Journey From Realistic to Abstract!

Renowned abstract artist Prakash Bal Joshi shares his experience of mentoring a young artist Mona Jain about abstract art. Interestingly, even though she was already doing a decent job at figurative painting, she was keen on shifting to abstract art. While mentoring her, Prakash Bal Joshi took a deep dive into the process of abstract art, which he shares with Chinha Art News in this article.

When Ms Mona Jain approached me for the first time, requesting me to teach her abstract painting, I was not at all willing, in fact I tried to dissuade her. She was already doing well as an artist, getting plenty paid assignments of portrait paintings. She specialized in portraiture after her rudimentary training in art, followed by attending Rachana Art college to hone her skills in realistic painting. That’s why, my first question to her was, “Why do you want to learnt abstract?” She was not very coherent in her reply, yet she was determined on learning it. Despite my efforts to turn her away from abstract painting, she insisted and convinced me.

Very reluctantly, I agreed to give it a try. But before that I wanted to meet her family members and know what they think of her proposal. Since her family members were going to be the first viewers of her new approach towards art, I was keen on knowing their views. It’s easier to appreciate realistic art, but opposite in case of an abstract work. However, they were willing to support her new journey in art and rather excited to see what she was going to do next.

As you know, I am self-taught artist, not gone through usual academic process of acquiring skills. However, I have learnt about art, art processes from reading books on art, art history, and interacting with many stalwarts including K H Ara who pushed me on to canvas from my earlier days of sketching. As I look back, I know I was also trying to do what others were doing and as years passed by, I realised many colours from my palette have disappeared, even human forms and natural elements like mountains, rivers, trees also got diffused. It was a long process which brought me on the bank of abstract. You may call it abstract or by any other name, but basically it is the way of expression, inspiration drawn from images and experiences from your inner self. So, I firmly believe that it is part of your art process, which cannot be taught but understood only as you keep on travelling experimenting with your own expression.

With this approach, I had a dilemma. Mona was very determined and insisting on learning abstract from me. I suggested her going to art college or joining some online course, but she insisted that she wants to learn it only from me, since she was greatly influenced by my abstract art work. So, I decided to help her understand the art process leading to abstract work. I gave her a list of books to read, with a condition that I will decide whether to teach her or not, only based on a test of how much she understood from the books. It was not easy task as these books were not about art, but philosophical books about life and one’s approach towards life. One was by J Krishnamurthy who used to give series of lectures in J J School of Art. He has influenced me immensely.

She was determined to absorb the process and very happy when I told her that she can come to my studio and work. Initially, I just gave a 2’x2’ canvas and asked her to season it with gesso. Asked her to pick up brush and paint and start painting. Soon she realized how difficult it is to come out of the process of realistic art, which she had practiced for couple of years. I did not tell her anything but asked her to just keep on painting. I used to just sit on my sofa, read or watch her working. Initially, she got confused, later she told me how she once called her husband and told him that Sir is not teaching anything.

I merely kept on talking about her school days, her hobbies, her friends, what she liked, where she travelled, and so on. My idea was to start her journey within, exploring her own experiences and issues close to her heart. It took couple of months before she really began exploring space with her own expression. Earlier she used to be very scared about colours, their mixing, and spoiling texture, but began playing with colours, their interaction, and complexities of layers. Sometimes, she used to pause, look around the studio full of my abstract art works and began painting on the canvas.

After few months working in studio, she told me she wants to totally stop portrait painting and only continue her work in abstract. “Before that, I want to do your portrait, my last portrait, after this I am not going to do any portrait or realistic work”, she said and surprised me with a good portrait of mine. Well, I was rather a reluctant teacher. But I enjoyed the experience and could closely watch the process of travelling from realistic to abstract way of expression. It was basically to know, the student and then try to mould her into art process which will ultimately lead her to the way of abstraction. My main aim was not to let her just follow me and my practice but make her aware that she must undertake a travel on her own and find her own way to express her feelings.

I felt very happy when she moved away from using blue colour and selected her own pallet and continued her journey even after he stint in my studio. During my numerous visits to Europe and other parts of the world, I have seen original art works of almost every master but always tried to keep away from their influence. I am happy that my student is influenced by my work but has started her own journey in her own way. Even though this may sound as a rare example, I do not think this is a rare phenomenon. I have been approached many times with request to teach abstract art by I resisted taking up any teaching assignment. Rather I help artists interested in shifting from realistic to abstract by watching their art works, make suggestions and observations about their work which help them in their journey. I do not know the reason but some of the artists, practicing realistic work, want to try their hands at abstract painting.

My artist friend and teacher Ranjan Joshi suggested that I should document this transformative journey from realistic to abstract which may be useful to others. It’s difficult to assign any one reason for attraction towards abstract art. A realistic painting remains like a static photo frame with you. While an abstract painting is multidimensional. Every time you visit an abstract, you find something different and new. It grows on you, it grows along with you, and resonates with your mood. Another thing is its valuation which is very attractive. Ultimately, it is the basic curiosity of human beings to know what you cannot understand with your first gaze.

Prakash Bal Joshi

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Author is a renowned abstract artist based in Mumbai.