An artist at work at Palash 2003. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Feb. 28: Punjab has given me vigour, Calcutta enriched it with culture and to Ranchi. I look for the inspiration that comes from its diverse natural resources, said noted painter B. R Panesar.

The Calcutta-based artist had come to the capital to take part in the three-day painting festival “Palaash 2003” being organised at Ashoka Hotel here from today.

A member of Calcutta-based Society of Contemporary Artists, Panesar specialises in landscapes painted in acrylic.

Speaking of his style of painting, he told The Telegraph: “You cannot tell when you are going to be struck with a fusillade of ideas. I do not confine myself to painting. I prefer to visit different spots to capture nature scattered in its pristine forms.”

“You cannot say when a particular piece of art may take birth in you. A particular line from a particular poem or a song may inspire you to draw something, which may prove to be a masterpiece for an artist,” Panesar said.

Referring to certain couplets of English poet Thomas Gray, he said: “Appreciation or no appreciation, but a piece of art remains a masterpiece for the creator who undergoes birth pangs during delivering moments.”

Describing art as one of the choicest gifts to the world by artists, Panesar said: “Each individual has come to this world with a particular gift for the world. Medium of art is best way to exhibit that inherent gift. Given a healthy and conducive atmosphere, a person can manifest his hidden gift in a finer way.”

All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society award winner from Deoghar Kalyan Mukherji, who is currently working on a theme “Insecure Time” based on communal clashes, has earlier received wide accolades for his “down-to-earth” depiction of life of Dhanbad miners.

“People in general only know that the life of miners are in danger. But I tried to portray the incessant feeling of the approaching end writ large over their faces owing a particular gas emanating from inside the mines. I visited the spots and drew the painting back in Deoghar as I was not allowed to paint on the spot on the plea that the whole mining fell under a prohibited area for such activities,” he said.

Ranchi-based painter Rajiv Pathak was more interested in displaying his form of art than theory. “My works will better speak on my behalf as I have chosen my brush to come to my tongue's rescue,” he said.

Other artists, who had come to participate, included noted painter from Calcutta Sharbari Roy Chowdhari whose works are being displayed at Centre for International Modern Art at Calcutta.

Dinesh Singh, Haren Thakur, Sharmila Thakur, Sapna Das will also take part in the three-day art camp.