A sand art by Sudam Pradhan at Mayfare Lagoon. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, May 4: The first rays of the rising sun on Puri beach illuminate the deft handiwork of Sudam Pradhan. The 28-year-old sand artist sits crouched near his work — the image of tigers crying for protection — which had drawn thousands of admirers the previous evening. Soon, a group of morning walkers huddle around him, murmuring words of praise, as Pradhan gives a contented smile.

Pradhan, who hails from Bargarh, developed an interest for sand art when he was barely 10. “I first started crafting images on sand when I was studying in Class V. I used to go with my mother to take bath in the Jeera river in Bargarh. At that time, I would spend hours on the banks, trying my hand at sand art,” said Pradhan.

In 2004, Pradhan left for the state’s cradle of sand art, Puri, where he is now working as an art teacher at the Blessed Sacrament Convent High School. He spends a substantial amount of time on the Puri beach, working with his nimble fingers on the sand, creating a victorious Anna Hazare or campaigning to save the tigers.

Even as his art continues to make waves both within and outside the state, the talented artist has a string of recognitions and awards to his credit. He was honoured by the Bargarh district administration for two consecutive years in 2003 and 2004. Pradhan’s artwork hogged the limelight and won awards even at the Srikshetra Mahotsav, Puri, and Parab Folk Festival, Koraput.

Taking his art to south India, he received awards at an inter-state youth exchange programme in Kerala. Recently, he also got an opportunity to showcase his talent at the Visalakshmi Mandap in Bangalore. Last November, Pradhan got an invitation from the Indo-Japan Friendship Centre. “It was an honour for me as I was invited there for the celebration of the 1300th anniversary of Naral, Japan’s old capital,” he said.

“Two years ago, I had also displayed my sand arts during Durga pujas in Guwahati and Calcutta. The appreciation and feedback I received from these two cities was overwhelming,” he added.

Before one of the Indian Premier League matches in Cuttack last year, Pradhan had been asked to create a sand art to welcome players of the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers team at a hotel in the capital.

He now runs two art schools in Puri — the School of Fine Art and the Sudam School of Sand Art. Although finance has always been a constraint for Pradhan, his passion for art keeps him going. “My well wishers have always encouraged and supported me,” he said.

At present, a total of 115 students are learning art from Pradhan in these two institutes. Apart from sand art, Pradhan has also been associated with watercolour, oil painting, clay modelling, sand animation and sand painting.

The Bargarh artist, who has carved a niche for himself at the national and international levels, wishes to popularise the art form in his hometown. “Very few people at my native place are aware of my accomplishments. I wish to make sand art popular among the budding artists here,” he added.