A creative soul cannot and must not be tamed, for they take us on some of the most colorful journeys and help us perceive the world through their eyes! Our artist in conversation today is Nilantha Vidanarachchi, a realistic painter who gives life to some of the most magical landscapes and portraits. Speaking with him was truly inspiring as he spoke of his challenges and victories through the years. We are privileged to share his interview with you today!
How long have you been painting?
I started painting from my younger days, and along the way I deviated from it and went on to find a more lucrative business… But I realized through the years that my soul was not satisfied. I was a tour guide for many years and I saw so many beautiful landscapes and historical places in our country and I had an urge to paint all of them for the world to see. And I am glad to say that since 2004, for the last 16 years, I have been following my heart and my passion.
Who are your greatest influencers?
I am inspired and influenced by artists of the Renaissance period — Caravaggio and Michelangelo, to name a few. They were more realistic artists, which is a style I very much appreciate.
Did you have a formal education on art and painting or are you self-taught?
No, I have not had any formal education on art. I am a self-taught artist. I love the fact that I can portray reality as it is through my art.
Do you have a particular style? How did you become so passionate about this style?
As mentioned before, I am a Realistic Artist. I do portraits, live paintings and I try to expose every emotion, facial expression or the colors with every brush stroke as it is. It is a very challenging style, which is why I have fallen in love with it. There aren't many Sri Lankan artists who are realistic painters.
What are your other passions besides art? How have these contributed to your artistic journey?
I watch movies and sports during my free time. Some of the movies are about artists and their lives, which inspires me because I often realize that my struggles and disappointments are similar. It is also a great way to learn about how different painting styles evolved. I browse the Internet and learn about art, which helps me improve myself.
Could you walk us through your process? How much time do you spend preparing versus painting?
If the painting required is from a historical period, then I conduct research to understand the background story, learn the mode used during the time, and see how best I can match the colors and style. This process takes quite a bit of time as I need to prepare myself first. If it is a still life or a live painting, I may take some time to mix the colors and observe the object or the person. But it is often quick work that needs to be done then and there.
Are you engaged in new artistic adventures? How is exploration important to you as an artist?
I spend time online learning about artists and their paintings from different eras. I then experiment and see what can be combined with my style of painting. I have worked with different mediums — pencil, acrylic, watercolor, and oils, to name a few. My adventures are not necessarily to learn new styles but to see how I can improve my current style of painting.
Was there a moment where you realized your skills had advanced to a higher level?
I don't think I can say I am an exceptional painter. What I can say is that I have improved my skills over the years and I am ready to take on challenges. Just yesterday, I did a painting which was wet-on-wet, and I know for a fact that it takes years of practice and skill to do such art. My paintings are on display at prominent institutions in Sri Lanka, such as Mount Lavinia Hotel, but I leave it to my audience to decide if I am exceptional.
How do you push yourself? Do you set goals for your artistic journey?
Yes, it is important to have goals in life in general. My research is mostly online and I learn about new techniques and equipment available abroad. I try to source as much as I can from Sri Lanka, but I think as artists, we can certainly create better art if we have access to new resources. As professionals, it is important to work towards improving ourselves every day.
How is your experience working with Aartzy? Do you think it is a useful platform for artists?
Aartzy is a very good platform. In Sri Lanka, artists have very little exposure. There is no organization and no place for us as artists. We struggle to take our work to international markets. Most of my work is based on self-research. I believe there needs to be some authority which supports us who are professional artists. Aartzy has been that bridge which takes our work overseas and I am very grateful for Janaka and his team. I have also managed to sell my creations through this platform and I truly hope for a long and fruitful journey together with Aartzy.
Nilantha's entire collection can be seen at https://www.aartzy.com/artist/nilantha-vidanarachchi
by Manesha Peiris
