DPW Spotlight Interview: Vishalandra Dakur

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Vishalandra's painting, "Museum Visitor 1" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Vishalandra's DPW Gallery:

Born and raised in Hyderabad area, Vishal dreamed of attending the Fine Art College, Hyderabad, but instead pursued an Engineering Degree (B.E. Mechanical) at the Osmania University to satisfy his parents insistence on a more practical path to earning a living.

Vishal was born an artist. Drawing was his passion and he practiced daily. Recognition for Vishal's efforts came early. In 1962, at the age of twelve, A.P. Govt invited him to paint and present the portrait painting of Sri S. Radhakrishnan, President of India at the public gathering at Nizam College grounds. The President appreciated his art and garlanded him.

In the year 1964, (at the age fourteen) Press Club of Hyderabad invited him to conduct 1st Solo Exhibition of his paintings, inaugurated by then Cultural Minister of A.P. Govt, Sri M.R.Appa Rao.
Vishal’s early paintings were studies in Realism. Later, he concentrated on the painting style of impasto combining Indian painting strokes and Western colors. Vishal refined his paintings to capture the energy and movement in the topic of his personal history and life's rich memories. One outstanding aspect of Vishal’s art is his unique ability to communicate dynamic movement. In order to have lines and strokes contain aesthetic meaning, first he'll use abstract strokes with vivid rhythms to describe the most complicated human feeling and body language. In the details, the lines and planes are very modern looking, with a realistic feeling. Vishal’s ability to capture the essence of his subject matter while allowing the viewer to participate is sublime.

He received in 2009, National Award in the117th All India Annual Art  Exhibition, conducted by The Bombay Art Society at Jahangir Art Gallery.
In the years 2008 and in 2009, he received Finalist Awards twice from ARC Salon International, New Jersey, USA.
In the year 2009, he was selected to Signature Membership in ISAP (International Society of Acrylic Painters), CA, USA.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

My mother recognized my talent at the age of seven or so when I spoiled all the white washed outer walls of my house with the charcoal sketches of portraits of then movie heroes. Then she purchased drawing materials and encouraged me to practice. So my self taught journey started.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I never stopped but slowed during my studies.

Museum Visitor 1
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Vishalandra's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I practiced many paintings in watercolor in my childhood, now I've switched to oils and acrylics. Learning and practicing in watercolors makes it easy to paint in oils, is my thinking. I think I have painted many in every genre.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Watercolor is the medium I left and presently I am doing many oil paintings, and acrylics also.

New York in Night 7
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I am unable to sell Native American art, which is the genre I love to paint most; I have painted some thirty of my best paintings in this genre in oil but they are not sold. I have done more figurative paintings and landscapes and sold many.

Who or what inspires you most?

Howard Terpning, I have learnt and improved my talent a lot from his painting style. Whenever I am free I study his paintings, usually every day.

Untitled
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I am always busy drawing or painting something, never idle.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Most of the paintings are done in the night, which is the time I prefer for detailed work. I don’t like the noise of the streets.

New York in Night 4
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

The toughest subject for me is getting to best ideas for starting a painting. I get lot of ideas but never settle on one to paint, but once it's selected in my mind, painting starts and completes.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

I love to handle many subjects in my style so there is no creative burnout in my life.

Museum Visitor 7
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Last year's paintings look bad to me, and this year's paintings may look bad to me next year, so I've learned I am not perfect even after ten years. Practice, practice….

What makes you happiest about your art?

I am happy because my mind, my eyes, and my hands are blessed by God such that they create a painting, and I give that to my buyers who praise me everyday.

Thanks, Vishalandra!

© 2017 Sophie Marine