I love to talk about my hobby, painting, any chance I get. I believe painting is a wonderful talent to have. It is a skill for which talent is pre-requisite. You can learn how to hold a brush and which colours to mix. But true artistry is nothing without talent. I was quite relieved when my talent for painting was discovered by my teachers.
I attended a fine arts school to try my luck with the arts. I had been painting on my own, but I was driven by my ambition to become a good painter. In my final year at the school, I was given the task of presenting five paintings for my thesis. It was the hardest decision of my life to figure out what I would choose to paint. Certain thought and preparation are behind every painting that is claimed as an inspirational work of art. I learned this through struggle and resilience.
Painting is also calming, you can let the brush take over and guide you where it wants. Sometimes a Jackson Pollock painting makes sense to your brain, whereas sometimes you crave a nostalgic scenery done by Van Gogh. Painting can convey the depth and complexity of human consciousness which can’t be conveyed through words. It is for this reason that the patronage of art is very important.
Many rulers of Medieval India believed art made life worth living. They were famous for their patronage of art, music and literature. It is because of this patronage that we have a record of that time-period preserved in paintings and murals. Documentation is possible through painting because a picture is worth a thousand words. The painting also enables us to take a stance on important issues. Contemporary artist Banksy is famous for his socio-politically charged paintings. He conveys his freedom of expression through his unique style of paintings.
I believe painting is a hobby which should be adopted by everyone. It has a therapeutic effect on the mind. It is relaxing and satisfying. Children should be encouraged to adopt painting as a hobby as it develops their motor skills. The benefits of painting have led psychologists to use this as a treatment for patients. I recommend everyone to paint as a hobby.