Nature’s beauty, its raw charm come to life in self-taught artist Sushma Mahajan’s solo show

Self-taught artist Dr Sushma Mahajan, who is a radiologist by profession, is all set to hold her solo show, “Curious Charms: The Magic of Aquarelle,” at the the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, in New Delhi from April 1-4. Organised by the Unique Creation and Arts Gallery, and curated by Alka Pande, the show promises to be a visual treat for art enthusiasts who appreciate the beauty of nature.    

Dr Mahajan’s paintings showcase a unique blend of aquarelle techniques that bring to life the intricate details of the flora and fauna around us. Her artwork captures the essence of her creative imagination and her love for nature. Through her vibrant artwork, Dr Mahajan hopes to inspire people to appreciate the beauty of the world around us and to take better care of our planet. 

The artist, who developed her skills in watercolour painting solely through the internet, particularly through YouTube videos, balances her medical work with her artistic endeavours by reserving early mornings and late evenings for her art studio at home. Her paintings aim to convey the innocent, raw charm of animals and nature. She advises aspiring artists to pursue their passion fully and paint every day, even while maintaining a full-time profession. Excerpts from an interview:

 

In hindsight, I strongly feel that creating artwork with watercolours is my calling. Although I did not receive any formal education in art or attend any classes, I learned everything I know from the internet. The internet is a treasure trove of knowledge, and for me, YouTube videos were particularly helpful as educational tools

My exhibition showcases the vast spectrum of nature's resplendent charm. From the endearing expressions of dogs to the playful affection of animals bonding with each other and humans, there is an abundance of cuteness to be found. Nature offers endless inspiration, whether it's witnessing the metamorphosis of a butterfly or observing the graceful movement of a turtle's neck as it moves about its day. Even big cats like jaguars and leopards possess their own fierce charm, while intelligent apes like orangutans and wise owls offer a glimpse into their worlds. And let's not forget the enchanting allure of flowers, or the frozen beauty of cityscapes, which I've also explored. I'm confident that visitors to the exhibition will be treated to a vibrant array of charm in all its hues.

I am a person who pays a lot of premium on pursuing my passion. Early morning hours and late evenings are largely reserved for my art studio at home. It is such a bliss to start your day by creating something beautiful and likewise, it is so wonderful concluding the day in midst of colours.

It is tough to pick any one. Each artwork is like my baby. I have spent quality hours crafting each artwork and in doing so, my soul and heart have got so involved in the whole journey. However, two artworks feature dogs which I have or have had as pets. The painting where a cherubic looking girl holds a German Pom is special as we lost ours a few years back! And the one with Beagle having Magnolias in the backdrop is again so appealing to me as we do have a Beagle as a pet currently.

Nature is beautiful. We just need to look around if we seek beauty in life. Animals are so inspiring in myriad ways. If you need a lesson in loyalty, there is nothing better than the animal world. Animals have so pure emotions. Their love is unconditional. Life becomes so simple in the company of animals. My simple endeavour is to create happy art where the viewer gets infected by the innocent raw charm of these beautiful creatures.

Radiology per se may not have influenced my artistic style. Or so I feel. However, I am interpreting MRI & CT scans/ images at the hospital and crafting images in my studio with watercolours. In a way, images are common at both the hospital and my art studio!! There are times when it is very challenging to interpret a scanned image and my input as a Radiologist is so critical in deciding the future course of treatment of a patient. Likewise, there are times when the artwork being created poses so many challenges in terms of exact emotion to be planted in the eyes or in a gesture. Watercolours, in any case, is a tough medium to play around with. Being a Radiologist possibly has helped me in negotiating these struggles better as an artist and to dig in my heels whenever an artwork heads in a tricky zone.

If painting is your passion, live it fully. Express it fully without the fear of getting validation. Most importantly, paint every day. Find time for it. It’s only by painting more and more that you will learn and evolve. And let me assure you that painting can be easily incorporated alongside a full-time profession. And it will complete you as a person!!

I won’t say that my journey was so smooth and easy. I was beset with all sorts of fears when I picked up the paint brush. The biggest fear I had was being judged. Of validation. I needed so much support from the people close to me to muster courage to put up my first exhibition in Jaipur. It takes time to refine your skill set. It takes time to discard these vulnerabilities as an artist. In fact, even today, after doing three exhibitions in Jaipur, I do have my share of anxieties as I enter Delhi as an artist.