In this journey of life, we meet people who change us, those who inspire us and those who strive to do better every single day. Those are individuals who create wonderful revolutions in society. They fashion a ripple which cannot be stopped. Our artist in conversation today is Prakash Mena, an inspiring human being who goes beyond the norm to produce beautiful art and captivate an audience through his work. We hope you enjoy this interview!
How long have you been painting?
My journey began 26 years ago; I have been a painter since my childhood. Some find it intriguing as no one in my family is involved in arts. I believe I have an inborn talent which I have nurtured through the years. I am glad I chose this path.
Who are your greatest influencers?
To be honest, I don't follow any other artist specifically. I will observe their work but I don't want to idolize anyone. I am influenced by social media as there are so many new artists and inspiring work. I prefer to work alone most of the time.
Did you have a formal education on art and painting or are you self-taught?
Yes, I have formal education. I studied commercial art for 5 years and followed an Art Teacher Diploma for 2 years. I also teach and love photography.
Do you have a particular style? How did you become so passionate about this particular style?
I am a realistic painter, focusing on wildlife, landscapes, and birds. I take photos of places and beautiful sceneries on my travels and use them as references for my paintings. I love nature and always try to recreate what I see on my adventures.
What are your other passions other than art? How have these passions contributed to becoming the artist you are today?
My passion is social work; I help the poor in my area whenever possible. Sometimes I use part of my weekly earnings to support families in need. I also love driving and racing, though racing happens occasionally. Additionally, I enjoy adventures, mountain climbing, and trekking. The landscapes and animals I encounter are captured in photographs and later inform my paintings. I am a polio patient, but I do not let this hinder my journey. I wish to inspire anyone with limitations to focus on what they can do and impact at least one person positively.
Could you walk us through your process? Percentage wise, how much time do you spend preparing for the painting and how much time on the actual painting itself? Is preparation an important part of your process?
I draw inspiration from nature. Before I start painting, I study the reference photo for a long time—this can range from a week to a month—taking in every detail, color, and nuance. Once I am thorough, I gather my utensils and begin painting. I generally take a few hours to complete a painting, mainly due to breaks. The largest portion of my process is spent studying the photo, as that is where I gather all the information.
Are you engaged in new artistic adventures? How is artistic exploration important to you as an artist and to your process? How do you then decide what to incorporate into your style and what to leave as pure fun?
As I mentioned before, I don't follow other artists, but I do explore new tools, colors, and techniques online. I am currently experimenting with sculptures, statues, and abstract art. I am unsure how successful I will be, but I am willing to take on this challenge and see where it leads me.
Was there a particular moment where you could tell that your skills had crossed over into being an exceptionally good painter instead of a pretty good painter? What did you do to make that leap?
My main goal is for people to be inspired by my work. It is not about the money per se. When I realized that my art was reaching more people and gaining recognition, I understood I had become a very good painter. This is not a title I give myself, but I am glad I have been able to inspire at least one person.
How do you push yourself? Do you set goals for yourself? And if so, what are those goals? Do you think setting goals is important for an artist in his/her artistic journey? If so why?
It is important for everyone to have goals, whether short-term or long-term. Goals keep us inspired and moving forward. A person without goals is stagnant. I am currently preparing to exhibit my work in Istanbul, and I also hope to travel to Spain and Poland to showcase my work.
How is your experience working with Aartzy? Do you think it is a useful platform for artists?
Aartzy has been a wonderful platform. My journey with the team is almost 3 years now. A friend suggested I join, and I am very glad I did. Janaka and his team are very nice and helpful. I hope to continue working with them for many more years!
Prakash's entire collection can be viewed here.
Manesha Peiris (2022)
