Artists from distant places at the camp in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, March 16: Colours ran riot and hard work was evident but appreciative eyes stayed away as three-day national-level artists’ camp Palash came to an end at Ispat Club here this evening.

Working for the past three days, the artists gathered here from different places had turned empty canvases into beautiful paintings, expressing a wide range of thoughts that came to them during the period.

Sikha Sinha from Delhi was the first to complete her abstract study depicting energy through off-white and soothing chrome yellow colours. Santiniketan’s Nirmalendu Das appealed for preservation of the remaining forest cover in Jharkhand through his painting reminding viewers of the danger from mining and other denuding activities.

Pinaki Barua, also from Santiniketan, completed two canvases using print-making techniques.

The painting of Sadhan Sengupta from Calcutta, depicting a realistic study of a girl carrying an overflowing flower basket, attracted appreciation from visitors.

Though an abstract study Sukanya Das from Burdwan explained how the fantasy world of children are actually being run by wealthy businessmen who are all much older.

Among others, Goutam Sengupta of Ranchi drew everybody’s attention for his simple yet eye-catching study of a landing full of flower pots. From the state, Subrata Roy Chowdhury of Dhanbad made a commendable attempt to blend the Bengal style with that of Madhubani.

Sharmila Thakur’s use of paper for her relief-like work and Shilpi Ramani’s sculpture depicting two rhythmic figures drew appreciation, besides the collage of Haren Thakur, a landscape study by Ramanuj Shekhar and the work of some other members of Chhotanagpur Art Research and Development Society (CARDS), which has been organising such camps since 1984.

But with no buyers turning up so far, it is doubtful if the camps could be organised for long.

Many well-known artists do not want to participate in these camps, as the organisers cannot offer them more than their journey expenses and local hospitality.

Only the friendly and sympathising artists with whom some of the organisers have good rapport care to come to these camps, said sources.

Binod Agarwal, an art writer from Delhi, also felt that “the innocence and emotions with which they began a quarter of a century ago” may not be enough for pulling on these days. He added that inviting established artists and offering them a commission if their paintings were sold, contacting art dealers and galleries maybe helpful.