, sitting and enjoyable space around the gallery”, Trishla’s mother Anjana told me.  

“While there is no entry fee to the Gallery, we consider selling off the displayed drawings to guests who show keen interest.  I can also draw paintings on order, or design logos, name boards or business cards on order”, Trishla disclosed.   

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)