‘Painting landscape in water colours my forte’

How do you define your style?
While painting landscapes, generally artists draw a few suggestive lines depicting the view before them. However, I start from the Golden Point in the picture without making any use of the pencil covering the masses, and then the middle tone and the dark tone which makes the picture attractive.

Why the title Looking Back?
The title of my exhibition is to show the development of my painting style and technique right from my childhood till date. I am known as a water colour landscape painter in the community as well as among art lovers.

How long have you been working on this show? Do you plan to showcase it in the cities too?
I have been planning for this exhibition for a long time. I had applied for the Jehangir Art Gallery in 2005 as earlier it used to be allotted for painting exhibitions only after a three-year break. Due to the mad rush for the bookings, I got this gallery after six long years. Also, this time I got a large part of the gallery, so I thought of organising a retrospective show of my paintings. I just celebrated my 75th birthday. In the near future if my health permits to organise an exhibition in other cities, my preferred city will be Bengaluru because I believe that water colour landscapes are highly appreciated there.

Landscape and water colours are your forte. But, have you experimented on other media as well?
Besides landscape and water colours, I have also worked in oils as well as mixed media.

How did your inclination towards art happen? Was it a planned career choice or a chance one?
I want to thank my Class 3 class teacher Deshpande, whose appreciation of my work then first inspired me to become an artist.

Yes, my career is a planned one.Who’re your favourite artists?
Some of my favourites include late PA Dhond, VA Mali, Baburao Sadavelakar, Shankar Palshikar, BD Shirgaonkar, Vasant Parab, Gopalrao Deuskar, Dinanath Dalal, SM Pandit, Raobaha-dur Dhurandar, and of course MF Husain.

Any particular art form or style that you like the most?
Creative art work, abstract painting, semi modern are my favourite art forms, which I intend to paint in the near future.
You have had several art shows in the past; please tell us something about of your personal favourite art works.
All my paintings are special to me, but the ones which are near to my heart are the paintings I made at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pattadakkal and Badami.

Narendra Pawaskar’s exhibition Looking Back will be on display at the Jehangir Art Gallery from February 20