NEJAL MEHTA ART

Oh Lord! A new situation every day, a test every time. We think, 'Alas! Its sorted', and in no time we realize there is something new waiting, another dilemma, another test. We all at some point in life get advice. Advice about how you would have to choose, make decisions, leave somethings behind, even leave some people behind on the way. But when you actually face them, you gain nothing from the advice you got. It's you, and only you who have to make a choice. I was pondering over my one year in my art school and the vibrant people I met, their lives and what I learnt from them and the thoughts I'll be taking home when they'll leave. While thinking about it, a faculty looking at me, passingly said, 'You will grow. But you are stupid if you think you will grow with the same people. Always remember you have come alone.' It was strong and hitting, but true at the same time. Dilemma of what a mother expects vs. what a father wants, what you want vs. wh

Why is art being categorized all the time ?! IT'S ART FOR GOD'S SAKE !! Why is that you need to explain your art in a particular medium or style ?! The whole point of being an artist is that you do what you feel like making in that moment and don't give a rat's ass about anything else ! Criticism is good, it's needed, but categorizing an artist in the process of criticism is what demotivates me.  An incident in my art school helps me explain this better.  A presentation for one of my subjects was to happen (for which, most of us came unprepared, in spite of all the time given to us, *sigh*).  Everything was happening. Work not up to the mark, agreed, performed poorly, agreed, all criticism take in a good spirit and made sure we get it done before the next session. The story towards the end goes this way ~~  " If you want to become an artist, bring out the energy, and if Gauguin, in the forest doing his thing is what you want to be the

Apart from painting, reading has kept my mind busy for a while. Have been reading Van Gogh's letters. July 1880 : .......  So what do you want ? Does what happens inside show on the outside ? There is such a great fire in one's soul, and yet anybody ever comes to warm themselves there, and passersby see nothing but a little smoke coming from the top of the chimney, and go on their way. So then, what to do ? Stoke up that fire inside, have salt in yourself, wait patiently, yet with how much impatience, wait for the hour, when someone right might want to come and sit down by it - and to stay there, how should I know ? Let anyone who believes in God wait for the hour that will come sooner or later. Now for the moment everything seems to be going wrong for me, and this has been the case for some considerable time, and may well stay like this for some time in the future, but it is possible that after everything appears to be going awry, things will improve later. I am not c