14-year-old explores art in diverse mediums, genres

About 35 of his best works were unveiled by popular poster designer Jayaram Ramachandran on Tuesday. “Twelve of them were done specifically for this art show in the last one and half years after my art teacher told me about it. The other works were done in different times,” says an excited Ganesh, who will be moving to Class 10 this academic year. 

What is unique about the show is the variety on display. Ganesh has neither left any medium untouched, nor got stuck with one particular genre. So, there are still-life objects, animals portraits, landscapes done with oil on canvas, watercolour and soft pastels. “When I began to learn painting in different mediums, it was very difficult. But with practice it became easier. I love painting portraits on soft pastels and animals with oil on canvas,” says the 14-yearold, whose brush with art began when he attempted to draw a portrait of his grandfather at the age of seven. A student of Life and Art Academy, he also travels to different museums and galleries across the country to witness the works of renowned artists. 

Ganesh attributes his talent to the training by his art teachers and support of his parents and friends. His father P N Santhosh is a professor at IIT Madras. “Whenever my father travels, he clicks a lot of pictures that could be used as models for my paintings. My friends in school too are encouraging and even ask me to teach them the art,” smiles Ganesh, who makes sure art doesn’t affect his studies. “I have all the day for studies and the night hours and holidays for art. So I never had to struggle,” he says. 

Also interested in Karate and badminton, Ganesh hasn’t decided what to become in future, but wants to be associated with art always. “I just want to draw bigger canvases for now,” he concludes.