Interview: Creative Retirement Phase
If you question senior citizens about what they would do after retirement, they probably would articulate their interest in reading books, in travelling across favorite destinations or investing time with theĀ grand children. Vinaya Suvarna is however a bit different.
After her retirement, she took on the challenge to paint and it all came together at a summer camp where inspiration struck her first. Excerpts from anĀ interview:
On inspirationĀ
When I was nine-years-old, I attended a painting summer camp and my instructor would teach me with great interest and sheĀ planted in me, a seed to paint. My father though asked me toĀ pursue a career that would give me something for my sustenance and later on they suggested that if I had an interest in art, I could do it for pleasure at any point of time. So now that I have time, I do portraits, seascapes, landscapes, still life studies and a anything thatĀ inspires me.
Mixed media
I use charcoal, oils, acrylics, watercolor and pencils. I use the palette knife technique and also dry brush and liquid drop acrylic techniques that gives a certain abstraction to myĀ painting.
Here and now
I want to do more painting to pursue my passion, exhibit and sell themĀ depending on my customersā likes.Ā Other than this, IĀ have no projects.
Life before art
I was a teacher of Social Sciences andĀ retired as the headmistress of the Sheshadipuram High School. As I have been a teacher for sonĀ long, I would advise the students to just look beyond the things that are presented to you and always nourishĀ the talent that you are born with. Who knows, just as a summer campĀ was an inspiration to me, for you something else may trigger a life long passion.
Fruitful retirement
When I look at the beauty of nature, be it theĀ majestic mountains, the vast seas and oceans or the never ending sky, myĀ heart leaps with joy and my ego dissolves to nothing. Only dreams remain to be materialized on canvas.