A painting on display an art exhibition in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 31: Artists from across different age groups have exhibited their artwork at the Dhauli Art Festival, a national painting exhibition organised by Dhauli College of Arts and Crafts on the outskirts of the city.

Held on the premises of the college, the three-day exhibition concluded on Tuesday.

The seventh edition of the festival received over 1,200 entries. The competition was categorised into three groups. While Group A had participants between the age group of four and seven years, Group B between eight and 12 years and Group C between 13 and 18 years. Around 650 paintings were selected for display and 200-odd artists were even felicitated. The selection panel had noted faculty members from the college and Utkal University of Culture, here.

Participants of Group A drew images of landscapes, flora and fauna. Their artworks reflected innocence of their endeavours and eagerness to follow the art form. The elder participants focused on varied themes such as religion, devotion, politics, environmental degradation and patriotism. The collection of paintings had both portraits and sceneries in abundance.

A teenager, Gurpreet Kura, from Rourkela had drawn a portrait of an old priest in saffron attire sitting on a staircase with an umbrella over his head. The detailing that painting exuded impressed one and all. The kids had used crayons, sketch pens, pastel, oil, water, pencil and acrylic colours to bring out their imagination on the canvas.

A handful of painters and sculptors had also sent their creations that were exhibited a special gallery.

“I have created bottles of liquor and glasses. On a tall wine glass filled to the brim has the globe floating on it showing the intoxication we are in,” said Tapas Kumar Samanta, a sculptor.