My First Show

The duo Show was held between 17th August 2006 to 27th August 2006. The paintings exhibited were on Lord Ganesha. Mixed Media Paintings drawn by me from the age of 3 to 6 were exhibited during the show. Veteran Danseuse and Actress Ms. Vaijayanthi Mala Bali and Mr. Suchin Bali inaugurated the show.

Six-year-old holds her first painting exhibition - Deccan Chronicle, 26th August, 2006

When two and a half year old S. Varuna first took a brush to create a few strokes, little did her parents A.P. Sreethar and Nirmala realise that they were witnessing a budding young talent at work. Today, six-years-old Varuna, a class one student of A.M.M. Matriculation, is holding her first exhibit on — a series of paintings on Lord Ganesha at Ayya Art Galleries, Royapettah.

Recalls Nirmala, “When she first scribbled a few strokes, we thought that it was just her way of trying out something new. And as time went by Varuna became more and more fascinated by painting and that is when we decided to seriously encourage her.” These days Varuna can handle medium like acrylic, watercolours, oils pastels and pencil shading, but votes watercolours as her favourite out of them all. And creating artworks with Ganesha on them is what she does best, “I like painting Ganesha because he is so friendly and beautiful,” chirps Varuna.

While talking about her favourite colours, pat comes the reply, “Blue, pink and orange; these are main colours that I have used in my paintings.” Her artistic streak extends to activities like clay modelling, sand art and tile painting as well. This little girl has been captured by the magic of painting to such an extent that once during a fancy dress competition in school she dressed up as M.F. Hussain and drew a Ganesha in a couple of quick strokes, just like the famous painter’s trademark.

According to her parents, the main reason why Varuna has taken such a serious liking to painting is because of the ambience at home — her father A.P. Shreethar is an artist and it is with him that she is holding this exhibition. “Varuna had been painting Ganeshas ever since she was in L-KG and we have been collecting all her paintings. Since her father was also going to hold an exhibition, we thought that it would be a good idea to display her work as well,” explain her parents.

Varuna declares that she is quite happy that people are coming to see her paintings and adds, “When I grow up I want to be an artist so that more people will come to see my work.”