A colourful way to make a living

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Thirty paintings belonging to various genres, displayed at the expo being organised at VJT Hall, are more than enough to throw light on the mettle and aesthetic sensitivity of Bindu V C, a housewife, who made painting her life quite early, even before she opted out of her job in IGNOU for the love of the art. The forty-year-old maverick, who has dared to take on the orthodox view on painting and handicrafts, clings to the view that painting and other arts, if nurtured well, can provide a steady earning for the fair sex, and a release from male domination. This policy, she admits, had prompted her to open a school - Handiq Gurukulam, which imparts training to students, especially girls and housewives, on the art of painting and other crafts like stone work, pot designing, saree designing etc. “My love for painting was there from childhood. But after being appointed as course co-ordinator in IGNOU’s Kottayam study centre, I decided to stick to the creative aspect of life. After moving to Thiruvananthapuram,I decided to make painting my profession. That decision has struck gold as it provides me with a steady income and a lot of recognition,” Bindu said. The art pavilion set up in VJT Hall as part of the expo organised by the Industries and Commerce Department has been drawing hundreds of visitors. An oil painting, depicting a serene river mouth in the midst of the woods, is a treat to watch. “The picturesque reflection of the woods and the stones in the water had stolen my several nights’ sleep,” Bindu revealed. Bindu has displayed handpicked paintings from her collection, kept in the school at Kaimanam Amritha Nagar, at VJT Hall. They comprise paintings belonging to various  art schools, like Mayoori, crystal and fusion painting. But the gem of the exhibition is three pieces made from petty objects like coffee, tea and burned paddy husk. Bindu, when asked about her trade secret, was ready to part with the knowledge. ”Coffee is mixed with Dettol to prevent attack from pests. It is then painted on to the canvas. In the case of tea painting, dilute and strong solutions are made by mixing water with tea dust. This helps to give contrasting colours to the canvas. The painting of Jesus was made in this manner,” she said.