Genesis of an Artist.

I was a born artist, a prodigy!

I can’t prove it beyond this point, because I myself have destroyed a large number of scribbles and paintings that I have done as a small child.

My maternal grandfather was a poet.

And my paternal grandfather a painter. His name is Krothapally Subrahmanyam, migrated to Chennai and has become a successful commercial artist. I have never learnt art from him except for a few tips orally.

Meanwhile at school, they took an evil pleasure in demoting me twice or thrice. Teachers lacked the spirits for teaching children. In India student- teacher ratio is bad. Those who studied with me have gained good salaried jobs but they are also nondescript persons, acting as petty naukars and gumasthas of the corporates.

College is another place I detested, I hated book-keeping, while my father and brother insisted I pursue chartered accountancy after graduation.­­­­­Very soon, I quit my college education to study in an art school. Continued my diploma course in fine art for two years, and I later quit that too.

The art school lacked instructors who could teach practical methods and I found it regressive.

Every art skill that I gained, I attribute it to my self-exploration, by and large I am a self-taught artist.

I hated participating in art shows, I realised it even when I was young, it only incurred expenses and I knew my art work is bound to be rejected. In Chennai jurors and selectors are semi literates and corrupt to the core, I bothered least about them. As an exception to this, on only one occasion, I had sent my entry to the AIFACS’ National art exhibition, New Delhi, wherein I was awarded a cash scholarship and a certificate for the “best drawing” category.

When I broke my foot,

For about a year I worked in a craft museum cum heritage centre, the project envisioned by Laurie Baker. My honorarium was borne by grant of the Ford foundation. I also taught art at a Krishnamurti inspired school for sometime.

These two assignments are undertaken by me in capacity of an artist, under pay roll of an organisation. Rest of the times I functioned as a teacher. I have encouraged numerous underprivileged people to take up art as profession. Another vocation I took interest is revival of lost South Indian crafts with special emphasis on Srikalhasti school of Kalamkari. We have conducted several workshops with help of my mentor Mr Mapeti Ramachandra Reddy. It is not out of place to mention the contribution of my mentor Ramachandriah to my research, adopting ancient visual language and symbols and converting them to the language of modern art. I, my students and our friends are immensely benefited by his knowledge.

My visits to the Chennai Goverment. Museum have given me various insights about ancient Indian sculpture, design and ornamentation and the exposure to archaeology.

I always felt art is a practical field, and demonstrations are vital. I have done countless demonstrations for my students and my acquaintances. Even to this day (when I no longer wish to meet people), my art demos are released time to time on my youtube channel. Even If one person is benefited watching my demonstrations, I feel it an honour and our efforts recognized. 

Drawn with Harpic

I am also advocating using cheap and easily available art materials for art. In modern age art should be compact, small, and affordable and it must be in position to ship easily. I stopped doing paintings on canvas, I not only hated to interact with carpenters and framers, bit it escalated the cost. Heavy thick framed art doesn’t necessarily mean it is a good art. All my works are on paper -could be custom framed by the prospective buyer.

If you are looking for unconventional original art, Contact Me.

I live in Rajahmundry presently; the great Godavari River is only few kilometres away from my studio cum residence.

Thank you all for the patient reading. Your feedback is appreciated.

Srinivas Krothapally

20-April’2020

Rajamahendri

The Quest of Usman Khan

While Usman Khan (name changed to protect his privacy) approached other artists for gaining inputs in art, they found him monetarily challenged, and naturally they were not excited in teaching him, until someone had politely instructed him to meet me. The defunct “The Chroma Academy” in Chennai was a place where art was taught pro bono.

We have taught him basic skills of drawing and painting. He continues to paint and draw animals and human forms etc. in his distinctive style. Sometimes he ventures to interpret his subjects in language of enigmatic modern art; however many would consider them overenthusiastic attempts. He works in all media but predominantly in acrylics.

This blog is written not to enumerate his achievements but to state plain facts. He met me first in the year 2007 or 2008. Then he had been driving an auto rickshaw in the city for his livelihood. Later government provided him a new auto rickshaw, the value of which payable by means of easy installments. Usman is the father of two teenage children, elder being a boy .His wife teaches in a private school. Usman withdrew from school but appears to have completed a certificate course in automobile mechanism. He is an ardent reader of Tamil books. He has been a green revolution activist planting avenue trees in Chennai. He ties up with his like-minded friends and conducts poor-feeding events from the funds raised among them. Many NGO’S seek his help in their propaganda for their awareness building campaigns.

Usman proved himself to be ­­­­­­ multi-talented by getting published few of his verses in Tamil journals and also donning a lead role in a Tamil short film.

For some reasons I don’t comprehend, of late, he has quit driving auto rickshaw. He is looking forward for greener pastures especially in the difficult area of fine arts, where even a veteran artists struggle for their existence.

Painting murals at private houses, hotels, restaurants, business establishments, schools and kids teaching centres are some of his pet projects. He has painted pictures on walls for clients, indoors and also on the outer periphery. He is fairly good in writing signages, making teaching aids for school children and he can design posters and show-cards manually. If you have a job, or small assignment to be done you may please discuss its feasibility with our friend Usman  Khan, He lives in Choolaimedu High Road.

Mobile no (whatsapp) of Usman Khan: contact the writer

He can speak Tamil and Urdu. His former clients have vouchsafed his honesty. He is good conversationalist. Press has also covered his activities of voluntarism and his pursuits in the field of arts.

Despite his inadequacies he is a futuristic person.

Thank you for reading the blog. Your comments are appreciated and your kind cooperation is sought in providing any new opportunities for Usman, so that he may reshape himself into a successful artist.

Srinivas Krothapally

13-April '2020

Rajamahendri

Teaching Art.

The defunct “The Chroma Academy” was founded in the year 2000 at Chennai.

The basic activities include teaching drawing / painting ,and also allied subjects like clay modelling and craft work etc.

It was a pro bono teaching centre; however   a small fee was collected from those who were willing to pay. We have had opportunity to prepare several beginners to achieve professional level.

Many research scholars, students,bloggers and craft shop owners were helped by us by dissemination of knowledge regarding   south Indian crafts and especially Kalamkari .  Marketing opportunities were also created to the artisans.

It has also functioned as the place of social interaction to artists, craftsmen, graphic designers, hobbyists, media persons, photography enthusiasts, writers, musicians etc.

It was wounded up in 2013 on the tutor’s departure to the Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

Srinivas is willing to interact with his former students or like-minded persons on art through online platforms

Hope you would like the pictures that follow this brief write-up

Thank you, Your comments are appreciated

Srinivas Krothapally
07-April '2020
Rajamahendri