Bhubaneswar, April 5: Myriad shades of Odisha came alive on canvas at an artists' workshop that began at Utkal Mandap here today.

The state culture department along with the Lalit Kala Akademi have organised the event to mark the Utkal Divas. Around 36 artists from nine art and crafts colleges of the state are taking part in the workshop. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate an exhibition on April 1. All the artworks made here will be displayed at the exhibition.

From acrylic colours to pencil sketches, the artists are using various media to promote the diverse cultures of the state. The participants include faculty members and former students from major art colleges such as B.K. College of Art and Crafts, Utkal University of Culture, Dhauli College of Art and Crafts, and Khallikote College of Art and Crafts among others.

Artist Pradeep Kumar Patra has used the famous gamuchha of the district as his canvas and on it he has painted an image of paika bidroha or the Paika revolution of 1817 against the East India Company.

"The revolution gave the country a direction towards the struggle for independence. That is what defines my state for me. Hence, I chose to represent that in my work," said Patra, a lecturer at B.K. College of Art and Crafts.

Yudhisthir Mallick, an art instructor at S.V. School for Art and Crafts in Jeypore, is working on the various shades of Odia language and its classical status. On the lower part of the canvas, Mallick has painted a palm-leaf, which was the earliest medium of writing in the state. On the upper side, he attempts to create portraits of prominent writers such as Gopabandhu Das, Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja and Gangadhar Meher among others.

Pragya Paramika Nayak from Bhadrak Art College aims to capture the flora and fauna of the state on her canvas.

"This workshop has given me a chance to interact with other artists of the state. It is certainly an enriching expeirience," said Nayak.

A few artists were focusing on portraying the heritage monuments of Konark and Dhauli. Others concentrated on the various dance forms of the state.

"The workshop aims at bringing the artists of the state together and let their imaginations flow," said Lalit Kala Akademi secretary Tarakanta Parida.

The exhibition will continue till April 4.