Painting Happiness
It is often said that “A picture speaks a thousand words” and when you come across Radhika Gaitonde Neurekar’s paintings, there is seldom any doubt, that this adage is anything but false. Inspired by one of the greatest artists of all time Leonardo da Vinci, Radhika Gaitonde Neurekar from Mumbai, who has now settled in Goa, has carved a name for herself on the canvas of painting.
From the age of five, was when it all started for Radhika. She ate, slept, walked and talked drawing. She avers, ““Sketchbook was my constant companion. I carried it with me wherever I went. Anything and everything that caught my attention found a place in my book. My grandfather was my biggest fan of my art since the day I started drawing. He used to maintain a file of all papers in which I had my drawings. So in our living room, he had reserved a wall only for my drawings. On the other hand, my mother was and continues to be my biggest critique. She always gives me tips to be better because she believes that there is always room for improvement.”
A student of Our Lady of the Rosary High School in Goa, her teachers knew that someday she would be an artist. She exclaims, “My art teacher, Miss Amalia supported me and till date she still does encourage me in everything I do. I can’t imagine my life without art now!” As years went by, Radhika immersed herself in the art and by the time she turned 16, she was sure that she wanted to become a famous painter. Shashikant Dhotre, who is into realistic work, has been her inspiration.
Inspired by the greatest artist of all times Leonardo da Vinci, Radhika brought about a paradigm shift in her work after reading his work. She says, “In da Vinci’s book, he talks about the concept scientific drawing. Every piece you put on the paper should be calculated. For instance, if you don’t get the eyes in the right place that means it was a miscalculation or a proportion error. If you don’t get the right colour on the skin, that means you miss something in the mixture of the colours in your hands. Once you understand this, your brain will function like as if it’s solving a puzzle.”
While the world is grappling with the pandemic, Radhika has ceased the opportunity with both hands as she has made the most of it so far.
Achievements in the year 2021 so far…
* Best prize for detailed art at BeStar studios
* 1st prize for landscape painting BeStar studios part 2 * 1st prize: Art for life competition
* National award for Art at Art life for best acrylic work
* 1st prize at the National level art competition for still life art
* Exhibition at Taj art gallery, Mumbai
In the recent past, she has also shared her stellar work with Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu. Radhika is unequivocally going from strength to strength and has certainly taken some giant strides in the field. She signs off, “I am blessed to have a wonderful set of parents, grandparents and in-laws, who have been very supportive of my work. My husband also takes keen interest in my art and I really feel grateful to have these amazing people around me”, signs off Radhika.